MA in Spanish Language and Literature
Literature, Culture and Linguistics
Create Your Path
The M.A. concentration in Spanish provides unparalleled options for customizing your graduate experience. Our optional tracks allow students to specialize as much as they want, or students can make their own path for a well-rounded degree. At NC State, the choice is yours.
Hispanic Linguistics Track
Students wishing to follow the M.A. concentration in Hispanic linguistics take courses in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, as well as courses in sociolinguistics in the Department of English’s M.A. program in linguistics. Our graduates have been admitted to top Ph.D. programs around the country, or have obtained college or secondary teaching positions following graduation.
Course of Study
First Year
Fall semester (9 hours):
- WL 541 – Critical Approaches to Literary Theory and Culture (required of all students)
- WLSP 502 – Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (required of all students)
- WL 507 – College Teaching of Foreign Languages (required of all incoming TAs; recommended for all students)
Spring semester (9 hours):
Students should take the following blocks of courses, offered alternating years
Odd-numbered years
- WLSP 512 – Spanish in the US
- WLSP 515 – History of the Spanish Language
- WL 508 – Second Language Acquisition (Taught in English)
Even-numbered years
- WLSP 503 – Spanish Applied Linguistics
- WLSP 509 – Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
- Elective in English Sociolinguistics or Departmental elective (WLSP 5XX)
- Summer between 1st and 2nd years: Begin research for Culminating M.A. Project (consult Hispanic Linguistics faculty for details)
Second Year
Fall semester (9 hours):
- WLSP 504 – Spanish Language Change and Variation
- Departmental Elective (WLSP 5XX)
- Elective in English Sociolinguistics or Departmental elective (WLSP 5XX)
Spring semester (3-9 hours):
Students should take the following blocks of courses, offered alternating years
Odd-numbered years (WLSP 675 + additional coursework)
- WLSP 512 – Spanish in the US
- WLSP 515 – History of the Spanish Language
- WL 508 – Second Language Acquisition (Taught in English)
- WLSP 675 – Special Project in Spanish (Culminating Project hours)
Even-numbered years
- WLSP 503 – Spanish Applied Linguistics
- WLSP 509 – Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
- WLSP 675 – Special Project in Spanish (Culminating Project hours)
Present Culminating Master’s Project
Total Hours: 30 hours minimum required for graduation – 18 hours minimum in the FLS track
36 total hours offered in which 24 hours of Linguistics coursework are possible if students take all courses offered (highly recommended for students that may want to continue their graduate studies).
Interested students should contact Dr. Valerie Lambert for more information.
Faculty
- Dr. Mark Anthony Darhower: Applied Linguistics, Second language Acquisition, Foreign Language Teaching Methods, IPAs
- Dr. Scott Despain: Foreign Language Teaching Methods, Technology Enhanced Language Learning
- Dr. Jim Michnowicz: Sociolinguistics, Dialectology, Language Contact
- Dr. Rebecca Ronquest: Sociolinguistics, Acoustic Phonetics, Heritage Spanish
- Dr. Sara Zahler: Sociolinguistics, Morphosyntax, Second Language Acquisition, Individual Differences
- Dr. Valerie Lambert: (French) Applied Linguistics, Morphosyntax, Second Language Acquisition, Translation
Hispanic Literature and Cultural Studies Track
Students on this track take courses in literature and culture in the Department of World Languages and Cultures — and have the opportunity to take courses in other departments relevant to our field of study, such as the Department of History or the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Our graduates have been admitted to excellent Ph.D. programs around the country, successfully pursued a variety of professional careers and/or obtained college or secondary teaching positions following graduation.
Course of Study
First Year
Fall Semester (9 hours)
- WLSP 520 – Survey of Hispanic Literature and Culture (required of all students)
- WLSP 502 – Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (required of all students)
- WL 507 – College Teaching of Foreign Languages (required of all incoming TAs; recommended for all students)
Spring Semester (9 hours)
Students should take the following blocks of courses, offered alternating years
Odd-numbered years:
- WLSP 515 – History of the Spanish Language
- WLSP 563 – The Latin American Novel
- WLSP 545 – Spanish Environmental Cultural Studies
Even-numbered years:
- WLSP 554 – The Sixties in Latin America- Dr. Dawes
- WLSP 592 – Rotating themes and graduate instructors
- WLSP 592- Rotating themes and graduate instructors
Summer between 1st and 2nd years: Begin research for Culminating M.A. Project (consult Hispanic Literature/Culture faculty for details)
Second Year
Fall Semester (9 hours)
- WLSP 530 – The Cultural Production of Spanish Democracy (even years) OR WLSP 592 – Rotating theme (odd years)
- Departmental Electives (or elective from English, History, Sociology or Anthropology)
Spring Semester (3-9 hours)
Students should take the following blocks of courses, offered alternating years
Odd-numbered years:
- WLSP 515 – History of the Spanish Language
- WLSP 563 – The Latin American Novel
- WLSP 675 Special Project in Spanish (Culminating Project hours)
Even-numbered years:
- WLSP 554 – The Sixties in Latin America- Dr. Dawes
- WLSP 5XX – New Course being proposed
- WLSP 675 – Special Project in Spanish (Culminating Project hours)
Present Culminating Master’s Project
Total Hours: 30 hours minimum required for graduation – 18 hours minimum in the WLSP track
A total of 24 hours of Literature/Culture coursework are possible if students take all courses offered (highly recommended for students that may want to continue their graduate studies).
Faculty
- Dr. Greg Dawes: Latin American literatures and cultures, the Southern Cone, Latin American poetry, the avant-garde, the sixties
- Dr. Shelley Garrigan: Latin American literatures and cultures, 19th century, Mexican studies, visual arts, material culture
- Dr. Héctor Jaimes: Latin American literatures and cultures, Mexican studies (Art and Literature).
- Dr. Mónica Lugo-Vélez: Caribbean Literature and Cultures, Food Studies, Digital Humanities, National Identity & Latinx Studies
- Dr. Jordi Mari: Socio-Environmental Cultural Studies, Contemporary Iberian Cultural Studies and Film
- Dr. Agustín Pastén: Latin American literatures and cultures, the novel in Latin America, contemporary Latin American women novelists