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College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies
www.kent.edu/mcls
About This Program
The Master of Arts in Spanish program provides students with advanced language skills and cultural knowledge. With a focus on research and immersion, this program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities. Read more...
Contact Information
- Program Coordinator: Patrick Gallagher | pgallag1@kent.edu | 330-672-2150
- Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Applications to the Languages, Literature and Culture concentration are not being accepted at this time.
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- 5.7% faster than the average
- 30,600 number of jobs
- $69,920 potential earnings
Interpreters and translators
- 20.0% much faster than the average
- 77,400 number of jobs
- $52,330 potential earnings
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.8% about as fast as the average
- 1,050,800 number of jobs
- $62,870 potential earnings
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
Applications to the Languages, Literature and Culture concentration are not being accepted at this time.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Goal statement
- A CD or MP3/wav file with a 5-10-minute oral sample in both applicant's first and second languages (conversational, not read from a script)
- In lieu of an oral sample, applicants may submit a copy of a recent ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview Certificate (no more than three years old)
- Writing sample(s) in applicant's second language, which should be accompanied by a signed declaration that the sample is original work and that the applicant received no help in its preparation. International applicants should also submit a writing sample in English.
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Priority deadline: January 1
Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
- Priority deadline: January 1
On This Page
- Program Requirements
- Graduation Requirements
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
SPAN58216 | CONTEMPORARY HISPANIC CULTURE | 3 |
SPAN68215 | ADVANCED SPANISH COMPOSITION AND CONVERSATION | 3 |
Literary Theory Electives, choose from the following: | 3 | |
MCLS60330 | APPROACHES TO LITERATURE AND CULTURE | |
orMCLS60622 | TEACHING LITERATURE AND CULTURE | |
orSPAN68240 | LITERARY AND CULTURAL TRANSLATION | |
Research Method Electives, choose from the following: | 3 | |
MCLS63049 | SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH METHODS | |
orTRST60001 | GRADUATE RESEARCH AND WRITING IN TRANSLATION STUDIES | |
Applied Linguistics Electives, choose from the following: | 3 | |
MCLS60601 | LINGUISTICS FOR THE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONS | |
SPAN68010 | THE PRACTICE OF SPANISH TRANSLATION and THEORY OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING | |
Spanish (SPAN) Electives (50000 or 60000 level) | 6 | |
Concentrations | ||
Choose from the following: | 12 | |
Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy | ||
Languages, Literature and Culture | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy Concentration Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
MCLS50660 | METHODS OF TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES 1 | 3 |
MCLS60661 | THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3 |
Second Language Pedagogy Electives | 6 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
- 1
Students who are already licensed to teach language in Ohio may, with departmental approval, substitute a graduate second-language pedagogy elective for MCLS50660.
Languages, Literature and Culture Concentration Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Concentration Requirements | ||
Spanish (SPAN) Electives (50000 or 60000) 1,2,3 | 6 | |
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 1,2,3 | 6 | |
Modern and Classical Language Studies (MCLS) (60000 level) | ||
Spanish (SPAN) (50000 or 60000 level) | ||
Translation Studies (TRST) (60000 level) | ||
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
- 1
A maximum 6 credit hours of individual investigation research may be applied toward the degree.
- 2
Students interested in a thesis option may register for a maximum of 6 credit hours of SPAN68199.
- 3
Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of their M.A. program at the 60000 level. Electives should be chosen accordingly in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
Graduation Requirements
- All students in the Spanish M.A. are required to complete the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview, ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test and the Spanish. Outcomes Assessment Test, prior to being cleared for graduation. Information about the exams can be found on the ACTFL website and the Language Testing International (LTI) website, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL.
- Students in the Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy concentration must successfully complete a final project, a portfolio or a comprehensive examination. Students are encouraged to enroll in study abroad programs (maximum 6 credit hours) and in specialized workshops in advanced language or pedagogy (maximum 4 credit hours). Departmental permission must be obtained before enrolling in such programs.
- Students in the Language, Literature and Culture concentration must successfully complete one of the following:
- comprehensive examination
- concentration exam and thesis
- final research project
- Students who anticipate enrolling in a doctorate elsewhere after completing the M.A. degree are urged to write a thesis. Students who write a thesis must successfully pass a comprehensive examination.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Communicate in Spanish at advanced mid or higher proficiency level as measured by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview Test and ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test.
- Demonstrate skills in the analysis of Spanish Peninsular, Latin American or Hispanic culture, literature and language.
- Demonstrate an ability to carry out and present research projects in their respective concentration areas.
- Demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in their respective concentration area.
Full Description
The Master of Arts degree in Spanish provides advanced education in Spanish, which integrates the language, linguistics, literature and culture of Spain and Latin America and the latest methodologies in the teaching of Spanish.
The Spanish major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Applied Linguistics and Pedagogy concentration is intended primarily for students who wish to teach in elementary and secondary schools or beginning and intermediate levels of post-secondary study, and to increase their effectiveness as teachers.
- The Languages, Literature and Culture concentration is intended for those who wish to increase their knowledge of literature and culture along with their command of the language for various purposes. Applications to the Languages, Literature and Culture concentration are not being accepted at this time.