Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Rhodes Tower 1619
(216) 687-4645
https://artsandsciences.csuohio.edu/worldlanguages/masterspanish
Antonio Medina-Rivera, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures Chair
Matías Martínez Abeijón, Graduate Program Director
Introduction
The Master of Arts in Spanish program provides advanced study in Hispanic language, literature, culture, and linguistics to individuals preparing for, or involved in, a career in teaching, or in other professional programs, such as law and international business. The program meets the needs of students seeking a terminal master’s degree and those who are preparing to enter a Ph.D. program, as well as individuals studying for personal enrichment or professional advancement.
The Master of Arts in Spanish degree program is housed in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. The department also offers courses in support of the Master of Education degree with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction in French, German, and Spanish. Thus, students have the opportunity to be part of a larger group of graduate students and to take related courses, when appropriate, in other language or focus areas.
The program is organized to support both full-time and part-time students, and particularly those holding teaching positions. Courses are offered throughout the academic year and during the summer. Study abroad programs in the summer allow full-time immersion in a Hispanic culture and intensive language study.
The Master of Arts in Spanish program has the following unique features:
- A personalized program plan allows students to specialize in an area of interest and makes them aware of their course work as a coherent whole.
- The study abroad program allows students to relate to native speakers in their own environment and to apply learning in a practical manner.
- The option to include four hours outside of the Spanish area allows students to view their specialized training in a broader humanistic context. This reflects both national trends and the needs of students, especially those who are teachers and will continue in that career.
- The inclusion of oral proficiency standards relates to rising enrollments in foreign language study at all levels. In addition, reassessment by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and professional associations devoted to specific languages, as well as recent trends in the general field of foreign language education, have made this inclusion timely.
Faculty Research and Publications
All members of the graduate faculty are active scholars who participate in regional, national, and international associations. In recent years, members of the faculty have made significant contributions by authoring books, book chapters, and articles in a wide variety of scholarly fields.
The members of the graduate faculty publish extensively in the areas of sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, Arabic influence and presence in the Hispanic World, gender studies, film studies, Latin-American and Caribbean literature with special emphasis on women writers, Mexican and contemporary Peninsular poetry and prose. Faculty members also have published on foreign-language education, especially the teaching of foreign literatures and language acquisition.
Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of graduate assistantships are provided each year to qualified students. These students may assist in course instruction or other activities as assigned. Students interested in applying for an assistantship or graduate-tuition grant should write to the MA in Spanish Graduate Director, when applying to the program. Reference should be made to prior teaching experience and to the anticipated effect of an assistantship on the student’s plan of graduate study. An undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 is required. Students who are selected as teaching assistants must take the graduate teaching methods course (SPN 631 ) as part of their supervised experience. Other scholarships may be available for highly qualified students.
Career Information
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Spanish program typically go on to be teachers in local secondary schools, teach at the community-college level, or enter Ph.D. programs in Spanish. Other careers are diverse, including government service, international business or positions in libraries, media, and management fields.
Admission Information
In addition to College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- An undergraduate major in Spanish, or the equivalent, as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Students without an undergraduate major in Spanish may be admitted under special status and are required to take prescribed courses at either the undergraduate or the graduate level to ensure adequate preparation. Undergraduate courses taken to remediate deficiencies do not count toward graduate degree requirements. Graduate work may begin for any area as soon as appropriate course work or experience qualifies the student.
- A speaking ability in Spanish equivalent to “intermediate high” level guidelines established by the ACTFL. Contact the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures to arrange for an oral proficiency interview.
- Applicants must submit a personal essay in Spanish or English. The essay must outline the applicant’s professional goals and how they relate to the program. The essay is considered both an example of the applicant’s writing ability and an expression of the applicant’s professional goals.
- Each applicant must submit a sample of work in Spanish, preferably a research paper or essay.
After admission to the program, students may request transfer of a maximum of eight hours of graduate work completed in appropriate courses at other institutions. Transfer credit usually is not granted for courses taken more than four years prior to admittance to the program. Transfer credit is subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director and the Chair of the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Transfer credit generally will not count toward meeting the core requirements of the program. Credits from a completed Master’s program are not transferable.
Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/graduate-admissions/how-apply