Spanish

¡Bienvenido!

Thank you for your interest in Spanish graduate studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. We are pleased to launch a new fully online Spanish for the Professions, M.S. program beginning Fall 2013. 

Please click through the links below for information on our graduate programs and application process:

Spanish Graduate Programs

Program Details: Credit and Course Requirements

• Spanish for the Professions, M.S.
• Spanish, M.S.
• Spanish Education, M.S.

Applying for Graduate Study

Graduate Assistantships

Course Offerings

Tuition and Fees

 

Spanish Graduate Programs

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers several graduate degrees in Spanish:

Spanish for the Professions (online): This is a fully online Master’s of Science (M.S.) program that develops professionals for working with Spanish in the workplace. There is a focus on developing high competency in oral communication and writing as well as a multicultural literacy for working with the many countries where Spanish is spoken. There is no residency or travel requirements for this program. Please review the skills and requirements for completing an online program at MSU, Mankato: http://www.mnsu.edu/ext/online/onlinelearning.html

 

Spanish:  This is a Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree appropriate for those who plan to teach in higher education or who wish to continue on for a doctoral degree. Licensure is not required to teach at the college level, but courses in teaching skills are highly recommended. This program includes face-to-face, blended and online courses. 

 

Spanish Education:  This is a Master’s of Science (M.S.) degree designed for currently licensed kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) teachers who wish to pursue a master’s degree and increase their proficiency in Spanish. This degree does not lead to teaching licensure. Students who desire initial licensure should consult the requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program. This program includes face-to-face, blended and online courses. 

 

Master's of Arts in Teaching: This is a M.A.T. degree offered through the College of Education. The department of World Languages and Cultures collaborates with the College of Education offering language teaching methods courses for Spanish language M.A.T. candidates. That degree prepares Spanish majors for teaching in the K-12 setting.  If you are interested in K-12 licensure, you should contact the College of Education for their degree requirements (http://ed.mnsu.edu/ksp/gtl/).

 

Please contact the Graduate Coordinator with specific questions about the degree option that best suits your needs:

Dr. Kimberly Contag, Graduate Coordinator

Phone: 389-2116  x 5358

Kimberly.contag@mnsu.edu.

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Program Details: Course and Credit Requirements

• Spanish for the Professions, M.S.
• Spanish, M.S.
• Spanish Education, M.S.

Spanish for the Professions, M.S.

Fully online, no travel or residency required.

This is a fully online Master’s of Science (M.S.) program that develops professionals for working with Spanish in the workplace. There is a focus on developing high competency in oral communication and writing as well as a multicultural literacy for working with the many countries where Spanish is spoken. The degree requires courses totaling 34 credits. Please review the skills and requirements for completing an online program at MSU, Mankato:http://www.mnsu.edu/ext/online/onlinelearning.html

Portfolio Capstone Plan - 34 credit program 

Choose any 500/600 level Spanish courses in consultation with an advisor to fulfill competency requirements:

Competency Area 1: Writing (10 credits)

Selection must include SPAN 635.  Choose from:

SPAN 631 Writing workshop for the professions  (3 cr.)  

SPAN 632 Translation workshop 1 (3 cr.)

SPAN 633 Translation workshop 2 (3 cr.)

SPAN 634 Editing and Document preparation (3 cr.)

SPAN 635 Writing project: Technical, Creative or Translation (1 cr.)

Competency Area 2: Multicultural Literacy (9 credits)

Choose from:

SPAN 600 TOPICS courses may be selected when offered online.

SPAN 601 “

SPAN 603 “

SPAN 604 “

SPAN 605 “

SPAN 641 Cultural Readings and Analysis (3 cr.)

SPAN 642 Pragmatics (3 cr.) 

SPAN 643 Cultural practices of Spain and the Americas (3 cr.)

Competency Area 3: Oral Proficiency - 9 credits

Choose from:

SPAN 651 Oral communication for the professions. (3 cr.)

SPAN 652 Oral reasoning workshop  (3 cr.) 

SPAN 653 Interpretation workshop  (3 cr.) 

