Requirements for MA in French, Italian, or Spanish
Coursework
The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures offers the Master of Arts degree in French, Italian, and Spanish languages and literatures, and in a combination of 2 Romance literatures. For 2009-2010 the 8 required courses are as follows:
| French | Italian | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 2 literature courses | MA Seminar I | |
| MA Seminar I | 2 literature courses | 3 literature courses | |
| Winter | 2 literature courses | MA Seminar II | |
| MA Seminar II | 2 literature courses | 3 literature courses | |
| Spring | La Stylistique (FREN 31500) | MA Seminar III | |
| 1 literature course | 1 literature course | 2 literature courses |
Students must receive grades of B or better in all coursework (except for French MA Seminars, which are pass/fail courses) in order to receive the MA degree. The department may qualify letter grades with plus or minus marks; except for the grade A+, they appear on the student's official transcript and departmental record. Incompletes are discouraged and are given only in exceptional circumstances; all coursework must be completed and a letter grade must be given within 1 year.
Students are expected to have a high level of proficiency in their language of specialization. If the department deems it necessary, a student may be required to enroll in one of the department's advanced language, composition, or phonetics courses. These courses do not count toward the 8 courses required for the MA.
Students are also expected to be familiar with the proper format for writing and documenting course and term papers as presented in such standard references as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or Kate Turabian's Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
Examinations
During the seventh week of Spring quarter, over a 4- to 5-day period, students take comprehensive examinations based on departmental reading lists. Students intending to take the exams must register for the MA exam course (number 24800).
The first written exam which is 3-hours long, consists of a number of essay questions. The second written exam, also 3-hours long and taken within a day or 2 of the first exam, requires a detailed commentary on a passage from a literary text designated ahead of time by the student. A dictionary may be used for both of these written exams and students may use a computer (Mac or PC) or handwrite the exams. The 1-hour oral exam (taken within the next 2 days) includes further questions on the reading list as well as questions arising from the written examinations.
After obtaining their adviser’s approval students must e-mail, at least 3 weeks prior to the anticipated date of the examination, the Department Secretary to reserve a room, request a computer, if necessary, and finalize other logistics. The date and time for the first written exam must be agreed upon by the graduate adviser and all students in the same language program who are taking the exam.
Under unusual circumstances, students may petition to postpone the comprehensive exam. A written petition must be submitted to their graduate adviser and the Department Chair the first week in April.
Convocation Deadlines
To receive a degree, you must submit an online degree application through cMore. The application must be submitted no later than 5pm CST on Friday of the first week of the quarter in which you intend to receive your degree. There are no exceptions! Doctoral students applying for a non-terminal MA degree must first contact the Humanities Dean of Students office in order to access the degree application. The expected graduation date should be set to the date the student anticipates receiving the PhD, not the date the student expects to receive the MA degree.
Advisers
Students should consult with their graduate adviser on course registration, examinations, and all scholarly and practical matters concerning their MA work. The advisers for 2009-2010 are Daniel Desormeaux and Thomas Pavel (French), Rebecca West (Italian), and Armando Maggi (Spanish).