Prerequisites
The normal preparation for graduate work in Spanish is a BA or BS degree in the language. Students without such a degree are required to have at least twenty-four semester hours of college work in the language, including a general survey of literature course and an advanced language course or their equivalents. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the department to see if their academic background qualifies them for admission.
The program leading to the MA degree may include courses in the medieval and modern language, theoretical and applied liguistics, philology, culture and civilization, literature, literary theory, and criticism. Students must complete a minimum total of 30 credit hours, including History of the Language and the Spanish Proseminar which covers research methodologies and an introduction to literary theory. Students holding a teaching assistantship are also required to complete a course in teaching methodologies. Upon completion of twenty-four credit hours, the candidate is eligible to take the MA comprehensive examination while taking the remainder of his or her coursework.
Directed Reading CoursesThe department also offers directed reading courses to accomodate the needs of individual students under special circumstances.
Comprehensive ExaminationsThe MA degree requires a written comprehensive examination in the major subject.
Candidates for the MA degree are expected to have (1) a satisfactory speaking facility in Spanish, (2) knowledge of the old and modern literature of Spain and Latin America (students seeking specific guidance in their reading program should consult their professors or the chair of the department; reading lists are available), and (3) an adequate knowledge of the main scholarly and critical works in the field.
Program Requirements
Spanish:
A high level of proficiency in Spanish is a prerequisite. 30 credits are generally completed in three to four semesters of full-time study. Besides the required courses such as the proseminar, and the history of the language, students are encouraged to choose a broad range of courses taught by different faculty members.
Transfer credits:
Up to 6 credits of graduate study at an accredited institution may be recommended for transfer by the advisor. Approval of the chair and the dean are required.
Comprehensive Examination:
After completion of the courses or concurrently while completing the last 6 credits or less, students register for a comprehensive examination of two days duration. Candidates are urged to consult the chair and faculty of their respective programs for details about the format of the examination. Reading lists for each program are available in the department.
Student Advising and MentoringThe Department of Modern Languages attaches great importance to the personal nurturing of its students throughout their graduate programs, in the form of individual advising, professional encouragement, and financial support. Incoming graduate students are assigned an academic advisor who suggests and reviews course selection. Each student's program is individually designed, taking into account previous training, field(s) of specialization, and the courses offered each semester.
Financial assistance is also available through the Department to present papers at professional meetings.
Beyond the ClassroomThe Department of Modern Languages hosts conferences, symposia, colloquia, performing arts series, and other educational programs for scholars, students at all levels, and the general public. Recent examples have included theatrical performances; poetry readings; an International Symposium on Latino and Iberoamerican Theatre; lectures on 17th-century French Literature, the intersection between Italian Literature, Opera and the Visual Arts; presentations on Frida Kahlo, Pablo Neruda, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and contemporary culture in Berlin. In addition, we organize an annual Graduate Student Colloquium. Some of these activities have involved community outreach projects such as panel discussions and workshops for school teachers or the general public.
Learning to Teach - Teaching to LearnGraduate assistantships are available for qualified students to teach beginning and intermediate level language courses. In concert with CUA's commitment to quality undergraduate education, the Department of Modern Languages strives to prepare graduate students for this important instructional and administrative role and for their future role in the professoriate. With these goals in mind, a course on current views on language teaching and learning is offered by the language program coordinator, a specialist in Foreign Language pedagogy. Numerous other structured and informal opportunities to develop effective teaching strategies are also provided, with the on-going support of faculty supervisors, the media director, and other TAs. Particular attention is given to the expanding role of technology in language instruction.
Academic ResourcesThe Library
The Catholic University of America offers academic resources and services that are integral to the work of the institution. The Library's collection includes a fine selection of books and refereed journals on Foreign Language literature and literary criticism. In addition to CUA's facilities, graduate students may borrow material from the consortium libraries, all located within the greater Washington area. The library provides many electronic resources, such as ALADIN, a collection of databases supported by the university's membership in the Washington Research Library Consortium.
Technology Resources
The Center for Planning and Information Technology provides computational and network facilities to CUA students and faculty for their educational and research activities on campus and across the Internet. The Multimedia Language Center of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures recognizes that experience with computer and electronic technologies occupies an important place in the professional development of graduate students.
Applying An undergraduate major in Spanish or a related field is recommended for applicants. Graduate Record Examinations General Test scores are required for U.S. applicants, while international students whose native language is not English may present scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language instead of the GRE. GRE scores are required of international students who have obtained B.A. or MA degrees in English-speaking countries. Applications should be received in the Office of Graduate Student Services, 102 McMahon, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, by February 15. Students are selected on the basis of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) records, GRE or TOEFL scores, letters of recommendation, a 15-20 page Spanish language writing sample and interviews, if possible.
An online application is also available. |
