The University of Texas at Austin Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Each year, our department helps prepare approximately 800 undergraduate majors in Spanish and/or Portuguese for careers in both the private and public sectors such as: international business, education, health care, public service, and government. Many of our majors before graduation spend at least one semester in Spain, Mexico, or South America, an experience that has proven to be decisive for their language and cultural skills.

Our graduate programs are also essential to the fulfillment of our intellectual mission. Beyond their formal academic and instructional work, our nearly 120 graduate students participate in a variety of activities, including the organization of a bi-annual conference, a literary journal, and informal poetry readings. Through a variety of workshops, they also prepare for various aspects of academic life, including conference presentation, publication, and grant-writing. The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) provides them with the opportunity to perform university service, assist their fellow students, and influence the direction of the program. As a result of this broad preparation for a career in academia, the department has an excellent record of placing students in promising and rewarding positions when they complete their Ph.D.