MA Programs

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers MA programs to develop cultural, linguistic, literary, and pedagogical proficiency in a variety of languages. Please see below: ​

This flexible Master's program is offered in Spanish and French and has three options​: a single major (30 credits), major/minor (36 credits), and a double major (42 credits). The program offers students an in-depth study of the target culture(s) and literature(s). Students who complete this program find that the additional exposure to the language and the literature has prepared them for positions requiring target language fluency and general familiarity with the target culture such as teaching, international business, and government. The program also prepares students for study at the PhD level in international literature or (especially in the case of those who elect the major/minor or double major option) in comparative literature.

Major Fields: French and Spanish

Minor Fields: French, German, Spanish, Russian, Latin, and Italian Literatures, and Applied Linguistics/Pedagogy​

1. Course Work
1. Single Major (30 credits) At least eight courses (24 credits) in the major language/literature; the other two courses may be in the major language/literature, literary theory, or related areas (including WL pedagogy).​
2. Major/Minor (36 credits) Twelve courses, including a minimum of eight courses (24 credits) in the major language/literature, and at least three courses (9 credits) in the minor. The twelfth course may be in the language/literature of the major or minor, in literary theory, or related areas (World Language Pedagogy, for example).​
3. In no instance may the student take more credits outside the department than in the department in any one semester. Students wishing to pursue a minor must apply to the Graduate Studies Committee for admission to the minor. Criteria for admission are the same as those applied to all other degree candidates. Once admitted to the minor, the student must be assigned an advisor who is a member of the graduate faculty. With the advisor's approval, the student will select courses with the goal of a comprehensive program of study.​
4. Double Major (42 credits) Minimum of six courses in the language/literature of each of the two major fields (French or Spanish). The remaining two courses may be in one or both of the major languages/ literatures, literary theory, or related areas (including WL pedagogy).​
5. Note: All recipients of a Graduate Assistantship (TAship, RAship, etc.) are required to take Principles of World Language Teaching (LLCU 623).​
2. Comprehensive Examinations
1. The comprehensive examinations in the student's major area or areas (i.e. French and/or Spanish) have a written as well as an oral portion. The examinations are based on coursework and on reading lists available online.
2. Students must submit their finalized reading lists to their GSC language representative by the last day of September (fall exams) or the last day of February (spring exams).
3. Admission to the oral examination will be granted only to those students who have passed the written examination.
4. Students who fail the exam may retake it only once. In some cases, where the student fails a portion of the exam that represents less than 50% of the whole, the faculty may require the student to retake only the section(s) failed. Students have the opportunity to do so only once.
5. For borderline cases, a written assignment may be required by the faculty.
6. For the minor field, there is no examination, but prior advisement to assure a coherent program is necessary. Students should consult their advisor.
7. Results of the comprehensive examination will be communicated to the student by the relevant language faculty member on the Graduate Studies Committee and forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies.

This Master's program is offered in Spanish and French and has three options: a single major (30 credits), a major/minor (36 credits), and a double major (42 credits). The MA in Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Pedagogy is a flexible degree that can provide students with all the courses required for teaching certification in French or Spanish, except for student teaching, which is an undergraduate course of 9 credit hours. Students already certified can take as many as 15 credit hours in world language pedagogy courses or closely related fields. All students take at least half their courses in the world language and literature of their major field (French or Spanish). This program also prepares students for study at the PhD level in the field of Applied Linguistics.​

Major Fields: French and Spanish

Minor Fields: French, German, Spanish, Russian, Latin, and Italian Literatures, and Applied Linguistics/Pedagogy.