SPAN 654 Oral presentation skills with Digital Technology (3 cr.) 

 

Electives (0-6 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level elective courses selected in consultation with an advisor up to 34 credits.

Required Portfolio credits - 3 Credits

SPAN      600 Research and Bibliography (2 cr.)

SPAN 690 Portfolio (1 cr.) 

 

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Spanish, M.S.

Face to face, blended and online courses. Residency required.

This program prepares students of Spanish for teaching in higher education. Students interested in teaching at the college level should see their advisor about identifying appropriate methods courses and professional education courses to strengthen their teaching performance. Licensure is not required to teach at the college level, but courses in teaching skills are highly recommended. Fifty percent of the credits must be taken at the 600 level (excluding thesis and APP credits). 

Thesis Plan - 30 credit program

Alternate Plan Paper (APP) - 34 credit program

Required Major Teaching Field (18 - 22 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level Spanish courses selected in consultation with an advisor. 

 

Required Modern Language Teaching Methods (3 credits) 

WLC 560 Methods of Teaching Modern Language (3 cr.)

Required Professional Education (6 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level Professional Education courses selected in consultation with an advisor.  

Electives (0 - 4 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level courses selected in consultation with an advisor.  

Required Thesis or Alternate Plan Paper Credits

SPAN 694 Alternate Plan Paper (1-2 cr.) 

SPAN 699 Thesis (3-4 cr.)

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Spanish Education, M.S.

Face to face, blended and online courses. Residency required.

This program is primarily for teachers of Spanish who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in the language and in increasing their proficiency. The degree requires courses totaling 30 credits (with thesis) or 34 credits (with alternate plan paper). Fifty percent (50%) of the credits must be taken at the 600 level, excluding thesis or APP credits. 

This degree does not lead to teaching licensure. Students who desire initial licensure should consult the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program (http://ed.mnsu.edu/ksp/gtl/).

Thesis Plan - 30 credit program

Alternate Plan Paper (APP) - 34 credit program

Required Spanish (18 - 22 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level Spanish courses selected in consultation with an advisor. 

Required Professional Education (6 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level Professional Education courses selected in consultation with an advisor. 

Electives (0 - 6 credits)

Choose any 500/600 level elective courses selected in consultation with an advisor. 

Required Thesis or Alternate Plan Paper

SPAN 694 Alternate Plan Paper (1-2 cr.)

SPAN 699 Thesis (3-4 cr.)

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Applying for Graduate Study in Spanish

You must complete three steps in the application process in order to be considered for acceptance into the Department of World Languages and Cultures graduate program.  Please complete all three steps carefully: 

1. College of Graduate Studies Application

You must submit your graduate school application to the College of Graduate Studies and Research first.  A non-refundable application fee of $40 USD is required. See the requirements for admissions and the online application to the College of Graduate Studies and Research here: http://grad.mnsu.edu/applying/  

 

2. International Students

International applications must also file additional documents.  You can find this information at:  http://grad.mnsu.edu/applying/internationalletter.html.

Note that international students applying to World Languages and Cultures Spanish master’s programs are not required to have their transcripts officially evaluated. These documents are submitted directly to the College of Graduate Studies and Research: 

115 Alumni Foundation Center

Mankato, MN 56001 USA 

Phone: (507) 389-2321

3. Departmental Application Packet

The Department of World Languages and Cultures application must include the following:

A. Proof of Spanish oral proficiency level of advanced low on the ACTFL proficiency scale or equivalent. 

1. If you would like to submit an official oral proficiency reading, you can contact the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) directly through their website to schedule an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). You can also contact Dr. Enrique Torner on our campus to schedule an OPI.  Dr. Torner is a certified oral proficiency tester for ACTFL (enrique.torner@mnsu.edu).  
2. You can also contact Dr. Grabowska (jim.grabowska@mnsu.edu) or Dr. Contag (kimberly.contag@mnsu.edu) to arrange for alternative assessment of oral proficiency. 
3. If this document is submitted digitally (via email) it must be submitted as a .pdf file and labeled as follows: last name_first initial_proficiency_year.pdf. Example: morales_l_proficiency_2013.pdf.

