Master of Arts in Spanish
Spanish at UF
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Spanish. Students may choose to specialize in literature/culture or language/linguistics. A minor in Portuguese is offered at the Master's level. Qualified applicants to the MA program are eligible for teaching assistantships. A Master of Arts in Spanish may be earned in one of two ways.
- Non-thesis MA. This is considered a terminal degree for those anticipating teaching careers in secondary schools or junior colleges, as well as employment in business, government, tourism, etc. Requirements: 30 credit hours and a comprehensive examination.
- MA with thesis. This option prepares students for later work toward a PhD. Requirements: 30 credit hours, a comprehensive examination, and a thesis.
- Internal candidates to the PhD program at UF can submit an extended paper as an alternative to the thesis.
Description of MA Program in Spanish
Programs
Both the MA with thesis and the MA without thesis comprise 30 credits. For the MA with thesis, up to 6 credits of Thesis Research (SPW 6971) may count in the overall total. Students electing the MA without thesis take two courses (6 credits) in lieu of SPW 6971 credits.
Graduate credit for work in and outside major field: Graduate credit is awarded for courses numbered 5000 and above. The work in the major field must be in courses numbered 5000 or above. For work outside the major (minor or second foreign language requirement: see below) courses numbered 3000 or above, not to exceed 6 credits, may be taken provided they are part of an approved plan of study (Graduate Council, 2/17/00).
Tracks
Two tracks are available: literature and linguistics. Each track has separate course requirements and reading lists.
Course Requirements
All MA candidates must take SPN 6315, Advanced Composition and Syntax, unless exempted by the Graduate Coordinator and the candidate's main advisor.
All MA candidates who are Teaching Assistants in the program must take SPN 6943, Foreign/Romance Language Teaching Methods, unless exempted by the Graduate Coordinator and the Director of the Lower Division Spanish Program.
Registration
During pre-registration, students discuss their selection of courses for the following term with their main advisor. They must clear these courses with their main advisor before completing the online registration process (www.isis.ufl.edu). After completing the consultation, students must submit a Semester Registration Record to the office staff. Pre-registration dates for the Summer and Fall terms are usually in March; for the Spring term, in October.
Students specializing in Literature must take:
- SPW 6806, Introduction to Graduate Study & Research;
- A minimum of one linguistics course (SPN 6315, Advanced Composition and Syntax, does not satisfy this requirement).
- At least one course in each of the following six areas: Peninsular Medieval and Golden Age, 18th and 19th centuries, and contemporary; Spanish American Colonial, 19th century, and contemporary.
Students specializing in linguistics must take:
- A minimum of one literature course.
- At least one course in each of the five areas of Spanish linguistics: phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and history of the language.
In either case, the remaining courses will reflect the chosen specialization. The Graduate Coordinator may allow certain senior-level courses to satisfy the course (but not credit) requirements outlined above.
Language Competence
All entering graduate students must demonstrate competence in oral and written Spanish. A candidate who is judged by the Graduate Faculty to have inadequate command of Spanish will be asked to do remedial work (such as SPN 6315 and/or other suitable courses). International students are required by state law to demonstrate competence in English by satisfactory performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and, if they apply for a teaching assistantship, the TOEFL iBT or Speak Test.
Second Foreign Language
Functional knowledge of a second foreign language is recommended for MA students. Those who plan to do doctoral work in Spanish at the University of Florida should achieve functional knowledge of another language (usually Romance). The Graduate Coordinator and the student's Supervisory Committee will appraise the student's goals and advise accordingly. Minimum level of achievement: a grade of B in a 3000-level course approved by the advisor and the Graduate Coordinator, or proven proficiency at that level. In Portuguese, this may be satisfied by POR 3010, Introduction to Portuguese and Brazil (accelerated), and one additional course at or above the 5000 level.
Teaching
Most Master's students will be given the opportunity to gain teaching experience through a teaching assistantship, dependent upon departmental need and availability of funds. Renewal of the assistantship is contingent upon satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant and as a graduate student.
Minor
Part of the 30-hour requirement may consist of a minor, i.e., at least six semester hours at the 5000-level or above in a field approved by the student's committee or advisor.
Committee
By the second semester in residence, and in consultation with the main advisor and the Graduate Coordinator, the student will choose a Supervisory Committee (SC). The duties of the SC are to advise the student, check on the student's qualifications and progress, and supervise the preparation of the comprehensive examination and of the thesis. The SC for an MA degree without a thesis may consist of one member of the graduate faculty; for an MA degree with a thesis the SC must consist of at least two members selected from the graduate faculty.
Performance
Any student whose average falls below B for two consecutive terms will be dropped from the program. Grades of "I" (Incomplete) will be given only for compelling reasons.
Comprehensive Examination
In the fourth semester of study, all MA candidates will take a comprehensive written examination based upon a departmental reading list.
Images: Mosque in Cordoba, Spain: Timor Espallargas
