M.A. Degree

For the Master's degree in Spanish there is a minimum course requirement of three graduate-level courses in the field of Iberian and Latin American Literatures and Cultures, each in a different area, and of two graduate-level courses in the Language & Linguistics field, each in a different area (a total of 5 courses in 5 of the 6 different areas). All courses in the areas listed below must be taken on a letter-grade basis.

A. Iberian and Latin American Literatures and Cultures

1. Early
2. Modern
3. Contemporary

B. Language & Linguistics

1. Formal Linguistics
2. Applied Linguistics
3. Second Language Acquisition

Courses corresponding to each area are listed in the Appendix.

The number of semester hours of course credit that is required is thirty (30) or thirty-two (32) depending on the type of degree sought. Required courses include:

• SPW 6806 Research Methods and Bibliography in Literary and Cultural Studies(3 hours) (Only for literature specialists)
• FOL 5932 Quantitative Research Methods in SLA (Only for linguistics specialists)
• SPN 5845 History of the Spanish Language (3 hours)
• FOL 5934 Research Foundations and Practice in Communicative Language Teaching (3 hours)

These courses should be taken as early in the student's program as possible. Furthermore, upon recommendation by the Division, graduate students may be required to take SPN 5900 Advanced Spanish Composition and Translation, which will not count toward the hour requirements for graduation.

If the student elects to have a minor within the department, that exam area replaces one area exam so that the student will take a total of three exams. The department offers the option of a minor in Second Language Acquisition, nine semester hours must be earned in courses in this minor field. A minor outside the department will be in addition to the departmental course work in Modern Languages; specific details will be coordinated with the particular department.

No graduate credit can be transferred from another school to count toward the M.A. degree at FSU, and no 4000 level undergraduate courses will apply towards graduate credit. If acceptable to the minor professor, some courses (no more than 6 semester hours) on the 4000 level in the minor field may be counted toward the M.A. degree.

By the end of the second semester of study, the Program of Studies form must be prepared by the candidate with the DGS of the division. This Program of Studies is placed in the student's file. In addition, students are to meet each semester with the DGS of the division and/or their thesis director to review his/her progress toward the degree.

The M.A. degree must be completed within seven(7) years from the time a student first registers for graduate credit in this program.

Course-type M.A.

Degree Course type: To obtain a Master's degree under this program, the student must complete a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester hours. At least twenty-one (21) of these hours must be taken on a letter-grade basis. Three graduate-level courses in the Literature & culture field, each in a different area, and two graduate-level courses in the Language & Linguistics field, each in a different area, are required. If the student has a minor, the nine hours of course work in the minor count towards fulfilling the thirty-two hour requirement.

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Thesis-type M.A. Degree

Thesis type: Under this option, the student must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit, including six (6) hours of SPW 5971r, thesis. At least eighteen (18) of these hours must be taken on a letter grade basis.Three graduate-level courses in the Literature & culture field, each in a different area, and two graduate-level courses in the Language & Linguistics field, each in a different area, are required, and the student must submit an acceptable thesis. Comprehensive exams are required for thesis writers.

The M.A. Supervisory Committee is made up of a Major Professor, two other faculty members from the Division of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Minor Professor (if any). All of these must hold Master's Directive Status. The Committee is appointed by the department chair upon recommendation of the Major Professor. A prospectus of the thesis must be approved by the Supervisory Committee before registering for SPW 5971r. A copy of this prospectus, bearing the signatures of all committee members, must be submitted by the student for inclusion in the student's folder. Four copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Supervisory Committee at least two weeks before the Oral Defense of the thesis, which must be no less than two weeks before the date the candidate expects to receive the degree. The student must register for M.A. Thesis Defense, SPW 8976, in the semester the defense is to take place.

After the thesis is approved and signed, three copies must be filed with the Office of Graduate Studies (644-3500). Two of these will be deposited in Strozier Library and one returned tothe Major Professor. Another copy must be filed with the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. The student is responsible for meeting the technical requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies and should consult with that office soon after starting work on the thesis.

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Master's Comprehensive Examination

The Master's Comprehensive Examination will be offered once in the fall, during the week before Thanksgiving, and once in the spring, the week after spring break. The examination in the Literatures and Cultures areas is based on the M.A. reading lists, at least one area must be in Latin American literature and one in Spanish literature; in Language and Linguistics fields the examination is based on reading lists prepared in consultation with the examining professor(s). The Examination Panel will be composed of Spanish and Portuguese Division faculty members with Master's Directive Status, one from each area, as well as the minor professor (if any) who must also hold Master's Directive Status.

The M.A. exam will cover three of the six areas. It is the student's responsibility to find a professor from the minor area who will prepare and grade questions in that area.

The exam is a six-hour examination consisting of two hours on each of three days. The use of a dictionary is not permitted. Questions will be specific in nature, and may include identifications, essay questions, problem solving. There will not be any oral examination for the M.A. Comprehensive Examination. If the student does not pass one area on the M.A. examination, upon request the student will be reexamined on that area during a later regular examination period, but not before the next scheduled examination. If the student does not pass two or more areas, the entire examination must be retaken at a subsequent regular examination period. In the even all areas are not passed after the second examination, the student is no longer eligible to be in the program.

It is the student's responsibility to register for the M.A. comprehensive examination (SPW 8966r) during the regular registration period. In the semester the student expects to receive the degree, it is also the student's responsibility to make all necessary arrangements with the Registrar's Office, the Office of Graduate Studies, and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies concerning his/her diploma, fees, degree clearance, etc.

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M.A. Reading List

• Early:
  • Latin American Colonial or Iberian Golden Age and Medieval
• Modern:
  • 19th Century Latin American or Iberian 18th and 19th Centuries
• Contemporary:
  • Latin American or Iberian 20th and 21st Centuries

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