The department offers several options for advanced study. The master of arts/doctor of philosophy (M.A./Ph.D.) option in literature and culture prepares students for careers in research and teaching in Hispanic literatures and cultural studies. The Ph.D. option in bilingualism and second language acquisition prepares students for careers in research and teaching in the areas of linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic approaches to bilingualism and second language learning. The M.A. option in translation and interpreting prepares students for careers in commerce, industry, and the judicial system. The master of arts for teachers (M.A.T.) program, presented online, is designed for individuals already teaching Spanish at the secondary or junior college level. Both the M.A. option in translation and the M.A.T. are terminal degrees.
The M.A./Ph.D. option in literature and culture deals with Spanish and Spanish-American literatures and cultures, as well as the literatures and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. This program is open to applicants with distinguished academic records and high Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Doctoral candidates are expected to complete 48 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree. Candidates must pass a written qualifying examination and complete 24 credits of research. They are expected to submit their doctoral thesis proposals when they take their written examinations.
Candidates for the M.A. degree who elect to write a thesis may devote 6 of their required credits to a research problem. In this case, however, they are required to make an oral defense of their thesis. At this time, faculty members screen those M.A. candidates who wish to continue for a doctorate. Exceptional candidates nominated by the faculty have the option to bypass the master's examination and proceed to the 24 credits of required Ph.D. coursework.
Credit for graduate work taken at other institutions may be accepted in partial fulfillment of the course requirements. Candidates must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign languages chosen from among German, Latin, and the Romance languages other than Spanish. This language requirement must be satisfied before the student is admitted to the Ph.D. qualifying examination.
The doctoral qualifying examination is a written examination based on reading lists covering the student's major field of concentration and theories. Once the student has fulfilled the course and language requirements and passed this qualifying examination, he or she is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. and may then proceed with the preparation of the dissertation.
The Ph.D. option in bilingualism and second language acquisition focuses on linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic approaches to the study of bilingualism and second language acquisition. Doctoral candidates are expected to complete 48 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree.
Students entering without a master of arts (M.A.) degree in linguistics are required to complete 30 credits of coursework including three required core courses. Up to 9 credits may be taken in other departments (Graduate School of Education, linguistics, and psychology). They are required to undertake a first qualifying paper, which must be defended before a committee comprised of three faculty members.
After completion of their first qualifying paper, students are required to complete 24 credits of coursework, of which 9 credits must be taken within the graduate program in Spanish. In addition to coursework, students are also required to complete 24 credits of research and to write and defend a doctoral dissertation. A second qualifying paper in an area different from the first is required for advancing to Ph.D. candidacy, and students must defend a dissertation proposal prior to writing and defending the doctoral dissertation.
Students already holding an M.A. in linguistics are required
to undertake a single qualifying paper, which must be defended before a
committee comprised of three faculty members. They are required to complete 24
credits of coursework, of which 9 credits must be taken within the graduate
program in Spanish. In addition to coursework, students are also required to
complete 24 credits of research and to write and defend a doctoral
dissertation.
The terminal M.A. option in translation and interpreting provides advanced training for translators and interpreters who are preparing for careers in legal, commercial, medical, technical, and social service fields. Applicants are admitted on the basis of academic record, GRE general test scores, and a personal statement submitted in English and in Spanish. The 24 credits of coursework may include theory and practice of translation and interpretation, linguistics, literature, culture, and literary theory. There is a foreign language requirement and a 6-credit thesis, which is a translation.
The terminal M.A.T. online program is designed for individuals who already teach Spanish or hold a valid teaching license for teaching Spanish. Applicants are admitted on the basis of prior academic and/or professional performance. Scores from the GRE are not required for admission. The 30 credits of coursework may include language, linguistics, methodology, literature, and culture. Courses considered as core for the degree are also offered in the curriculum numbered 16:617 (Literature and Language).