1. Coursework for MA-LLCP students not seeking certification
1. Single Major (30 credits)
• Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
• A minimum of three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
• The remaining two courses (6 credits) are selected with the prior approval of the student's advisor, from the major language area (French or Spanish), world language pedagogy, or related fields, i.e. relevant courses in Education, Linguistics, literary theory, or English, etc.
• *Note: All recipients of a Graduate Assistantship (TAship, RAship, etc.) are required to take FLLT 623. If a student has completed course work judged equivalent to FLLT 622, 623 or 624 and can provide documentation (e.g., teaching portfolio, syllabi, teaching certificate), substitutions within the field of FL pedagogy may be accepted.
2. Major/Minor (36 credits)
• Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature and three courses (9 credits) in the minor. In no instance may the student take more credits outside the department than in the department in any one semester.
• A minimum of three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
• One course (3 credits) may either be in the major literature or in pedagogy.
• *Note: Students wishing to pursue a minor must apply to the Graduate Studies Committee for admission to the minor. Criteria for admission are the same as those applied to all other degree candidates. Once admitted to the minor, the student must be assigned an advisor who is a member of the graduate faculty. With the advisor's approval, the student will select courses with the goal of a comprehensive program of study.
3. Double Major (42 credits)
• Five courses (15 credits) in the major literature I and five courses (15 credits) in the major literature II.
• At least three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
• One course (3 credits) may either be in the major literature or in pedagogy.
2. Coursework for MA-LLCP students on Certification Track
   1. Students who wish to obtain teacher certification must take eleven 3-credit courses for a total of 33 credits, distributed as follows:
   • Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
   • Three courses (9 credits) in World Language Pedagogy. These courses must include Principles of World Language Teaching (LLCU 623, or Methods of Teaching World Language, LLCU/LING 621), Language Syllabus Design (LLCU/LING 622), and Second Language Testing (LLCU/LING 624)*. If the student has taken identical courses at the undergraduate level, other appropriate pedagogy courses (e.g. Methods of Teaching Language in Elementary Schools, LLCU 629), may be substituted with the permission of the student's pedagogy advisor. ​
   • All recipients of a Graduate Assistantship (TAship, RAship, etc.) are required to take LLCU 623. If a student has completed course work judged equivalent to LLCU 622, 623 or 624 and can provide documentation (e.g., teaching portfolio, syllabi, teaching certificate), substitutions within the field of WL pedagogy may be accepted.​
   • * Note: LLCU/LING 422 offers a practicum for undergraduate FLE majors to which MA-LLCP certification trackers are invited. The requirements of the practicum include a clinical placement in a high school. See the Coordinator of World Language Education to discuss arrangements for such a placement.​
   • Three courses (9 credits) in Education are required: Adolescent Development and Educational Psychology (EDUC 613), Teaching Exceptional Adolescents (EDUC 614), and Diversity in the Classroom (EDUC 619). EDUC 613 and 619 each require an 18-hour clinical placement in a local school.
   • In addition to these 33 credits, nine credit hours of Student Teaching (EDUC 400) must be completed during a fifth semester before obtaining the MA-LLCP Degree. Applications for student teaching (available on the website of the UD Office of Clinical Studies) are submitted to the Coordinator of World Language Education in February of the spring semester for all placements in the following academic year ( i.e. you would apply in February 2013 for a student teaching placement in fall 2013 or spring 2014).
   • * Important Notes: 1) Since not all required courses are offered every semester, careful planning is essential. See the Coordinator of World Language Education for details. 2) As you complete your pedagogy coursework and student teaching, you will be compiling a teaching portfolio. See required portfolio elements.
     

   
   

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   2. Comprehensive Examinations
   • The comprehensive examinations in the student's major area or areas (i.e., French and/or Spanish) and in World Language Pedagogy have a written as well as an oral portion. The examinations are based on coursework and on reading lists available online.
   • Students must submit their finalized reading lists to their GSC language representative by the last day of September (fall exams) or the last day of February (spring exams).
   • Admission to the oral examination will be granted only to those students who have passed the written examination.
   • Students who fail the exam may retake it only once. In some cases, where the student fails a portion of the exam that represents less than 50% of the whole, the faculty may require the student to retake only the section(s) failed. Students have the opportunity to do so only once.
   • For borderline cases, a written assignment may be required by the faculty.
   • For the minor field, there is no examination, but prior advisement to assure a coherent program is necessary. Students should consult their advisor.
   • Results of the comprehensive examination will be communicated to the student by the relevant language faculty's member on the Graduate Studies Committee and forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Undergraduates in the University of Delaware ECE and ETE majors may apply for admission to the 4+1 program after completing 60 or more credits (normally, in the fall of their junior year). Admission decisions will be based on GPA, work experiences, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, maturity, and a personal interview. There is also a proficiency requirement in the target world language (Minimum: Intermediate-Mid on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, or 43 points on the Versant Language Assessment).

It is generally expected that students will have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.5 or better, and they will have an academic advisor who will strongly support his or her application to the program. Admission is competitive, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee admission, nor does the failure to meet a requirement result in an automatic rejection. Provisional admittance will be granted by the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, the provisional status would be removed.

Please refer to the degree requirements for each program for additional information.

​Both the 4+1 MA and the MA in Italian Studies require the completion of 30 credits in classes offered in Italian, Art History, English, Fashion and Apparel Studies, Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Latin. This degree offers students a way to apply their language learning in fields related to their future careers. Students will improve their Italian proficiency in written communication skills, as well as develop critical thinking skills and engage in interdisciplinary study. The program requires a thesis, completed in the last semester of study, which allows students to gain research experience with faculty scholars in a particular field of interest. Please refer to the degree requirements for each program for additional information.