MA in Foreign Languages
Concentrations
Catalog Year: 2025-2026
Banner Code: LA-MA-FRLN
The Master of Arts in Foreign Languages aims to enhance the linguistic and cultural proficiency of students through courses in sociolinguistics and second language acquisition, film studies, cultural studies and literary studies. Students may select from six concentrations: Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, Spanish and French, and Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education. Located only miles from Washington, D.C., students take advantage of the program’s existing relationships with schools, embassies, federal agencies, and international businesses—providing opportunities for internships and other educational experiences outside the classroom.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Admissions
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 30-42
Each concentration has a different number of required credits. In all six concentrations, 6 of the total credits may be earned with a thesis. Regardless of the concentration selected, all students must meet the core and distribution requirements given below and demonstrate proficiency through a portfolio or a thesis/capstone project.
Concentration in Chinese (CHIN)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Choose six courses from the following: | 18 | |
| Chinese Linguistics Teaching Methodology | ||
| Topics in Traditional Chinese Literature | ||
| Approaches to Classical/Literary Chinese | ||
| Chinese and Sinophone Cinema | ||
| Topics in Chinese Poetry and Poetics | ||
| Chinese Popular Culture | ||
| Advanced Translation | ||
| Chinese Theatrical Dramas in the 20th Century | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Choose four courses (12 credits) from the following. A maximum of 6 credits of CHIN 797 or 799 may be applied to the degree. | 12 | |
| Capstone Project 1,2 | ||
| Master's Thesis 2 | ||
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Other CHIN courses in consultation with an advisor
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FRLN courses in consultation with an advisor
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| Regional Ethnography | ||
| Methods of Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners | ||
| Methods of Teaching in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign/Second Languages in PK-12 Schools | ||
| Reading/Writing in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Topics in Regional Folklore Studies | ||
| Geography of China | ||
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Other courses in select areas in consultation with advisor 3
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| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
-
Capstone project conducted under the supervision of a faculty project director and project evaluation committee. Project should be a substantial contribution to the field.
- 2
-
Students who do not complete their thesis or capstone research project during one semester of CHIN 797 or CHIN 799 will need to register for additional credits and must maintain continuous enrollment until project is submitted.
- 3
-
Additional coursework in the following areas can apply to the concentration in consultation with an advisor: anthropology, education, folklore, government, history, literature,linguistics, religion.
Concentration in French (FRN)
18 credits must be in courses with the subject code FREN.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | ||
| Select two courses in literature chosen in consultation with an advisor and cover two different literary periods or Francophone regions. | 6 | |
| French Language and Linguistics | ||
| Select two courses in French language and linguistics chosen in consultation with an advisor. | 6 | |
| French | ||
| Select two additional courses in French literature or language in consultation with an advisor. | 6 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select four electives in consultation with an advisor. A maximum of 6 credits may be used for directed reading and research or thesis. | 12 | |
| Directed Reading and Thesis Research | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Concentration in Korean (KORE)
This program prepares students to achieve academic excellence in literary and cultural studies or linguistics and translation studies. Coursework includes critical Korean cultural studies, translation studies, diaspora studies, multimedia pedagogy, and applied linguistics.
Students are expected to take a balanced range of coursework, including culture, history, literature, and translation, and must demonstrate linguistic and cultural proficiency through either a capstone project or thesis. Students are strongly recommended to participate in internships in critical Korean studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Choose six courses from the following: | 18 | |
| Korean Translation Practicum | ||
| Critical Korean Cultural Studies | ||
| Seminar in Korean Popular Narrative | ||
| Korean Multimedia Pedagogy | ||
| Seminar in Korean Culture and Media | ||
| Methods of Korean Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Internship in Community-Based Learning | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Choose four courses (12 credits) from the following. A maximum of 6 credits of KORE 797 or KORE 799 can be applied to the degree. | 12 | |
| Korean Language Pedagogy | ||
| Seminar in Gender and Society of Korea | ||
| Seminar in Digital Korean Studies | ||
| Capstone Project in Korean Studies | ||
| Master's Thesis in Korean Studies | ||
| Regional Ethnography | ||
| Methods of Teaching in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign/Second Languages in PK-12 Schools | ||
| Reading/Writing in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Theory of Translation | ||
| Basic Issues in Language Pedagogy | ||
| Heritage Language Education | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Concentration in Spanish (SPN)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses 1 | ||
| SPAN 502 | Hispanic Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| SPAN 510 | Methods of Literary and Cultural Studies | 3 |
| Latino, Latin American, or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics | ||
| Select any five courses with the SPAN subject code. | 15 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select three electives in consultation with an advisor. 2 | 9 | |
| Directed Reading and Research | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
-
Students must take the core courses within their first 15 credits.
- 2
-
They can include additional courses in Latin American or Spanish culture, linguistics, or literature, courses with the subject code FRLN, up to 6 credits of courses in related fields, and up to 6 credits of thesis research and writing. Students who do not complete their thesis during one semester of SPAN 799 will need to register for additional credits.
Concentration in Spanish and French (SF)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| French | ||
| Select six required courses (not electives) specified under the concentration in French. | 18 | |
| Latino, Latin American, or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics | ||
| Take the two required core courses specified under the concentration in Spanish, plus four electives with the SPAN subject code. | 18 | |
| Electives | ||
| Select two electives with the FREN, FRLN, and SPAN subject codes. 1 | 6 | |
| Directed Reading and Thesis Research | ||
| Directed Reading and Research | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
-
Students who elect to complete a thesis may apply 6 credits of 798 and 799 to fulfill this requirement.
Concentration in Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education (SBM)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses 1 | ||
| SPAN 502 | Hispanic Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| SPAN 510 | Methods of Literary and Cultural Studies | 3 |
| Latino, Latin American or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics | ||
| Select four courses with the SPAN subject code. | 12 | |
| Education Courses | ||
| Select two courses from the following list in consultation with an advisor. | 6 | |
| Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts | ||
| Introduction to Culturally Linguistically Diverse Learners | ||
| Bilingualism and Language Acquisition Research | ||
| Assessment of Language Learners | ||
| Methods of Teaching in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign/Second Languages in PK-12 Schools | ||
| Reading/Writing in Foreign/World Languages | ||
| Electives 2 | ||
| Select four electives in consultation with an advisor. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
-
Students must take the core courses within their first 15 credits.
- 2
-
Students who elect to complete a thesis may apply 6 credits of 798 and 799 to fulfill this requirement.
Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking foreign languages or global affairs with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.
Foreign Languages, MA and Global Affairs, MA Dual Degree
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the Global Affairs Program offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Foreign languages MA (concentration in Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, Spanish and French, or Spanish-bilingual/multicultural education) and the Global Affairs MA with a minimum of 48 credits rather than the minimum of 60 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.
Application Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.
Requirements
Students pursuing a dual master's program linking the Foreign Languages MA with a concentration in Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, Spanish and French, or Spanish bilingual/multicultural education with the Global Affairs MA can share 12 credits between the two programs.