Spanish

Graduate Programs

Description

Graduate study in Spanish at Minnesota State University offers students four program options: Master of Science in Spanish (30-34 credits. Community College Option), MS Spanish for the Professions (30-34 credits), and the Graduate Certificate for Spanish Professionals (18 credits).

The MS Spanish is for broad training in Spanish and is suited for students who plan to teach at the post-secondary level or pursue additional graduate study. The MS Spanish for the Professions (SfP) degree serves students who are pursuing an advanced degree in Spanish for work in the professions (the SfP degree is not conducive to Ph.D. programs in Spanish/Hispanic Cultures). 

The Graduate Certificate for Spanish Professionals is for professionals who want to improve their oral, written proficiency and work on multicultural literacy or who need to meet Higher Learning Commission content standards for teaching in colleges. Those who choose the Graduate Certificate program can also use their credits toward the MS Spanish for the Professions degree program, should they decide to continue on the complete the Masters degree.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures also cooperates with the College of Education by offering supporting coursework (Secondary and FLES methods of teaching a world language and/or studies in Spanish) toward the Masters in Arts of Teaching degree for World Languages: Spanish. For information about the MAT or courses that lead to K-12 licensure, please contact the College of Education.

Majors

Program Locations Total Credits
Spanish for the Professions MS MS - Master of Science
  • Online
34
Spanish MS MS - Master of Science
  • Mankato
34

Certificates

Program Locations Total Credits
Spanish for Professionals GC
  • Online
18

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission

Complete the general admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Applicants must possess Spanish oral proficiency at a level of advanced low on the ACTFL proficiency scale or equivalent (contact department for information). A writing sample in Spanish (4-6 pages), personal statement in English summarizing experiences and professional goals that apply to the MS degree in Spanish or Spanish for the Professions (2-3 pages), and two letters of recommendation, one from an undergraduate instructor or academic advisor, should be sent to the department chair.

Policies/Information

Students completing the MS Spanish degree will be required to take a comprehensive masters exam on Hispanic languages, literatures, linguistics and/or cultures of Spain, Latin America and other Spanish-speaking areas during the final semester of their program or earlier. When approved by the faculty review committee, world language methods may also be included as an area covered in the masters comprehensive exam. Students in this academic program will also complete either a Masters thesis or an Alternate Plan Paper under the direction of a faculty advisor and a faculty review committee for their capstone research project.

Students completing the MS Spanish for the Professions degree are required to produce an electronic portfolio demonstrating oral, written and multicultural competency areas.  The electronic portfolio is completed under the direction of a faculty advisor and a faculty review committee for their capstone portfolio project. Students in this program do not take a comprehensive masters exam.

Students completing the MS Graduate Certificate in Spanish for Professionals demonstrate proficiency in oral, written and multicultural competency areas.  Students in this program do not take a comprehensive masters exam.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

A number of graduate teaching assistantships are available during the academic year. A graduate teaching assistant in the Department of World Languages and Cultures teaches classes in elementary French, German, Spanish or ESL and receives a salary, a tuition stipend and automatic residency for tuition purposes. For more information, contact the College of Graduate Studies and Research or the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Graduate Study Abroad

Graduate credit can be earned in Spanish on department-sponsored Study Abroad Programs. For more information, consult the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Contact Information

227 Armstrong Hall

Main Office (507) 389-2116
https://carts.mnsu.edu/academics/world-languages-and-cultures/spanish-program/

Faculty

Chair
  • Adriana Gordillo, Ph.D.
Graduate Coordinator
  • Alfredo Duplat, Ph.D.
TA Supervisor
  • Gregory Taylor, Ph.D.
Faculty

500 Level

Credits: 1-4

Topics may vary. Course may be repeated for credit. Discussion and analysis of Spanish linguistics (syntax, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, translation theory and practice, etc.)

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics vary: Don Quixote de la Mancha; Golden Age drama and poetry; Spanish literature since the Golden Age, etc. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics vary. Major writers from Spanish America. Topics include Spanish American novel, Spanish American poetry, Spanish American drama, Spanish American short story, romanticism, and the Mexican novel, etc. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Introduction to the theory and practice of translation. This course is targeted at Spanish students and language professionals interested in developing translation skills, as well as in finding out what is involved in becoming a professional translator.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Field experience in the elementary school setting for students earning licensure in Spanish or Elementary Education Teaching Specialty in Spanish.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit. Study for credit must be approved by the department prior to departure.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics will vary: major writers from Spanish America; Spanish American novel; Spanish American poetry; Spanish American drama; Spanish American short story, romanticism, the Mexican novel. May be repeated for credt. Study for credit must be approved by the department prior to departure.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics will vary: Spanish Literature from Medieval to Modern Times. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics will vary. Major cultural and historical aspects of Latin America from pre-colonial times to the present. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

600 Level

Credits: 3

This course introduces students to research methods, scholarship, documentation and evaluation of scholarship for literary and non-literary (professional) topics. In this course, students also apply strategies, methodologies and theoretical foundations to an individualized writing project in support of the capstone (thesis, APP, portfolio) and graduate papers.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Experience in designing, writing. and critiquing writing for a variety of professional areas to meet expectations for the use of Spanish in a professional setting. Course explores cultural and linguistic variance in Spanish-speaking environments, including the US.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Introduction to theory and practice of of translation to and from Spanish. Readings, analysis, translation, peer review, preparation of documents for specific professional and cultural environment.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Theoretical parameters of translation not covered in Translation Workshop 1. Students work with complex issues of translation of documents for the professions meant for different regions and variations in the Spanish-speaking world.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The art and practice of editing documents in Spanish for electronic publication on paper or for the internet. Advanced grammar, writing and editing support for native, heritage and second language speakers of Spanish.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Read and interpret a wide variety of professional documents within a cultural context. Each semester the course focuses on a minimum of three different regions of the Spanish-speaking world (i.e. Mexico, Southern Cone, Spain or Andean region, Caribbean, US. Latino).

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Recognition and usage of appropriate language and gestures in a variety of social and professional contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Readings, investigation and discussions concerning cultural practices and policies for intercultural and international interaction for the workplace and for social interaction for the development of the research project on cultural practices for the portfolio.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Development of oral productive skills for general, social, professional, technical and business situations in a variety of cultural contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Development of oral reasoning and presentation skills for specific cultural audiences. Students read and analyze documents from a variety of viewpoints to prepare oral reasoning demonstrations on software for workshop distribution and evaluation.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of interpretation using Spanish.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Development of strategies and training with digital technologies to improve students' formal presentational skills in Spanish for a Spanish-speaking viewing audience. Course stresses how cultural difference affects potential reception when designing online oral presentations with visuals.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Individual study, variable topics.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

Development and preparation of the documents to demonstrate performance and skill level in all competency areas for MS Spanish for the Professions degree program. Students register for this course during the semester in which they plan to graduate.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Variable topics.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-2

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Preparation of teaching materials and minimum of 20 hours of classroom teaching at the intermediate level. Areas in which materials are to be developed and taught are listening comprehension, speaking, literature, culture, and writing.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Integration of oral, written and multicultural competency in a supervised workplace setting.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3-6

Prerequisites: none