B. A writing sample in Spanish. 

1. You may want to submit a paper you wrote recently for an advanced Spanish course or an essay on a literary or cultural topic of interest to you. 
2. If this document is submitted digitally it must be submitted as a .pdf file and labeled as follows: last name_first initial_spansample_year.pdf. Example: morales_l_spansample_2013.pdf.

C. A personal statement in English. 

1. Summarize your experiences and professional goals that apply to the master’s degree you wish to pursue in Spanish. 
2. This writing sample should communicate your plans and reasons for graduate study as well as your preparation for an advanced degree in this area. 
3. If this document is submitted digitally it must be submitted as a .pdf file and labeled as follows: last name_first initial_personalstatement_year.pdf. Example: jones_r_personalstatement_2013.pdf.

D. Two letters of recommendation

1. One must be from an undergraduate instructor or academic advisor. 
2. If these documents are submitted digitally they must be submitted as a .pdf file and labeled as follows: last name_first initial_recommendation1_year.pdf and last name_first initial_recommendation2_year.pdf. Example: morales_l_recommendation1_2013.pdf.

Please submit your departmental application packet directly to:

Kimberly E. Contag, PhD

Professor, Coordinator of Graduate Studies

Department of World Languages and Cultures

Armstrong Hall 227

Minnesota State University

Mankato¸ MN 56001 USA

Tel.  507-389-2116  x5358

Email:  kimberly.contag@mnsu.edu

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Graduate Assistantships

The department has a few graduate teaching assistantships (TA) in Spanish. Students awarded an assistantship are provided:

1. A tuition waiver. Students are still responsible to pay any university fees.
2. A salary of up to $9000 

The assistantship responsibilities include:

1. Instruction of one lower-level Spanish course (4 credits) per semester.
2. Three department service hours per week. The assignment hours vary depending on department needs but could include proctoring make-up exams, credit-by-exam evaluation, Spanish club graduate advisor, hosting conversation table, tutoring and others.
3. Attendance at a one-week training workshop in August. This is designed to prepare you to teach.
4. Student must enroll in a methods course WLC 560 the first semester of teaching unless a previously completed methods course is approved as equivalent.

 Applications are accepted year round. The minimum qualifications to apply are:

1. Bachelor’s degree
2. Admission to the College of Graduate Studies at MSU, Mankato
3. All students whose first language is not English must demonstrate their ability in English by submitting a TOEFL score of 570 or equivalent
4. A minimum of Advanced Low or equivalent in Spanish

 To apply you will be asked to provide:

1. Graduate assistantship application form
2. Cover letter
3. Unofficial transcripts
4. Three references

If you plan to submit your materials digitally (via email), please submit only .pdf files labeled as follows: last name_first initial_name of file_year.pdf, Example: morales_l_assistantshipform_2013.pdf 

See application details and forms in the most recent vacancy notice on the MSU, Mankato Human Resources page: http://www.mnsu.edu/hr/vacancy/index.html. Search for “Graduate Assistant: World Languages and Cultures.” 

Graduate Assistantship application materials will be submitted directly to:

Dr. James Grabowska

Professor, Chair of World Languages and Cultures

227 Armstrong Hall

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Mankato, MN 56001 U.S.A.

james.grabowska@mnsu.edu

507-389-5530

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Course Offerings

The number of Spanish graduate courses offered in the summer, fall and spring semesters vary. 

We will offer at least 2 online courses (4 - 6 credits) both Fall and Spring semesters that meet requirements for the Spanish for the Professions M.S. program.

For on-campus graduate students, we have a variety of courses, some of which are traditional classroom courses and others that are hybrid(blended) or online courses depending upon semesters or course selected. The topics and type of course delivery depends on the course materials and instructor. 

For course descriptions, see the current Graduate Program Bulletin: http://grad.mnsu.edu/programs/bulletin/spanish.html 

To see the current semester’s course offerings visit the MSU, Mankato class schedule: http://www3.mnsu.edu/courses/  

 

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