The Department offers an MA in Foreign Languages with four different concentrations as well as a Graduate Certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education that can be completed fully online. In addition, the Accelerated MA program allows highly qualified undergraduates to save time and money by beginning their graduate study while still completing their undergraduate degree.
Educators seeking professional development opportunities may take graduate courses as non-degree students. In most cases, non-degree coursework can later be applied to the MA and certificate programs.
The MA in foreign languages with a concentration in French offers students an opportunity to study a variety of topics—from the traditional academic study of the language, literature, and the culture of French to less traditional subjects such as film studies and the Francophone literatures of the Caribbean, Quebec, and Africa.
The MA in foreign languages with a concentration in Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education combines courses in Spanish with courses in multicultural education offered through the School of Education and Human Development. This degree prepares individuals to effectively teach in bilingual and multicultural settings; licensure is available with minimal additional coursework beyond the degree.
The MA in foreign languages with a concentration in French and Spanish allows graduate students to pursue a multilingual path of scholarship and an array of international opportunities. This expanded master’s degree combines the basic requirements of the concentrations in French and Spanish, with additional opportunities for electives and an optional thesis.
The MA in foreign languages with a concentration in Spanish offers students an opportunity to study a variety of topics – from the traditional academic study of the language, literature, and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world to less traditional subjects such as film studies and literature from the many Spanish-speaking regions of the world.
Accelerated master’s degree programs are designed for Mason’s highly qualified and highly motivated undergraduates.
Students admitted to an accelerated master’s degree program have the opportunity to complete both degrees in a reduced amount of time, and at a reduced cost.
The Graduate Certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education is a 15-credit program that can be completed fully online. It can be taken alone or in conjunction with the MA or another graduate degree. Students develop familiarity with the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural characteristics of Spanish-speakers in the US; heritage language educational policy and practice; and social justice-oriented approaches to teaching Spanish. The certificate prepares educators and affiliated professionals to advocate for heritage speakers of Spanish as well as to develop and implement teaching materials, curricula, and pedagogies for Spanish heritage language education.