Modern Languages (MA)
Description
The Department of Modern Languages offers the M.A. in modern languages with emphases in French, German, linguistics, Spanish, and teaching English as a second language (TESOL).
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 36
Course Requirements
Students must satisfy the requirements for either the emphasis in French, German, linguistics, Spanish, or TESOL.
Specializations
Emphasis - Applied Linguistics and TESOL
Description
Students who specialize in TESOL learn best practices in the teaching of English as a second language, training, most importantly, for careers as English-language teachers. With its heavy focus on applied and theoretical linguistics, the TESOL specialization within the Modern Languages master's program also prepares its graduates for doctoral work in the discipline.
Course Requirements
Four options for completing the degree are available. All options require 36 credit hours and must include the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 5120 | Multilingual Development & Education | 3 |
| LING 6000 | Fundamentals of Applied linguistics | 3 |
| LING 6030 | Seminar in Phonology | 3 |
| LING 6510 | Instructed Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| LING 6870 | Practicum in Teach Engl as a Second Lang | 3-6 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Dialects of English | ||
| Evaluation & Policy in Lang Education | ||
| Intercultural Communication & Education | ||
| Cultural Dimensions of Language Educatio | ||
The four options are as follows:
- 36 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin;
- a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin and 6-12 hours of coursework in a departmentally approved subfield;
- a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin and 6-12 hours of thesis work;
- 18 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin and 18 hours of a supervised internship (LING 6881 TESOL Internship I and LING 6882 TESOL Internship II).
Students must maintain a B average in their coursework or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.
Students who elect to pursue the thesis option must first pass LING 6900 Qualitative Research Methods or LING 6910 Quantitative Research Methods with at least a B. All nonthesis students must submit a teaching portfolio with a reflection in their final semester.
Students who elect to pursue the internship option must secure their own internship before the start of their coursework.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must maintain a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.
Emphasis - Languages
Specialization - French
Description
An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in French gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the French-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.
Course Requirements
M.A. students with a specialization in French must successfully complete FRCH 6510 Instructed Second Language Acquisition or FRCH 6720 Research & Practice in Clsrm Sec. Lang.. Course Requirements: Three options are available.
- The first option requires 36 hours of graduate-level coursework in French.
- The second option requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level work in French plus 6-12 hours in a subfield, subject to approval of the department.
- The third option requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level coursework in French plus 6-12 hours of credit for writing a thesis (FRCH 6997 ).
Please note: Under extraordinary circumstances, a candidate may petition the French faculty to allow both a subfield and a thesis, provided s/he can make a compelling argument as to why this is necessary.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must maintain a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program. Students must either pass a written comprehensive exam based on course work and the M.A. reading list or submit a thesis. Both the written exam and the thesis contain an oral component, during which the student clarifies or amplifies answers on the written component. Students opting to write a thesis must consult with members of his or her committee to discuss which items from the M.A. reading list will also be discussed at the oral thesis defense.
Specialization - German
Description
An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in German gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the German-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.
Course Requirements
Two options for completing the degree are available, each of which requires 36 hours and must include GERM 6510 Instructed Second Language Acquisition or GERM 6720 Research & Prac in Clasrm Sec. Lan. Acq. The two options are as follows:
- a minimum of 24 hours of course work in German and between 6 and 12 hours of course work in a departmentally approved subfield or
- a minimum of 24 hours of course work in German and between 6 and 12 hours of thesis work.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must maintain a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.
Specialization - Spanish
Description
An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in Spanish allows students to focus on literature or linguistics and gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.
Course Requirements
Three options for completing the degree are available, all of which require 36 hours and must include: SPAN 6510 Instructed Second Language Acquisition or SPAN 6720 Spanish Classroom SLA and SPAN 5220 Spanish Phonetics & Phonology as well as two of the following four literature survey courses: SPAN 5271 Survey of Spanish Literature I, SPAN 5272 Survey of Spanish Literature II, SPAN 5291 Survey of Spanish American Literature I, and SPAN 5292 Survey of Spanish American Literature II. The three options are as follows:
- 33 hours of coursework in Spanish including all four literature survey courses (SPAN 5271 Survey of Spanish Literature I, SPAN 5272 Survey of Spanish Literature II, SPAN 5291 Survey of Spanish American Literature I, and SPAN 5292 Survey of Spanish American Literature II) and one elective;
- a minimum of 24 hours of coursework in Spanish and between 6 and 12 hours of coursework in a departmentally approved subfield; or
- a minimum of 24 hours of coursework in Spanish and between 6 and 12 hours of thesis work. Students may not both write a thesis and study a subfield.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must maintain a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.
Emphasis - Linguistics
Description
Students who specialize in linguistics will be exposed to a broad range of linguistic inquiry and will then be encouraged to develop a specific research agenda. With its strong emphasis on research and academic writing, this degree prepares students for doctoral study in general, theoretical, or applied linguistics.
Course Requirements
Three options for completing the degree are available. All options require 36 credit hours, including LING 6030 Seminar in Phonology; 6 credit hours of theoretical linguistics courses, which are LING 6040 Seminar in Morphology, LING 6050 Seminar in Syntax, LING 6100 Seminar in Sociolinguistics, and LING 6200 Seminar in Historical Linguistics; and 6 credit hours of language diversity courses, which are LING 5110 Dialects of English, LING 5200 Historical Linguistics LING 5020 Evaluation & Policy in Lang Education, LING 5120 Multilingual Development & Education and LING 5210 Intercultural Communication & Education. These three options are as follows:
- 36 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin;
- a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level course work in Lin plus 6-12 hours of coursework in a departmentally approved subfield; or
- a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level coursework in Lin and 6-12 hours of thesis work. Students who wish to choose the thesis option are additionally required to take either LING 6900 Qualitative Research Methods or LING 6910 Quantitative Research Methods.
Other Academic Requirements
Students must maintain a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.