Graduate Programs

An M.A. in Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL) in French, Spanish and German is offered by The Graduate School. Graduate students are expected to have full mastery of the target language and courses will be taught in that language. Students may concentrate on literature, linguistics, teaching methods or culture, but all will receive a solid grounding in literature and will need to demonstrate that on an M.A. examination. Courses are offered in genres and in the literature of all centuries in France, Spain, Germany, Francophone Africa and Latin America. Courses in research and literary theory, linguistics, methods of teaching foreign languages, women's studies, cultural theory and film are also available. Given the department's high-tech audio-visual laboratory, students are expected to gain knowledge of teaching through the new technologies. The thesis, professional papers or in-house papers may be written in English, French, Spanish or German.

Information and application for the Modern Languages and Literatures degree are available on The Graduate School's web site: http://www.umt.edu/grad/programs/foreignlanguages/default.htm

Degree Offered

M.A. Modern Languages and Literatures

Requirements

Either a thesis or a non-thesis program may be selected; 30 total graduate semester credits are required for the thesis program and 36 total graduate semester credits for the non-thesis.

All candidates must take MCLG 501, Introduction to Research Methods and Textual Criticism, in the first semester of graduate study. In addition, candidates must take, at any time during their course of graduate study, a minimum of one course in the MCLG/ENLT 522 Comparative Literature offerings. Graduate students are expected to enroll in all graduate level courses offered in their respective languages and must take a minimum of 15 credits in the major language area. For the thesis option, a maximum of 6 credits is allowed for the thesis, and there is a 3-credit elective.

For requirements concerning examinations, theses and professional papers see the graduate adviser and department statement. Each degree candidate must arrange a program of study with the section's Graduate Advisor before beginning course work for the degree. All graduate candidates are expected to engage in some teaching.

Graduate students interested in Russian, Classics, Japanese or Chinese Studies are encouraged to enroll in the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program.

Admissions

1. Application Materials and Deadline

Fall - Priority will be given to complete application packets postmarked by March 1. Complete application packets received after this date will be considered on a space available basis.

Instructions for applying to the Graduate School are in the Applying for Admission section.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures also requires:

• A letter of intent in the target language (French, German, Spanish).
• A writing sample in the target language such as an academic paper, corrected by a professor.
• A writing sample in English.
• Proof of oral proficiency in the target language (tape, cd or dvd).

2. Program Requirements for Admission

• GRE scores 50th percentile or above in verbal and analytical are required.
• The Modern and Classical Languages andLiteratures department does not accept GRE scores that are more than 5 years old.
• Incoming graduate students are expected to possess an undergraduate degree in French, German or Spanish studies or strengths equivalent to those required for a major.
• Those with an undergraduate minor may have provisional admission, pending completion of compensatory courses.

3. Assistantship Application

A letter requesting consideration for a teaching assistantship should accompany the graduate application.

4. International Students

• The TOEFL exam can substitute for the GRE.
• See information in the International Admission section.

Financial Assistance

For additional information about financial assistance, see the Money section on The Graduate School's web site.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are available to some qualified applicants who have been admitted to the M.A. program. Applicants for assistantships are considered on the basis of knowledge and skills in the language area as well as scholarship and potential to undertake advanced study and research. Teaching assistants are responsible for a first-year language class. In addition to a wage, teaching assistants receive a waiver of the tuition fee (out-of-state or in-state) and the registration fee. Other fees charged by the University are not included in the TA fee waiver package. Teaching assistants are required to register for nine credits that apply to their M.A. program each semester.