The Department of Foreign Languages
and Literatures offers courses leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Spanish
and the Master of Hispanic Studies (M.H.S.). The Spanish graduate program
is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching, business, government,
world affairs, diplomacy, social service and law enforcement, and for doctoral
studies in Spanish in the areas of literature, linguistics, or foreign language
education. Students may begin their graduate studies at the beginning of any
semester during the academic year.
This research-oriented degree requires at least 30 credit hours in Spanish at the 6000 and 7000 levels (including thesis credits) and a Master's thesis. It is intended for students possessing the B.A. degree in Spanish who desire to pursue a traditional approach to the language and its literature. The emphasis in this program is on a comprehensive study of the language and literatures from their origins to the present day with major consideration given to literary history, textual analysis, criticism, and theory, as well as linguistics. This degree also serves as preparation for doctoral study at other institutions.
This degree consists of at least 36 credit hours and, while offering an introduction
to the literary and cultural heritage of Spain and Spanish America, places
added emphasis on perfecting audio-lingual language skills as well as practice
in reading and expository writing in Spanish. It prepares students for a variety
of careers, for example, high school teaching, employment in the business
world--which is experiencing an ever-increasing demand for well-prepared,
bilingual personnel--and also for further graduate study. Students may choose
an optional concentration consisting of no more than 6 additional credit hours
in a graduate field or fields related to their major program, for example,
history, political science, business, or education.
Qualified candidates may apply for a teaching assistantship in Spanish. In
addition to a waver of tuition, teaching assistants receive a stipend which
averages $12,600 per year. During his or her first year in the graduate program,
the student receives extensive training as a Graduate Teaching Assistant,
while taking a minimum of 18 semester credits in graduate courses. During
the second year, the student normally teaches three four-credit elementary
Spanish courses, while taking a minimum of 5 courses. A limited number of
teaching assistantships are available during the summer, and are awarded based
on the needs of the department and on merit.
All Master's degree candidates who are graduate teaching assistants are required
to take FLSP 7090, Introduction to College-Level Spanish Teaching, every semester
while they hold an assistantship. Credit for these courses does not count
toward the degree.
Teaching assistants work closely with the Coordinator of the First-Year Language
sequence. The academic year begins with a two day orientation workshop where
graduate teaching assistants have the opportunity to familiarize themselves
with the textbooks and instructional methodologies incorporated in the Elementary
Spanish classroom at Auburn.
Applications for teaching assistantships, along with three letters of recommendation,
should be sent to the Director of Spanish Graduate Studies in the Department
of Foreign Languages and Literatures.