RALPH ALBANESE, JR., PhD
Chair

FERNANDO BURGOS, PhD
Coordinator of Graduate Studies
(901) 678-3158
E-mail: fburgos@memphis.edu

SUSAN SILVER, PhD
French Section Coordinator
(901) 678-3150
E-mail: ssilver@memphis.edu

Room 375, Winfield Dunn Building
(901) 678- 2506
http://fl.memphis.edu/Graduate.htm

I. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a program leading to the Master of Arts degree in Romance Languages with concentration in either French or Spanish. In conjunction with the College of Education, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures also offers coursework for students interested in pursuing teaching licensure.

Program objectives: The MA program prepares students in the areas of literature, culture, education, grammar, and linguistics and is oriented toward the preparation of students who may be interested in teaching in public and private elementary and secondary education, teaching as a part-time or full-time instructor at the college level, pursuing a PhD in the field of concentration, or enhancing the student's skills for a career in law or business as well as in government agencies.

 All graduate students must comply with the general requirements of the Graduate School (see Admissions Regulations, Academic Regulations, and Minimum Degree Requirements) as well as the program requirements of the degree being pursued.

II. MA Degree Program

A student entering the program will be assigned a major advisor, usually the respective graduate coordinator for French or Spanish. This advisor is to be consulted in all matters concerning the student’s program of study. It is the student’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself with the detailed online description of the program concerning requirements, policies, and procedures including--but not limited to--the reading list, coursework requirements, course descriptions, comprehensive examination procedures, reading knowledge of a second language, independent studies, language proficiency, grade point average requirements, time limitation, academic misconduct policies, and other issues. It is also the student's responsibility to consult with his/her respective graduate coordinator and/or the chair for further clarification.

Teaching assistantships for full-time students are available on a competitive basis. Part-time students or students who have a full-time job or any other activities that may interfere with their academic responsibilities are not eligible . Students interested in obtaining a teaching assistantship must be officially admitted into the MA program in Romance Languages first and should submit a letter of intent , addressed to the Chairman, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures with a copy to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Students who are awarded a teaching assistantship receive a stipend and tuition remission. Applicants are encouraged to visit the department web site at www.fl.memphis.edu for a detailed description of the program.

A. Program Prerequisites

1. The applicant must provide an official transcript showing that a bachelor's degree was awarded by an accredited college or university. Official transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
2. A minimum of a 2.5 quality point average on a scale of 4.0. Students with less than a 2.5 quality point average may be admitted with the approval of the Department Chair and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.
3. A minimum of 24 upper-division semester hours or the equivalent in French, Spanish or a combination of the two. Examples of an equivalent preparation in French or Spanish include having native or near-native proficiency, university studies in a French/Spanish-speaking country, etc.
4. A reasonable proficiency in the language of concentration, to be determined by the Department prior to admission. An oral interview in French or Spanish is required. The applicant must contact the respective coordinator in French or Spanish early in the admission process to make arrangements for the interview.
5. A writing sample in French or Spanish depending on the concentration chosen must be submitted to the respective coordinator of French or Spanish. This documentation is intended to demonstrate the student's adequate command of writing skills in his/her field of concentration.
6. A letter of intent explaining the applicant's motivation and objectives in pursuing a graduate degree in French or Spanish.
7. Two letters of recommendation from professors who have taught the applicant.
8. A 3.0 GPA for upper-division courses in the field. A GPA below 3.0 requires the approval of the Department Chair and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.
9. A verbal and quantitative GRE score acceptable to the Department.
10. International students must:
    1. score a minimum of 79-80 on the web-based TOEFL;
    2. convert their educational credentials–grades and diploma—into their US equivalents with World Education Services (WES www.wes.org);
    3. submit an official transcript and diploma along with their respective translation to Graduate Admissions, University of Memphis.

B. Program Requirements

1. A total of thirty-three (33) semester hours, or thirty (30) semester hours for candidates writing a thesis.
2. Up to twelve (12) hours may be taken in a collateral area with prior approval of the respective graduate coordinator in French or Spanish.
3. Students interested in pursuing teaching licensure must complete additional hours. Detailed information for students pursuing teaching licensure is provided at http://fl.memphis.edu.
   1. ICL/LING 7174 Methods of Foreign Language (3 credit hours) is mandatory for students pursuing teaching licensure.
   2. These students should take courses from the following options: SPED 7000, ICL 7050, ICL 7709, IDT 7061, ICL 7080, RDNG 7545, ICL 7030, EDPR 7112, ICL 7806, ICL 7993. NOTE: EDPR 7112 Adolescent Psychology can be eliminated if the student took Developmental Psychology or Adolescent Psychology as an undergraduate. ICL 7806 Student Teaching and ICL 7993 may be waived if the student is currently teaching in a public high school.
4. At least 23 hours must be taken in 7000 level courses (eight [8] courses in all).
5. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of six (6) courses in the areas of literature, linguistics, grammar, stylistics, and culture taught in the department in the language of concentration.
6. A reading knowledge of a foreign language other than that of the concentration. This may be demonstrated in the following ways:
   1. achieving the forty-fifth (45th) percentile on the Graduate School Foreign Language Test (ETS),
   2. achieving a grade of B ("3.0") or better in a fourth-semester language course (e.g. FREN/GERM/SPAN 2020 or equivalent),
   3. achieving a grade of B ( "3.0") or better in a graduate reading course (FREN/ GERM 5701 or equivalent), or
   4. another option approved by the coordinator of graduate studies.
7. A comprehensive written and oral examination after completion of 33 hours and fulfilment of the reading knowledge requirement. These examinations will be conducted in the language of the concentration. For a full description of the comprehensive examination procedures, please visit the deparment website at www.fl.memphis.edu.
8. If a thesis is presented, both an oral examination in the area of the thesis and the written and oral comprehensive examination are required. The thesis requires 6 hours. The maximum number of thesis hours that will count toward the degree is 6, although a student may have to enroll in more hours in order to maintain continuous enrollment. Students electing to write a thesis should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

LINGUISTICS (LING)

FRENCH (FREN)

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.

GERMAN (GERM)

SPANISH (SPAN)

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.

LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (LALI)

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.