Graduate Catalog 2010-12

Modern Languages

Faculty

Lilián Uribe (Chair, Davidson 212), Mariá Lourdes Casas, Antonio García-Lozada, Jakub Kazecki, Paloma Lapuerta, Gustavo Mejía, Ángela Morales, Maria Passaro, Carmela Pesca, Shizuko Tomoda (Dept. phone: 860-832-2875)

Department Overview

The Department of Modern Language plays a pivotal role in the academic mission of the University and, in particular, of the School of Graduate Studies. We recognize that the world in which we live and work is global, interdependent, dynamic, and pluralistic. We understand that communication involves the cultural, linguistic, and social dimensions of languages. Winner of the Graduate Community of Scholars Award in 2004, the Department of Modern Language is proud of its dedication to language learning and international studies.

The Department is actively engaged in the professional development of language teachers. Master degree programs, with specialization in Italian, Spanish, and Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures, offer a wide variety of language, culture, and literature courses, which not only provide students with an aesthetic appreciation of the Italian and Spanish cultures but also give them a better understanding of self, of other cultures, and of the complexities of the human nature. The Modern Language Department offers a master of arts degree program for teachers and other qualified persons wishing to pursue language, culture, and literature work at the graduate level. Offerings are also available to non-degree candidates possessing the prerequisites for any given course.

Students who specialize in Italian or Spanish will develop, with their advisor, a program of study that takes into consideration their educational background and degree of competency in the language.

Students interested in a program leading to certification to teach language in the elementary and secondary schools may consult the Office of the Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies.

Information about foreign language proficiency tests may be obtained from the Department of Modern Language.

Graduate Certification in French German, Italian, and Spanish

Students seeking certification to teach a foreign language must:

• apply to the Graduate Admission Office as a non-degree graduate student seeking certification. Once accepted to the School of Graduate Studies, determination is made for a plan of study;

• have an interview with the departmental committee to assess oral competency and gain acceptance into Professional Program; recommendations are made by committee to the School of Education and Professional Studies;

• complete the equivalent of an undergraduate major (36 credits), professional core requirements and student teaching block. Students with insufficient undergraduate preparation must make up deficiencies by taking at least two courses at the graduate level. These courses do not count toward a graduate degree.

Programs

Master of Arts in Modern Language

30 credits

Program Rationale:

The Master of Arts in Modern Language is designed for students wishing to pursue language, culture, and literature work at the graduate level.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students in this program are expected to demonstrate:

• an understanding of different literary approaches and research;

• an ability to analyze major works of literature in the language in which graduate work will be undertaken;

• knowledge of topics related to the cultures of the language in which graduate work is undertaken; and

• competence in the grammar and knowledge of the structure of each language in which graduate work is undertaken.

Admissions:

Applicants for this degree program should have a baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 24 credits in preparation in each language in which graduate work will be undertaken. Only Italian or Spanish may be chosen as the language of specialization. With approval of the advisor, candidates with sufficient backgrounds in a second language may be permitted to include up to two appropriate graduate courses in this language in their programs.

The department’s Graduate Studies Committee reserves the right to assess a candidate’s oral and writing proficiency through an oral interview or written sample.

Course and Capstone Requirements:

Note: No more than nine credits at the 400 level may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study.

The MA program offers a selection of four specializations:

1. Specialization in Spanish

30 credits (Plan A or Plan B)

Core (6 credits):

SPAN 560 Structure of Spanish Language 3

ML 598 Research in Modern Languages 3

Directed Electives (15 credits):

Literature: Choose 12 credits from SPAN 515, 520, 525, 526, 530,535, 545, 551, 553, 571, 572, 576, ML 500

Culture and Civilization: SPAN 534 or 588, or ML 550

Electives (6-9 credits):

Selected in consultation with advisor

Capstone (0-3 credits):

SPAN 599 (Plan A) or Comprehensive

Examination (Plan B)

2. Specialization in Italian:

30 credits (Plan A or Plan B)

Core (6 credits):

ML 598 Research in Modern Languages

ITAL 560 Advanced Written Italian

Directed Electives (15 credits). Select Option 1 or Option 2:

Option 1

Four literature courses as approved by advisor.

