/College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Languages and Cultural Studies

Graduate Programs

M.A. in Romance Languages

The Department offers an M.A. in Romance Languages with possible concentrations in French or Italian; or in French and Spanish, Italian and Spanish, or French and Italian. The curriculum is formulated according to the individual student’s needs and interests. It is a flexible program that suits students who wish to go on to doctoral work as well as those who wish to complete their studies with a Master’s degree. There are two possible tracks:

Track A: Literature and Culture

Designed for students who wish to follow a traditional M.A. program or intend to proceed toward further study at the Ph.D. level. Typically students design a curriculum that includes literature, linguistics, and culture courses in one of the Romance Languages or in a combination of two Romance Languages. This track gives the students a choice of writing a Master’s Thesis or passing a Comprehensive Examination to qualify for the degree.

The M.A. requires a specialization in French, in Italian, or in a combination of two Romance Languages. It requires at least ten three-credit courses (eight courses for students who opt to write a Thesis), to be completed with a grade of B or better, for a total of 30 credits.

French:
  • FRN 501 - Contemporary Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
  • FRN 507 - Stylistics (3 credits)
  • Eight additional courses (six for students who opt to write a Thesis), chosen in consultation with the advisor to formulate an area of specialization (18-24 credits). These courses may include three courses in related disciplines.
  • Master's Thesis (optional) (6 credits)
Italian:
  • ITL 501 - Contemporary Italy (3 credits)
  • ITL 508 - Syntax and Composition (3 credits)
  • Seven additional courses (five for students who opt to write an M.A. Thesis) chosen in consultation with the Program Coordinator to formulate an area of specialization (15-21 credits). These courses may include three courses in related disciplines.
  • Master's Thesis (optional) (6 credits)
  • One of the following courses:
    • ITL 507 - Italian Linguistics: Diachronic Development and Synchronic Structures (3 credits)
    • ITL 511 - History of the Italian Language (3 credits)
    • ITL 512 - Italian Dialects (3 credits)
    • ITL 513 - Romance Linguistics (3 credits)
Romance Language Combination:
  • Syntax and Composition in the two chosen languages:
    • FRN 507 - Stylistics (3 credits)
    • ITL 508 - Syntax and Composition (3 credits)
    • SPN 515 - Spanish Composition and Translation (3 credits)
  • One of the following Romance Linguistics courses:
    • ITL 513 - Romance Linguistics (3 credits)
    • FRN 513 - Romance Linguistics (3 credits)
    • SPN 503 - Spanish Linguistics (3 credits)
    • SPN 504 - Contrastive Analysis: Spanish and English (3 credits)
  • Seven additional courses in two Romance languages (five for students who opt to write an M.A. Thesis), to formulate a major and a minor (15-21 credits). These courses are to be chosen in consultation with the coordinators and approved by the respective programs to formulate an area of specialization. These courses may include three courses in related disciplines.
  • Master's Thesis (optional) (6 credits)

Competence at the intermediate level in a language other than the language of specialization, preferably in a second modern Romance Language or Latin. Students opting for Romance Language Combination track will automatically satisfy this requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled through a departmental examination or a suitable language course designed for graduate students.

  1. M.A. Thesis: Students write a Master’s Thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor, along with a second faculty member in his/her major program, and a third faculty member in a related field. Upon completion of the Thesis, the student prepares a formal presentation of the Thesis.
  2. M.A. Examination: Students who opt not to write a Master’s Thesis must complete a four-hour written examination and a one-hour oral examination. The examination is based on a comprehensive reading list in the student’s area of specialization. Three faculty members will serve as examiners.

Track B: Language Pedagogy for Secondary School Teachers

Designed for students who have completed provisional requirements to teach languages in secondary schools and are required by State regulations to complete a Master’s degree. The track is specifically designed for students who have completed the Teacher Preparation Program in Foreign Languages at the undergraduate level. It allows secondary school teachers to further concentrate in the target language and culture they teach, or in a combination of two Romance languages. All courses are offered no earlier than 5:30 p.m. to meet the time constraints of secondary school teachers.

