The faculty in the Department of Languages and Literatures offer graduate programs leading to the M.A. degree in Asian Languages and Civilizations — Chinese/Japanese, French, German, and Spanish. For concentrations available under each major, see the “College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduate Degrees and Majors.”

Students admitted to the Master of Education degree program in Secondary Education may elect foreign languages as the subject matter field. See Education, “Master of Education” for information on the Master of Education degree.

The faculty also offer a graduate program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Spanish. See Graduate Studies at ASU Main and ASU East, “Doctor of Philosophy” for general requirements.

It is recommended, but not required, that students applying for admission to the M.A., M.Ed., or Ph.D. program submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination.

The department also offers a Certificate in Translation.

MASTER OF ARTS

Candidates for the M.A. degree should, upon entrance, present the equivalent of an undergraduate major in the language in which the degree is sought. Those who lack this background, but who show strong potential and meet Graduate College admissions requirements, may be admitted to a graduate program on a provisional basis, pending removal of specified deficiencies. These deficiencies must be completed in addition to the regular program of study for the master’s degree.

Students in all graduate programs are expected to maintain a high level of linguistic fluency acceptable to a native speaker. Before acceptance in the program, applicants may be requested to furnish evidence of their proficiency.

The program of study for the M.A. degree includes a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level work, as approved by the candidate’s supervisory committee. The program must include a 500-level Bibliography and Research Methods course offered by the department. It is recommended that the course be taken, if possible, in the first semester of the candidate’s graduate career. When approved by the candidate’s supervisory committee, nine hours in another language or in closely related courses may be included in the program.

Students who are primarily interested in teaching on the secondary or community college levels may select, with the approval of the supervisory committee, a program of study with a concentration in language and culture. Students in all programs present a thesis for which six hours of credit are granted.

Comprehensive Examinations. All candidates are required to pass a comprehensive written or oral examination designed to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge in the area of specialization. A reading list is provided as a guide to preparation for this examination.

Thesis Requirements. There are two options. The thesis option is required for students intending to pursue doctoral studies. There is a portfolio option thesis equivalent for students intending to teach in K – 12 or the community colleges; however, such students may also choose the thesis option. See the director of graduate studies to inquire about the two options.

Final Examinations. A final oral examination in defense of the thesis is required.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The Ph.D. degree is offered with a major in Spanish with concentrations in literature or cultural studies.

Program of Study. A student’s individual program of courses covering the various periods of Spanish and Latin American literature and/or culture, as well as the historical and political background of both areas, is determined in consultation with the supervisory committee. Specifically required as prerequisites are SPA 500 Bibliography and Research Methods, SPA 545 Concepts of Literary Criticism (for a concentration in literature), and SPA 598 ST: Cultural Studies/Semiotics of Culture (for a concentration in cultural studies).

At least 15 graduate credits must be earned in the subfield, and the candidate’s program of study in the subfield must be approved by the subfield department. Normally the comprehensive examination on the subfield, administered by the subfield department, must be satisfied before the comprehensive in Spanish. Students are urged to consult the Spanish Graduate Handbook.

Foreign Language Requirements. Each candidate is expected to demonstrate a reading knowledge of two languages other than Spanish. The language requirements must be satisfied before the candidate is eligible to take the comprehensive examination.

Comprehensive Examinations. A written and oral comprehensive examination, designed to ascertain the candidate’s knowledge and orientation in the field of study and competency to proceed with the dissertation, is required at or near the end of course work.

Dissertation Requirements. The candidate must present an acceptable dissertation based on original investigation. The dissertation must represent a significant contribution to knowledge and demonstrate the candidate’s ability to do independent, scholarly research.

Final Examinations. A final oral examination is required. This examination covers the subject matter of the dissertation and appropriate field.

CERTIFICATE IN TRANSLATION

The Certificate in Translation program is designed to provide the advanced training required for professional translation in both the public and private sectors, preparation for the rigorous examinations required by national and international agencies, and training as an ancillary skill for professional fields, such as international business, public health and medicine, and law, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the American Translators’ Association. The certificate is a nondegree program consisting of 12 semester hours of course work and two semester hours of in-service practicum primarily into the receptor language of English from the source language of Spanish. The practicum may be taken simultaneously with course work leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree, as a related area sequence, or as the sole program of study for members of the community who meet the admission requirements of the certificate program and are enrolled in the university. A complete brochure is available at the Department of Languages and Literatures in LL 440.

While the certificate program is not yet available in French, FRE translation courses may be available. See the Schedule of Classes for course offerings.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Faculty in the Department of Languages and Literatures conducts a wide array of research on topics relating to languages and cultures of the world. Of particular interest are contemporary and urban topics relating to the 20th-century and beyond, with special emphasis on urban studies, gender issues/sexual identities, popular culture, film, theater, and print media. Current pedagogical issues relating to language acquisition figures prominently in the department, as do technological developments. These include the teaching of languages and cultures, and the accessibility to and distribution of information regarding regions and topics of interest to faculty and students.

Spanish Research Activity. In addition to broad coverage of peninsular and Spanish-American literary and cultural topics, particular regional emphases lie within the U.S. Southwest, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Andes, and the River Plate. Specific research projects by Spanish faculty members include topics in Chicano and Latino literature, literary translation, Hispanic literary bibliography, contemporary literary theory, Spanish-American colonial literature, Argentine narrative, contemporary Mexican and Centro-American literature, contemporary Spanish and Spanish-American poetry, Spanish-American oral tradition, Hispanic women writers, Latin American popular culture, Spanish-American Jewish writers, gender and queer studies, contemporary Spanish and Spanish-American theater and film, Spanish-American postmodern culture, prose narrative of the Golden Age, Hispanic linguistics and bilingualism/sociolinguistics, and various topics in Brazilian literature.

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