Graduate Programs in Modern and Classical Languages
The Master of Arts in Modern and Classical Languages is designed to meet the needs and interests of prospective and practicing teachers and other professionals, and to prepare students for doctoral study in languages at other institutions. The program offers three concentrations: (1) concentration in one language--French, German, or Spanish; (2) concentration in two of those languages; and (3) concentration in Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education.
In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements for graduate study, applicants seeking degree status must hold a baccalaureate degree with a major in French, German, or Spanish; have at least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the major; and submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their qualifications.
Applicants whose baccalaureate degrees were earned in other fields or who otherwise do not meet the above requirements, but who provide evidence of a capacity to pursue graduate study, are encouraged to apply and may be admitted to the program with provisional status. Applicants in this category may be asked to appear for a personal interview and to take the appropriate part(s) of the Graduate Record Examination. They may also have undergraduate deficiencies to make up before being advanced to degree status.
Candidates who elect a concentration in one language must complete a program of 30 semester hours of study. Those who concentrate in two languages must complete a program of 42 semester hours. The concentration in Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education requires 36 semester hours. In all three concentrations, six of the total hours may be earned with a thesis. Regardless of the concentration selected, all students must meet the core and distribution requirements given below, and must pass an oral comprehensive examination.
Thirty semester hours, of which at least 18 must be earned in courses listed under a single rubric (FREN, GERM, or SPAN), to include the following distribution: at least 6 hours in literature courses covering two different periods and at least 6 hours in language/linguistics courses. The remaining 12 hours are electives, of which up to 6 may be used for directed reading (798) and thesis (799).
Forty-two semester hours, of which 18 must be earned in each of two languages, in courses listed under a single rubric (FREN, GERM, or SPAN), to include the following distribution: at least six hours in literature courses covering two different periods, and at least six hours in language/linguistics courses. The remaining six hours are electives, which may be used for directed reading (798) and thesis (799).
Thirty-six semester hours, of which 18 must be earned in courses listed under the SPAN rubric, to include the following distribution: at least 6 hours in literature courses covering two different periods and at least
6 hours in language/linguistics courses; 6 hours of bilingual education seminars, selected from among EDUC 517, 518, 519. The remaining 12 hours are electives, of which up to 6 may be used for directed reading (SPAN 798) and thesis (SPAN 799).
The certificate program in translation provides professional training for students who wish to acquire proficiency in a specific language combination, either English-French or English-Spanish. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of translation, the program combines theoretical and applied course work in the departments of Modern and Classical Languages, English, and Communication.
Students applying to the program must be admitted to a George Mason University degree program or already hold a bachelor's degree and be admitted for graduate study in nondegree status. Acceptance into the program is based partly on a proficiency examination in English and one other language.
The certificate may be pursued concurrently with any of several degree programs offered through the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Part of the work toward the certificate may be applicable toward degrees in other departments.
Students enrolled in degree programs outside the Department of Modern and Classical Languages who wish to work toward the certificate in translation must apply to the department for admission into the certificate program.
- Required core courses (12 credits):
- ENGL 410 Technical and Report Writing (3)
COMM 505 Intercultural Communication (3) or
ENGL 581 Psycholinguistics (3)
LANG 525 Literary Translation (3)
LANG 565 Theory of Translation (3)
- Language courses (9 credits):
- FREN 357 Introduction to Translation (3)
FREN 576 Advanced Translation (3)
FREN 580 Contemporary French Society
and Culture (3)
or
SPAN 359 Introduction to Translation (3)
SPAN 576 Advanced Translation (3)
SPAN 580 Contemporary Hispanic Institutions (3)
or
GERM 318 Translation of Texts (3)
GERM 576 Advanced Translation (3)
GERM 580 Contemporary Germany (3)
LANG 590 Internship and Seminar in Translation (3)
A translation project is required for completion of the program.
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