Graduate courses in other fields, including those offered by the School of Professional Development, are open to qualified students. Departmental students are encouraged to take courses in related areas. With the permission of their Program Coordinator, students may obtain six credits outside the program.

Core Courses (9 credits):
  • FLA 540 - Foreign Language Acquisition Research Credits (3 credits)
  • FLA 571 - Foreign Language Technology and Education (3 credits)
  • FLA 581 - Foreign Lang Teach Project (Ind. Study) (3 credits)
Courses of Study for Areas of Specialization (21 credits):
  • French
    • FRN 501 - Contemporary Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
    • FRN 502 - French Civilization in Its Historical Perspective (3 credits)
    • FRN 507 - Stylistics (3 credits)
    • FRN 510 - Phonetics (3 credits)
    • One course in literature in French (3 credits)
    • Two elective courses relevant to the program chosen in consultation with the coordinator (6 credits)
  • Italian
    • ITL 501 - Contemporary Italy (3 credits)
    • ITL 502 - Special Topics in Italian Cinema (3 credits)
    • ITL 508 - Syntax and Composition (3 credits)
    • ITL 511 - History of the Italian Language (3 credits) OR ITL 507 - Italian Linguistics: Diachronic Development and Synchronic Structures (3 credits)
    • One course in literature in Italian (3 credits)
    • Two elective courses relevant to the program chosen in consultation with the coordinator (6 credits)
  • Romance Languages
    • This is a combination of two Romance Languages with the first language considered the “primary” language. For the primary languages of either French or Italian, the application is through the department of Languages and Cultural Studies. However if Spanish is placed first in the selection of two Romance languages, then the application is through the department of Hispanic Languages and Literature. Configuration of courses will be developed on an individual basis according to each student’s needs and interests. The following courses are required:
    • ITL 513 - Romance Linguistics (3 credits)
    • FRN 513 - Romance Linguistics (3 credits)
    • SPN 503 - Spanish Linguistics (3 credits) OR SPN 504 - Contrastive Analysis: Spanish and English (3 credits)
    • Two of the following:
      • FRN 507 - Stylistics (3 credits)
      • ITL 508 - Syntax and Composition (3 credits)
      • SPN 515 - Spanish Composition and Translation (3 credits)
    • Two of the following:
      • FRN 501 - Contemporary Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
      • ITL 501 - Contemporary Italy (3 credits)
      • SPN 510 - Hispanic Cultures (3 credits)
  • Elective Courses
    • Two elective courses relevant to the program chosen in consultation with the advisor (6 credits)
Note: Culture and linguistics courses can be substituted with permission of the Department, subject to availability

Competence in a language other than the language of specialization, preferably in a second modern Romance Language or Latin. Competence will be determined by departmental examination, or by completing specific graduate courses approved by the Department. Students opting to choose a Romance Languages Combination track will automatically satisfy this requirement. For non-native English language speakers, fluency in English is also required.

Students must complete a Research Project under the supervision of a faculty advisor and subject to approval by a second faculty member in his/her major program and by a third faculty member in a related field. Upon completion, the student prepares a formal presentation of his/her research.

APPLY

M.A.T. in Teaching Foreign Languages

The Master of Arts in Teaching Foreign Languages programs are designed as courses of study leading to New York State certification for teaching Spanish, Italian, and French in the secondary schools (grades 7-12), with a one-course extension option for Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools (FLES).

This program, which is offered in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature, the Department of Languages and Cultural Studies and the University's Teacher Education Program, is designed for those who have little or no previous coursework in education or formal classroom teaching experience.

APPLY

Contact

Giuseppe Gazzola Romance Languages, MA (Italian)
Sarah Jourdain Romance Languages, MA (French) and M.A.T. in Teaching Foreign Languages