Spanish Graduate Program

About Languages and Cultures (M.A.)

Millersville and West Chester universities launched a new joint graduate degree program, the Master of Arts in Languages and Cultures, in fall 2014. This single joint degree will be presented by both language departments in collaboration and coordination to facilitate the prompt and successful completion of students’ course work. The 33-credit degree program may be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Course offerings in Summer 2021

Admissions

Admission to the MU-WCU joint program is open to those applicants who possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university. Applicants must submit supporting documents as required for general admission to a graduate program. Applicants must meet established University criteria of Advanced Low Level on the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Oral Proficiency Interview, Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc) and ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). Students scoring less than the Advanced Low Level (AL) may complete a provisional semester after which they must be retested.

Spanish Curriculum

For course descriptions and more information on the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Learning, visit the Graduate Catalog

I. Core Courses (9 s.h.)
All students – French, German, and Spanish – must complete the following three core courses, taught in English:
     LANC 501 Linguistic Studies (3)
     LANC 502 Interpretive Strategies (3)
     LANC 503 Cultural Studies (3)

II. Communication (6 s.h.)
At least two courses required
     SPAN 509 Applied Linguistics (3)
     SPAN 512 Phonetics (3) or SPAN 513 Advanced Phonetics (3)
     SPAN 521 Functional Grammar Review (3) (does not count for the degree)
     SPAN 522 Composition (3)
     SPAN 523 Stylistics and Composition (3)
     SPAN 524 Translation and Interpretation (3)
     SPAN 525 Advanced Oral Practice and Self-Expression (3)
     SPAN 531 Evolution of the Spanish Language (3)
     SPAN 532 Pragmatics (3)

III. Culture (6 s.h.)
At least two courses required
     SPAN 541 History of Spanish Civilization (3)
     SPAN 542 History of Spanish American Civilization (3)
     SPAN 551 Geography of Spain, Physical and Economic (3)
     SPAN 552 Geography of Spanish America, Physical and Economic (3)
     SPAN 561 History of Hispanic Art (3)
     SPAN 571 Aspects of Contemporary Spain (3)
     SPAN 572 Aspects of Contemporary Latin America (3)
     SPAN 581 Seminar in Medieval Spanish Literature (3)
     SPAN 582 Seminar in Renaissance Literature (3)
     SPAN 583 Seminar in Golden-Age Literature (3)
     SPAN 584 Seminar in 18th Century Literature (3)
     SPAN 585 Seminar in 19th Century Literature (3)
     SPAN 586 Seminar in 20th Century Literature (3)
     SPAN 587 Seminar in Latin American Literature (3)

IV. Electives for the Professions (12 s.h.)
All students – French, German, and Spanish – may choose any additional courses in their respective Communication and Culture courses that are offered or approved courses in a specialty area from another department. No more than two of these courses may be taught in English and no more than three of these courses may be transferred from another university, other than West Chester University.
     SPAN 501 Modern Methods of Teaching Spanish (3)
     SPAN 589 Current Topics (3)
     SPAN 698 Research Paper (3) (Independent study)
     SPAN 699 Thesis (3) (must be recommended by advisor) 

V. Degree Requirements
Requirements for all students are uniform and include a specialized written and oral exam, or a written research project with an oral presentation, or a portfolio defended in an oral exam with the faculty.

Course Offerings Summer 2021

SPAN 532 Spanish Pragmatics (3 credits)
Online Course (June 7 to July 2)
Application of philosophical, sociological, and linguistic theory to the use of language in the professional workplace. Interdisciplinary analyses of how and why Spanish speakers choose to use particular language forms that convey different linguistic possibilities and different meanings in different cultural contexts. Taught by Dr. Valentín-Márquez.

SPAN 572 Contemporary Latin America (3 credits)
Online Course (June 7 to July 2)
This course focuses on several of the most important revolutionary figures of the Latin American independence movement such as Simón Bolivar and José de San Martín; Toussaint L’Ouverture; the key figures of the Mexican Revolution including Porfirio Diaz, Emiliano Zapata, and Pancho Villa, among others; and Fidel Castro, and how these people were defined by their times and posteriorly by future generations. There will be analyses of the motives-economic, social, and ideological roots-of the revolutions as well. Taught by Dr. Amell.

For courses at WCU, please visit their website.

For more information on the Spanish program, please contact: Dr. Marco Antolín.