Master of Arts in Spanish
Priority application deadline is April 1, 2009. All completed applications received by this date will be considered. Applications received after April 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.
| Curriculum | Calendar | Admissions | Apply | Contact |
| Courses | Faculty | Content | Academic Preparation | Registration Form (for admitted candidates) |
Curriculum
The program takes a generalist approach. Whereas most programs only allow students to specialize in one area or another, ours requires students to study at least three courses in literature, two in linguistics, one in pedagogy, and furthermore provides a mentored teaching practicum experience or internship.. Students will pursue their curricular interests in greater depth by taking additional elective senior or graduate level courses (of which at least 12 units must be taken). Upon completion of the program, it is anticipated that all students will be able to:
- be prepared (both in curricular and pedagogical terms) to teach any course in Spanish language, literature, or culture in secondary schools, community colleges, or among lower-division university courses,
- submit a competitive application to regionally or nationally recognized Ph.D. programs in either Hispanic literatures, linguistics, or pedagogy,
- be able to conduct original research on topics of applied or theoretical linguistic interest in Spanish, and
- be able to conduct original research on topics related to Hispanic literature with a solid grounding in the literary canon.
Course Calendar
An attractive feature of the program is the fact that all of the graduate courses will be taken during three summer sessions; the academic year course load will be relatively light and thus students will be able to finish the courses within a 26-month time span while maintaining full time employment; students from out of the area may take elective courses during the academic year at other institutions with approval of the graduate advisor.
Admissions Requirements
A student shall: (1) have completed a four-year college course of study and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association, or shall have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by appropriate campus authorities; (2) be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended; (3) have attained a grade point average of at least 2.5 (A=4.0) in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted; and (4) satisfactorily meet the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study as determined by the Spanish Program Graduate Admissions Committee.
All graduate and postbaccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must demonstrate competence in English. Those who do not possess a bachelor's degree from a postsecondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction must receive a minimum score of 213 or higher on the computerized Test of English as a Foreign Language (550 on the paper form).
Students will be admitted in an annual cycle in time for each year’s summer program courses. Students may begin program courses at any time on a provisional basis.
Application for Admission
If you need a print copy of the application, please contact Carol Tremmel at 707-664-2611 or email carol.tremmel@sonoma.eduSend your completed application with accompanying materials, and your $55 application fee (made out to SSU),
PLUS
Two (2) Official Transcripts showing the most recent 60 semester units you have attempted, as well as award of the bachelor's degree,
AND
Four (4) copies of a written Statement of Purpose as related to the Spanish M.A. Program (written in Spanish, maximum 500 words), and one (1) copy of anoral description of the applicant's experience as a learner/speaker ofSpanish (as spoken by the applicant, in Spanish, maximum four minutes; cassette tape or CD (.mp3, QuickTime, Audacity formats only).
MAIL TO: Carol Tremmel, SSU School of Extended Education, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, CA 94928.
Academic preparation required for admission
To be considered for admission, candidates must meet one of the following three options:
- Have a BA in Spanish from an accredited institution, or
- Have a bachelors degree in another discipline from an accredited institution and have completed the following SSU courses (or their equivalents at another institution):
SPAN 301
SPAN 304
SPAN 305
SPAN 306
SPAN 307
SPAN 400
SPAN 401
SPAN 402 - Have a bachelors degree in another discipline from an institution where Spanish is the primary language of instruction and have completed the following SSU courses (or their equivalents at another institution):
SPAN 400
SPAN 401
SPAN 402.
Courses used to fulfill admission requirements may not be counted toward the MA in Spanish program requirements (e.g. if a student takes SPAN 401 prior to being admitted to the graduate program, it may not be counted toward the MA unless it is repeated with a different topic).
In some cases, one or more courses required for admission to the program may be waived based on demonstrable professional or academic experience. Consult with the Graduate Advisor for details.
Program Content
| Academic Year Courses: | 12 units |
| Summer-term Courses: | 18 units |
| Practicum / Internship: | 4 units |
| Total: | 34 units |
Unit distributions (graduate courses)
Literature: 9 Linguistics: 6 Pedagogy: 3 Total: 18
Academic Year courses (electives)
Elective Units 12
Practicum/Internship 4
Total: 34
The Spanish Program will ensure that some of the 400-level courses offered during the academic year begin after 4:00 p.m. to facilitate dual-listed enrollment by working professionals enrolled in the MA program.
