Modern Language, MA

Curriculum

This is an unofficial description for this program. For official information check the Academic Catalog.

30 credits

Program Rationale:

The Master of Arts in Modern Languages 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 Requirements:

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 point scale (where A is 4.00), or its equivalent, and good standing (3.00 GPA) in all post-baccalaureate course work.

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.

Application deadlines are as follows: June 1 for fall semester, November 1 for Spring semester, and March 1 for summer term.

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:

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

SPAN 560 Structure of Spanish Language 3 Credits

WL 598 Research in Modern Languages 3 Credits

Total Credit Hours: 6 Credits

Directed Electives

Literature:

Choose 12 credits from

SPAN 515 Colonial Spanish-American Literature 3 Credits

SPAN 520 Modernismo 3 Credits

SPAN 525 Contemporary Spanish-American Poetry 3 Credits

SPAN 526 The Spanish-American Short Story 3 Credits

SPAN 530 Contemporary Spanish Novel 3 Credits

SPAN 535 Contemporary Spanish-American Novel 3 Credits

SPAN 545 The Spanish-American Essay 3 Credits

SPAN 551 Drama of the Golden Age 3 Credits

SPAN 553 19th-Century Spanish Literature 3 Credits

SPAN 571 Generation of '98 3 Credits

SPAN 572 20th-Century Spanish Literature 3 Credits

SPAN 576 Cervantes 3 Credits

WL 500 Studies in Modern Languages 3 Credits

Culture and Civilization:

Choose 3 credits from

SPAN 534 Women Writers of the Spanish-Speaking World 3 Credits

SPAN 588 Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World 3 Credits

WL 550 Intensive Studies in Modern Languages 3 Credits

Electives

Selected in consultation with advisor.

Capstone

Plan A:

SPAN 599 Thesis 3 Credits

Plan B:

Comprehensive Examination

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

Italian or Spanish for Certified Teachers Specialization 30 credits (Plan C)

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.

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.