Romance Languages, M.A.

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Romance Languages (French or Spanish Option) offers the student a concentration in one of two areas: language/culture/civilization or literature. The program prepares students for further graduate study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and provides training for teachers of French or Spanish in secondary schools and colleges. It also offers the opportunity for rigorous advanced study in the humanities to qualified persons for nonacademic professions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for MA Romance Languages
1	Students will demonstrate advanced proficiency in written expression and reading comprehension in Romance Languages (French/Spanish Non thesis option).
2	Students will demonstrate comprehensive understanding of four areas of knowledge: linguistics, literature, civilization (history) and culture.
3	Students will develop and display proficiency in speaking and listening skills in Spanish or French.

Admission

To be admitted to graduate studies in Romance Languages, a student must present a high standard of achievement in upper-level coursework in the target language (French or Spanish). In addition, the Foreign Language Department requires a statement of purpose written in the target language. Students with the bachelor’s degree in fields other than French or Spanish may be admitted on a provisional basis to make up deficiencies.

Degree Requirements

Language/Culture/Civilization
1. 33 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000 or 30 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000, including up to 6 credits in thesis research.
2. A “B” average in all courses.
3. Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination (written and oral) which will test the student in three areas of linguistics/civilization and in one period of literature (areas and a period which he/she may select from those indicated in the Reading List for the Master of Arts comprehensive exam).
4. Reading knowledge at the 2002 proficiency level of a second Romance Language (French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian) or Latin.
Literature
1. 30 credits in course work with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000, including up to 6 credits in thesis research or 33 credits in coursework with at least 15 in courses numbered over 6000.
2. A “B” average in all courses.
3. Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination (written and oral) which will test the student in three periods of literature and one area of linguistics/civilization (periods and an area which he/she may select from those indicated in the Reading List for the Master of Arts in comprehensive exam).
4. Reading knowledge at the 2002 proficiency level of a second Romance Language (French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian) or Latin.
5. All students admitted to the graduate program will be referred to the Departmental Coordinators of Graduate Studies, who will guide each student in selecting and following a sound program of study suited to needs and level of preparation. This program may, in individual cases, involve more course work than is specified in the general requirements for the degree. For purposes of clarification, it should be understood that the descriptions of 6000-level courses in the pages below are only categorical and that narrowed topics are always chosen for study within these broad categories.

The comprehensive examination is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the language/culture/civilization or of the literature of his/her chosen field of study. The examination may be taken only after the candidate has passed the reading knowledge examination in a foreign language other than the major language area and has completed all of the course work. Ordinarily, the examination will be devoted to course work undertaken for the master’s degree.
The thesis is written under the supervision of an advisor assigned to the student by the Coordinators of Graduate Studies in Romance Languages. Credit for Romance Languages 7000 (Thesis Research) is granted only after the thesis has been approved by a committee appointed by the Graduate School and after the candidate has passed a one-hour oral examination on the thesis administered by this committee.

Financial Aid

Assistantships in the Department of Foreign Languages are available for a limited number of qualified applicants each year. Requests for application forms and for additional information should be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Romance Languages.