Select from:

ITAL 470 14th-Century Italian Literature

ITAL 476 16th-Century Italian Literature

ITAL 561 Topics in Italian Literature (may be repeated up to 3 times with different topics)

ITAL 571 20th-Century Italian Literature

ML 500 Studies in Modern Languages

and

one culture and civilization course:

ITAL 588 Topics in Italian Cultural Studies

(may be repeated up to 3 times with different topics)

Option 2

ML 550 Intensive Studies in Modern Languages (6 or 9 credits) (may be

repeated up to 3 times with different topics)

and 6 or 9 credits selected from Option 1

Electives (6-9 credits):

Courses as approved by advisor, including

but not restricted to: ITAL 588, ITAL 488, ITAL 561, ITAL 588, IS 590, IS 596

Capstone (0-3 credits):

Plan A (3 credits): Thesis (ITAL 599)

or

Plan B: Comprehensive Examination

3. Specialization in Hispano-North American Inter-University Master’s Degree in Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures:

30 credits (Plan A or B)

Students must complete nine credits of their planned programs of study at the University of Salamanca during a six-week summer session.

Core (6 credits):

SPAN 560 Structure of Spanish Language 3

ML 598 Research in Modern Languages 3

Directed Electives (15 credits):

Literature: Choose 12 credits from SPAN 515, 520, 525, 526, 530, 535, 545, 551, 553 571, 572, 576, ML 500

Culture and Civilization: Choose 3 credits from SPAN 534, 588, ML 550

Electives (6-9 credits):

Selected in consultation with advisor.

Capstone (0-3 credits):

SPAN 599 (Plan A) or Comprehensive

Examination (Plan B).

Note: Nine credits will be transferred as substitutes from the University of Salamanca as electives.

4. Specialization in Italian or Spanish for Certified Teachers.

Rationale:

This specialization is designed for Italian or Spanish teachers wishing to pursue further coursework in language, culture, and literature as well as in foreign language theory and methodology at the graduate level. Students who are teachers will develop, with their advisors, programs of study that take into consideration their educational background and degree of competency in the language.

Program Learning Outcomes:

In addition to the above mentioned learning outcomes, students in this specialization also are expected to demonstrate knowledge of major educational issues.

Admissions:

In addition to our general graduate admission criteria, students interested in this specialization for Certified Teachers must be certified, and have a baccalaureate degree, with at least 24 credits of the language in college or equivalent preparation, before being admitted to this program.

Courses and Capstone Requirements: 30 credits (Plan C):

Professional Education (6-9 credits):

ML 490 Teaching World Languages II: Acquisition in Young Children for Teachers of World Languages (3 credits)

ML 492 Topics in Language Teaching (3 credits)

Additional course as approved by advisor.

Core (6 credits):

ITAL 560 Advanced Written Italian or SPAN 560, Structure of Spanish Language (3 credits)

ML 598 Research in Modern Languages (must be completed within the first fifteen credits of planned program (3 credits)

Directed Electives (9 credits):

One culture/civilization course and two literature courses.

Electives (3-6 credits):

As approved by advisor.

Capstone (3 credits):

ML 595 (Plan C)

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Teacher Education with Specializations in Mathematics (7-12), Sciences (7-12), Spanish (7-12), English (7-12), and Technology and Engineering Education (PK-12)

The Department of Teacher Education offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): Teacher Education with specializations in Mathematics, Sciences, Spanish, English, and Technology and Engineering Education. Candidates with documented content knowledge will complete 13 months of full-time study, earning teacher certification and the MAT degree. The program is designed to cross disciplines wherever possible, encouraging candidates to build content teaching expertise in their specializations and relate each discipline to the larger school curriculum. See the Teacher Education program, linked here, for a description of the program.