The Master of Arts in World Languages is designed for students wishing to pursue language, culture, and literature work at the graduate level.
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 |
| WL 598 | Research in World Languages | 3 |
Directed Electives
Literature:
Choose 12 credits from
Culture and Civilization:
Choose 3 credits from
| SPAN 534 | Women Writers of the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| SPAN 588 | Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| WL 550 | Intensive Studies in World Languages | 3 |
Electives
Selected in consultation with advisor.
Capstone
Plan B:
| Comprehensive Examination | |
Note: Nine credits will be transferred as substitutes from the University of Salamanca as electives.
Plan C:
| WL 595 | Special Project in World Languages | 3 |
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.
Professional Education
| WL 490 | Teaching World Languages II: Acquisition in Young Children for Teachers of World Languages | 3 |
| WL 492 | Topics in Language Teaching | 1-3 |
| Additional course as approved by advisor | |
Core
| ITAL 560 | Advanced Written Italian | 3 |
| or | |
| SPAN 560 | Structure of Spanish Language | 3 |
| WL 598 | Research in World Languages | 3 |
ML 598: must be completed within the first fifteen credits of planned program
Directed Electives
One culture/civilization course and two literature courses
Electives
As approved by advisor
Capstone
Plan C:
| WL 595 | Special Project in World Languages | 3 |
Italian Specialization 30 credits (Plan A or Plan B)
Core
Directed Electives. Select Option 1 or Option 2:
Option 1
Four literature courses as approved by advisor.
Select from:
| ITAL 561 | Topics in Italian Literature | 3 |
| WL 500 | Studies in World Languages | 3 |
ITAL 561:Topics in Italian Literature (may be repeated up to 3 times with different topics)
one culture and civilization course:
| ITAL 588 | Topics in Italian Cultural Studies | 3 |
ITAL 588: may be repeated up to 3 times with different topics
Option 2
| WL 550 | Intensive Studies in World Languages | 3 |
| and | |
| 6 or 9 credits selected from Option 1 | |
ML 550: may be repeated up to 3 times with different topics
Electives:
Courses as approved by advisor, including but not restricted to:
| ITAL 588 | Topics in Italian Cultural Studies | 3 |
| ITAL 561 | Topics in Italian Literature | 3 |
| ITAL 588 | Topics in Italian Cultural Studies | 3 |
| IS 590 | Graduate Field Study Abroad | 3 OR 6 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
Capstone:
Plan A:
Plan B:
| Comprehensive Examination | |
Spanish Specialization 30 credits (Plan B or Plan C)
Core:
| SPAN 560 | Structure of Spanish Language | 3 |
| WL 598 | Research in World Languages | 3 |
Directed Electives:
Literature:
Choose 12 credits from:
Culture and Civilization:
one of the following:
| SPAN 534 | Women Writers of the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| SPAN 588 | Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| WL 550 | Intensive Studies in World Languages | 3 |
Electives:
Selected in consultation with advisor
Capstone:
Plan B:
| Comprehensive Examination | |
Plan C:
| WL 595 | Special Project in World Languages | 3 |