French and Spanish Concentrations
The Romance Languages degree program incorporates a variety of concentrations. There are two concentrations:
Both concentrations have thesis and non-thesis options. French and Spanish concentrations each have fields of study:
- Linguistics
- Literature/Cultural Studies
Regardless of the area of study, all new graduate teaching assistants must enroll for the Practicum in Applied Linguistics (either FR 512 or SP 502). For specifics related to the programs incorporating Spanish, please consult the degree requirements, detailed below.
Find detailed degree requirements and course descriptions in the Graduate Catalog.
Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option for the Spanish concentration of the Romance Languages Master of Arts incorporates 30 hours of coursework (or 36 hours of coursework for the linguistics focus). Both non-thesis options require success on a comprehensive written examination before granting the degree. Both non-thesis options of the Romance languages MA generally include a core of six required courses in these areas:
- Teaching Practicum
- Topics in Linguistics
- Pro-seminar Research Methodology: Critical Theory or Quantitative/Qualitative Methods in Linguistics
- Topics in Culture and Civilization
- Graduate Seminar
- Special Topics/Directed Readings
Spanish Literature Focus
The curriculum consists of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework, of which 27 credit hours must be Spanish graduate courses. The students must take a minimum:
- 9 credit hours in Peninsular literature,
- 9 credit hours in Latin American literature,
- 3 credit hours in Spanish linguistics,
- 3 credit hours in the Teaching Practicum
- 3 credit hours in Spanish electives
- 3 credit hours in other elective graduate courses
The 27 Spanish graduate credit hours are divided among the following areas of study:
- Golden Age Peninsular
- 19th-Century Peninsular
- 20th- and 21st-Century Peninsular
- Colonial Latin America
- 19th-Century Latin America
- 20th- and 21st-Century Latin America
- US Latinx Studies
- Spanish Linguistics
A student may take the remaining three credits outside the Spanish section or may take an additional Spanish elective in order to complete the 30 required credits. One course must be either the Critical Theory class (RL 557) or a literature class with a strong emphasis on literary theory.
Spanish Linguistics Focus
Curriculum requirements: 36 hours of coursework. The linguistics focus involves the following components:
- Language: 15 hours of course credit in Spanish language, literature, and culture (a minimum of 6 hours must be in peninsular literature and 6 hours in Latin-American literature)
- Linguistics: a 3-hour descriptive linguistics course (SP 556)
- Linguistics: 12 hours of coursework in other linguistics courses (four of the following: SP 584, SP 585, SP 586 or RL 586, SP 581, RL 587, or other approved courses)
- Teaching Practicum: 3 hours (SP 502)
- Research Methodology: 3 hours (SP 523 or RL 514)
Thesis Option
A description of the typical configuration for the thesis options in the Romance Languages Spanish concentration follows. In addition to writing a thesis, both thesis options require success on a comprehensive examination.
Spanish Concentration, Literature Focus
Curriculum requirements: 24 hours of coursework and a thesis. The curriculum centers on Peninsular and Spanish-American literature.
The Romance languages core requirements do not apply to thesis options. However, the curriculum must include either a course in critical theory or a literature course designated as theory enriched. The Teaching Practicum, SP 502, is also required. In consultation with the Spanish graduate advisor, each student must also select a special area of interest in Hispanic literature in order to write the thesis. Six hours of SP 599 Thesis Research with the thesis director are required beyond the 24 hours of coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to keep syllabi from each course on file for reference.
Spanish Concentration, Linguistics Focus
Curriculum requirements: 30 hours of coursework and a thesis (for a total of 36 hours including SP 599 Thesis Research). In addition to the thesis, the linguistics focus involves three components:
- Language: 12 hours of course credit in Spanish language, literature, and culture (a minimum of 6 hours must be in peninsular literature and 6 hours in Latin-American literature)
- Research Methodology: 3 hours (SP 523 or RL 514)
- Linguistics: a 3-hour descriptive linguistics course (SP 556)
- General Linguistics: 12 hours of coursework in second language acquisition and pedagogy (One must be the SP 502 Teaching Practicum, and three of the following: SP 523, SP 581, RL 513, or other approved courses)
The Romance languages core requirements do not apply to thesis-directed areas of study. However, the curriculum must include a course in research methodology. Six hours of SP 599 with the thesis director are required beyond the 30 hours of coursework.