Other Program Requirements
In order to ensure that graduate students possess the ability to communicate effectively in written English, advancement to candidacy will be contingent upon fulfillment of the Written English Proficiency Test (WEPT).
All courses applied to the program must be completed with an overall GPA of 3.00, and no course for which a final grade below C is assigned may be used to satisfy this requirement. Graduate programs must be completed in no more than 7 years, which is computed as 14 semesters.
Advancement to candidacy is required and should be done when the student enters the final phase of the program.
- At least 21 semester units shall be completed in residence.
- No more than 30 percent of coursework shall be allowed in transfer.
- No credit toward a master's degree will be given for student teaching in a credential program.
- At the discretion of the department, up to one-third of the total program units may be in a nontraditional grading mode (credit/no credit).
- No classes completed as an undergraduate may be used except those granted provisional graduate credit prior to award of the baccalaureate degree.
- The candidate must complete a comprehensive exam as required by the department.
Course Calendar
All Graduate Courses will be completed during the months of June and July.
The 2008 Calendar is as follows:
Session I
Monday, June 16 – Thursday, July 3 (3 weeks, total 12 class days)Spanish 500 Spanish Second Language Pedagogy (Summer 2008)
Session II
Monday, July 14 – Thursday, July 31 (3 weeks, total 12 class days)Spanish 502 Advanced Linguistics (Summer 2008)
Courses
SPAN 500
Spanish Second Language Pedagogy (3 units)
A course in second language acquisition theory and second language pedagogy in which participants learn to understand and apply models of proficiency-oriented and standards-based language instruction. Grade only.
SPAN 501
Teaching Practicum / Internship (4 units)
This course is a participatory experience for students in the MA program. Students will participate in the instruction of a Spanish class at SSU. Spanish program faculty will collaborate with and mentor students in class activities, creating an inclusive atmosphere, and working with diverse populations of students. Alternatively, students may collaborate with program faculty to design an internship experience that provides a practical dimension to research or learning obtained through the program. Prerequisite SPAN 500.
SPAN 502
Advanced Linguistics (3 units)
A course in Spanish linguistics that will analyze the form, meaning, and function of linguistic units; including, but not limited to, phonetics/phonology, morphology, and syntax. Requires completion of a research project. Grade only.
SPAN 503
Practical Linguistics (3 units)
A course in the significant elements of Spanish linguistics as applied in areas such as translation and interpretation, the pragmatics of oral and written discourse, including literary texts. Requires completion of a research project. Grade only.
SPAN 504
Hispanic Literature I (3 units)
This survey course examines the literature of Spain and the Americas written before 1700 in a variety of genres and styles. Methods of literary analysis and historical contexts will be covered. This course will require the reading of El Quijote among other texts. Grade only.
SPAN 505
Hispanic Literature II (3 units)
This survey course examines the literature of Spain and the Americas written in the XVIII and XIX centuries. Methods of literary analysis and historical contexts will be covered. Grade only.
SPAN 506
Hispanic Literature III (3 units)
This survey course examines the literature of Spain and the Americas written since 1898 in a variety of genres and styles. Methods of literary analysis and historical contexts will be covered. Grade only.
SPAN 595
Special Topics (4 units)
Directed, individual study on a particular topic. Course may require completion of an upper-division undergraduate course in Spanish or in a discipline related to the student’s program of study (only 400-level Spanish courses may be used as Special Topics courses), which may include additional readings, assignments, or projects. All courses other than 400-level Spanish courses must be approved in writing by the Graduate Advisor prior to registering for the course. May be repeated for credit.
Faculty
Program faculty will include both SSU Spanish faculty and visiting faculty from other institutions teaching in their area of specialization.For further information contact:
Graduate Advisor: Jeffrey Reeder ( jeffrey.reeder @ sonoma.edu )
Admissions Information: Carol Tremmel ( carol.tremmel @ sonoma.edu )