Master
of Arts in Spanish
Master
of Arts in Teaching Spanish
The Department of Foreign
Languages and Literatures' graduate program in Spanish is designed
to provide students with a broad background in Spanish language,
literatures, culture and language teaching methodology.
The majority of the department's graduates have entered teaching
careers, continued on to doctoral studies, or secured a position
in business or government. Students in the program form
a small and relatively intimate group. Graduate seminars
are kept small, averaging ten students, and students are given
individual guidance throughout their course of study.
Teaching assistantships
in Spanish are available to candidates on a competitive basis.
Teaching assistants must take SPAN 252: Practicum for Spanish
Teaching Assistants, during each fall semester of their assistantship.
This course carries no credit and is not charged against the tuition
hours covered by the assistantship.
Teaching Assistants
normally teach two sections of Elementary Spanish each semester,
and take three classes toward the completion of their course work
requirements.
Applicants for the master of arts
(M.A.) or the master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) programs must
have a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent foreign degree, from
an accredited institution.
Applicants with an undergraduate
major in Spanish are expected to have completed 24 credit hours
of course work beyond the intermediate level, including work in
composition, conversation, and advanced work in literature.
Applicants with an undergraduate minor in Spanish are expected
to have completed 15 credit hours of course work beyond the intermediate
level, including a survey course in literature and a course in
composition and conversation. Applicants must have an undergraduate
grade point average equivalent of B or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
Native speakers of the language, who have an undergraduate degree
in the humanities, are also eligible.
The applicant must
submit, directly to the Graduate School Office the following:
1. A complete application
form and fee.
2. Official transcripts from all current and previous colleges/universities
except Marquette.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. A writing sample in Spanish. This can be a term paper
from one of the
applicant's undergraduate Spanish courses;
5. (For international applicants only) a TOEFL score
or other acceptable proof
of English proficiency.
6. (For teaching
assistantships in Spanish) a tape recording (no longer
than 5 minutes) of their foreign speaking
voice. The tape should include a
reading from a prose passage and some free
conversation. Foreign
applicants
should make a similar recording in English. The recording
should be submitted directly to the director
of graduate studies or the
chair
of the department.
Students may pursue
either a Plan A or Plan B course of study. The student is
assumed to be in Plan B unless a formal request to transfer to
Plan A is approved by the department chair and the Graduate School.
Plan A students
are required to complete 24 credit hours of course work, six
hours of thesis work, and submit an approved thesis to complete
the program. Students must also demonstrate a reading knowledge
of an additional modern foreign language.
Plan B students are required
to complete 30 credit hours of course work. A thesis is
not required.
For the master of arts
in teaching degree, two Plan B (non thesis) options are available.
A thesis is not required for either option.
Plan I
is designed for students who have a bachelor of arts degree with
a major in Spanish and who are certified to teach. The coursework
requirement consists of thirty credit hours, 18-21 credit hours
are in language and literature (nine credit hours must be in courses
numbered 200 or above) and 9-12 credit hours of related education
courses (six credit hours must be in courses numbered 200 or above).
Plan II
is designed for students who have a bachelor of arts degree with
a major in Spanish but are not certified to teach. A maximum
of 46 credit hours of course work may be required, depending
on the student's previous educational background.
Requirements for the
master of arts in teaching program are subject to revision by
the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction. Students
in this program should consult with the director of field placements
and licensure in the College of Education concerning the professional
sequence.
Required course work
consists of 18-21 credit hours in Spanish language and literature
(nine credit hours must be in courses numbered 200 or above) and
26 semester hours to satisfy the professional sequence in the
College of Education (EDUC 125, EDUC 176, EDPL 234, EDPS 266,
FOLA 262) and SPAN 252 (no credit). Students
who have not met the Human Relations requirement in their undergraduate
program will need to complete a course in this area (EDUC
48).
For full-time students,
Plan II of the master of arts in teaching program normally takes
four semesters to complete. For graduate teaching assistants,
six semesters are required. Pre-Professional Skills Test
(PPST) is required from all prospective candidates seeking the
master of arts in teaching degree.
Course Work for M.A.
and M.A.T.
At least half of the
student's work as a graduate student must be in courses numbered
200 and above. M.A. students are required to complete a total
of 30 credit hours with two upper division or graduate level courses
in each of the five areas listed below. M.A.T. students
must complete a total of 21 credit hours in Spanish, including
one course in each area listed below, with the exception of "Language
and Linguistics" in which students must complete two courses.
The remaining three credit hours may be taken in any of the five
areas:
1. Early Hispanic Literature
(SPAN 125, 175, 190, 193, 211, 216 or 270)
2. Modern and Contemporary
Peninsular Spanish Literature (SPAN 126, 150,
192, 219 or 220)
3. Modern and Contemporary
Spanish-American Literature (SPAN 170, 194, or
271)
4. Language and Linguistics
(SPAN 142, 185, 201, 242 or 282)
5. Hispanic Cultural
Studies (SPAN 100, 102, 103, 171, or 172)
Note: A
course may not be used to fulfill more than one area of study.
Depending on the topic, SPAN 298 may be repeated, and
can be used to fulfill the appropriate area of study. All
100-level courses taken for graduate credit will require additional
work at the graduate level, such as: readings, writing assignments,
and oral presentations.
Candidates for the master
of arts degree or the master of arts in teaching degree must pass
written and oral comprehensive examinations based on the material
covered in the student's course work and the master's reading
list to complete the program. Examinations are normally given
in November and March. Exceptions must be approved by the
director of graduate studies and the department chair.
M.A. degree
candidates will select, in advance, three out of the five areas
listed above upon which to be tested. The exam must be written
in Spanish.
M.A.T. degree
candidates will be tested in both Spanish and Education.
For the Spanish portion, the student will select, in advance,
three of the five required areas, one of which must be "Language
and Linguistics". The exam must be written in Spanish.
The education port of the examination is based on two education
areas of the student's choice. The answers to this portion
must be written in English. The education examination usually
takes place in the fall semester; the Spanish examination is given
in the spring semester. The student must pass both of these
areas to complete the program.
The oral portion of
the comprehensive examination for the M.A. and the M.A.T. will
take place approximately one week following the written exam.
The student will be asked to elaborate upon, clarify and/or correct
information given in the written exam (Spanish portion only for
the M.A.T. candidates). No new material will be introduced
during this session. The student's overall performance will
not be evaluated until after this session.
The examining committee
will be composed of three to five faculty members chosen by the director
of graduate studies in consultation with the student and the department
chairperson. Details on examinations, the master's reading
list, and sample questions are available from the Department office.
Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures
LaLumière
Language Hall 254
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
Phone: (414) 288-7063 * Fax: (414) 288-7653
foreign.languages@marquette.edu
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