Graduate Programs
Master of Arts in French, Italian or Spanish
The Romance Languages and Literatures Department provides instruction in the French, Italian and Spanish languages, literatures and cultures within the programs leading to Master of Arts (MA) degrees. A candidate for the MA is expected to acquire oral and written proficiency in one romance language, sound knowledge of the principal aspects of the literature and culture in that language, and familiarity with various methods of scholarship and criticism.
If desired, students in the MA and 4+1/combined program can pursue a certificate in translation or in community college teaching, without adding extra courses or time to their degree. For more information, see the department's website or contact the graduate director.
The MA degree in each of the three languages follows a similar structure. It consists of nine graduate courses (36 credits), two of which are electives, chosen in consultation with the student鈥檚 advisor. Elective courses should be closely related to the general framework of the master鈥檚 degree program and must be tailored to suit the student鈥檚 professional interests (such as translation, pedagogy or literary and cultural studies). Through the remaining seven courses, the student is immersed in the literature, culture, pedagogy and linguistics of the language being studied.
Once coursework is completed, all students are required to take comprehensive examinations in the major language/literature/culture, and are offered at the end of each semester. These examinations, based on reading lists as well as coursework, test the candidate's familiarity with core works of literature/culture/linguistics, knowledge of the general historical development of those works, and ability to use the language correctly.
The requirements for the MA in French, Italian or Spanish may be satisfied according to Plan A or Plan B described below.
Course Requirements
MA Plan A: Comprehensive Examination and Final Project
- Total course requirement: nine (36 credits)
- Courses on the studied language: six + one independent study to prepare exams (28 credits)
- Electives in related fields: two (eight credits)
- Comprehensive examination
Assessment description
Students following this option review a list of works in their language鈥檚 literary, linguistic and cultural traditions (included in the core reading list) and focus on areas of special interest, including linguistics and cinema (addressed in the field-specific reading lists). The exams can be taken on two different days. Exams are taken at the Romance Languages and Literatures Department, with a time limit of two hours per question. Students answer the questions in writing and will have access to dictionaries only (depending on the nature of the questions, Spanish MA students might have access to primary sources as well).
MA Plan B: Thesis
- Total course requirement: nine
- Courses on the studied language: six + one independent study to prepare thesis (28 credits)
- Electives (in related fields): two (eight credits)
- Comprehensive examination
- Thesis: one
Thesis
Under Plan B, in addition to taking comprehensive exams, the student is required to produce a thesis. The student fulfills this requirement by submitting a thesis, presented through the respective advisors to the chairperson of the departmental graduate committee, at least eight weeks before the last day of classes of the semester in which the degree is to be granted. During this time, the student may be required to make corrections, additions or other alterations to bring the work up to the standard required for thesis credit.
Master of Social Work-Master of Arts in Spanish Dual-Degree Program
In response to the growing demand for bilingual Spanish-speaking social workers in the United States, 香港六合彩资料 offers a dual-degree program in social work and Spanish. The program leads to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Arts (MA) in Spanish degrees. Students enrolled in the dual-degree program will acquire linguistic and cultural competency as well as professional social work skills to successfully work with Spanish-speaking, Hispanic and Latino/a communities in the United States.
The language and linguistics courses offered in the MA in Spanish will allow students to communicate effectively with clients from different regions and backgrounds. The culture courses will help them obtain a thorough understanding of the historical, political and social processes that have shaped and continue to shape Latin America-U.S. relations.