Program of Study for the Master of Arts in Romance Languages

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree in the target language or a closely related field from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; writing sample in the target language; oral interview for evaluation of speaking skills (see guidelines at: http://dllc.appstate.edu); two undergraduate literature courses and two culture courses. International students must submit a writing sample in English and must pass an oral interview in English.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . In addition, the program faculty will give preference to applicants who meet or exceed the following: Cumulative Undergraduate GPA: 3.0 or higher; GPA in subject area: 3.2. Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE) requirement may be waived for applicants who:

• Have completed 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University of other accredited institution, with a grade of “B” or better, within the past five years; OR
• Have five or more years of post-baccalaureate experience in teaching, translating, or interpreting in the target language; OR
• Demonstrate performance at the advanced-mid level or higher in Spanish or French in a target language writing sample and a standard oral proficiency interview (OPI) conducted by the department’s graduate faculty.

Accelerated Admission Option: This program offers an accelerated admission option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.   

Location: On and Off Campus, with some on-line and blended instruction offerings

Additional Information about Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility

Any standardized exam waiver for a graduate degree program at Appalachian State requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned degree (undergraduate or graduate; some programs have established higher GPA requirements). No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application. Standardized test scores may be required for scholarship consideration.

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Romance Languages

Concentration Requirements (30 Hours)

(Does not lead to licensure)

Elective Courses

Choose from the following courses:

• SNH 5001 - Hispanic Children’s and Adolescent Literature (3)
• SNH 5002 - Masterpieces of Hispanic Art and Literature (3)
• SNH 5003 - Hispanic Short Fiction (3)
• SNH 5005 - The 20th Century Hispanic Novel (3)
• SNH 5023 - Poetry in Spain and Latin America (3)
• SNH 5024 - Theater and Performance in the Hispanic World (3)
• SNH 5026 - Hispanic Cultural Studies (3)
• SNH 5027 - The Media in Latin America and Spain (3)
• SNH 5028 - Seminar in Spanish Linguistics (3)
• SNH 5030 - Latin American Thought Through Literature and Film (3)
• SNH 5045 - Comparative Romance Linguistics (3)
• SNH 5065 - Seminar in Hispanic Film and Literature (3)
• SNH 5075 - Migration in Literature and Film (3)
• SNH 5555 - History of the Spanish Language (3)
• SNH 5565 - Advanced Spanish Expression (3)
• Electives (
  SNH 5500
   ,
  SNH 5530-5549
   ,
  LLC 5530-5549
   ), chosen with the approval of the Advisor or the Program Director (0-6)

Other Requirements for the MA in Romance Languages

• Thesis: Not required
• Proficiency: Proficiency in the language is required.
• Candidacy: Required; see the program director for specific timeline and requirements for admission to candidacy
• Comprehensive:
  • College Teaching Concentrations: Each MA candidate develops a portfolio of representative work generated in the course of the MA Program. The portfolio contains fully revised versions of the candidate’s best work produced for all classes in the content area, and serves as the basis for a one-hour oral comprehensive examination. Refer to specific guidelines for the portfolio at: http://dllc.appstate.edu.
  • K-12 Teaching Concentrations: Requirement is fulfilled via successful presentation of the Product of Learning.
• Product of Learning:
  • Community College Teaching: Not required.
  • K-12 Teaching: Requirement is fulfilled via successful completion and presentation of the Product of Learning. Refer to specific guidelines for the Product of Learning at: http://dllc.appstate.edu.