Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Pedagogy (MA)
Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Pedagogy (MA)
The M.A. in Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Pedagogy degree affords students the opportunity to continue their world language study at the graduate level with the option of working toward teacher certification.
This master's degree program has three options:
- a single-major plan (30 credits)
- a major-minor plan (36 credits) and
- a double-major plan (42 credits)
It is a flexible degree that is designed to deepen students’ understanding of how languages are taught and learned while advancing their professional and linguistic expertise. Students already certified can take as many as 15 credit hours in world language pedagogy courses or closely related fields. All students take at least half their courses in the world language and literature of their major field (French, Chinese or Spanish). This program also prepares students for study at the PhD. level in the field of applied linguistics or language education.
Students seeking teacher certification must take 37 credits of course work and 3 credits of student teaching. All other students must take a minimum of 30 credits.
Major fields are French, Spanish and Chinese.
Minor fields are French, German, Spanish, Latin, Italian, Russian, Applied Linguistics/Pedagogy and related disciplines.
Admission to the Master of Arts in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MALLC) is generally dependent on the following requirements:
- B.A. or equivalent in the target language/literature, or in another appropriate discipline.
- A minimum Undergraduate Grade Point Average of 2.9 overall, and 3.25 or higher in the proposed MA major subject.
- Information for International Students: TOEFL (TOEFL at Home, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL iBT), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or Cambridge English Proficiency
- A minimum score of 79 on a TOEFL iBT is necessary for admission; 100 is necessary for teaching assistantships.
- A minimum IELTS score is 6.5 overall with no individual sub-score below 6.0. Scores are to be sent directly to the University of Delaware Office of Graduate Admissions (234 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE 19716) by IELTS International.
- Please note that test scores are valid for a two-year period only.
- For further information regarding test scores and equivalencies, read this page.
- The University of Delaware will accept Cambridge English Proficiency exam scores from international graduate applicants who do not qualify for an English Proficiency Waiver and do not have other approved test scores. Applicants should submit their official Cambridge English Proficiency score report. For more information, contact Renee Alladin, Graduate Admissions Coordinator.
- AVANT test for non-native speakers of the target language (Spanish or French). To register for the Avant test, please contact Blythe Milbury-Steen: bmilbury@udel.edu. Alternatively, candidates can take the ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview). A minimum score of Advanced Low in any of these tests is required of all candidates applying for a teaching assistantship. Non-native speakers or students of French may also use DELF/DALF assessments: a score of B2 (Advanced Low) or higher is required. [Please note that test scores are valid for a two-year period only.]
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors who know you well and can comment on your academic performance in the target language and/or literature, as well as on your current target language proficiency (if you are a non-native speaker of that language). If you have been away from the academic world for some years, a letter from an employer may be substituted for one academic letter.
- Applicants must submit a writing sample of at least 1000 words in the target language (this may be a paper written in Spanish/French for an undergraduate class). In addition, candidates applying for a teaching assistantship may have a brief personal or telephone interview conducted in English and the target language.
- Applicants should submit a personal Application Essay that addresses why you have selected the particular MA program track (MA-LLC or MA-LLCP) and what you hope to gain from study in our program. Also, please include any personal information you deem relevant for the admissions committee. Include if you are an MA-LLCP applicant intent on pursuing the certification track.
Admission to the MA in Languages, Literatures and Cultures is competitive. Those who meet these requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet the requirements necessarily precluded from admission if other appropriate strengths are presented, such as high grades and strong letters of recommendation.
1. Coursework for MA-LLCP students not seeking certification
Program (credits) |
Course Requirements |
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Single Major (30 credits) |
Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
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A minimum of three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
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The remaining two courses (6 credits) are selected with the prior approval of the student's advisor from the major language area (French or Spanish), world language pedagogy, or related fields (i.e., relevant courses in education, linguistics, literary theory, English, etc.).
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Note All recipients of a Graduate Assistantship (TAship, RAship, etc.) are required to take LLCU 623. If a student has completed coursework judged equivalent to LLCU 622, 623 or 624 and can provide documentation (e.g., teaching portfolio, syllabi, teaching certificate), substitutions within the field of world language pedagogy may be accepted.
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Major/Minor (36 credits) |
Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature and three courses (9 credits) in the minor. In no instance may the student take more credits outside the department than in the department in any one semester.
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A minimum of three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
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One course (3 credits) may either be in the major literature or in pedagogy.
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Note Students wishing to pursue a minor must apply to the graduate studies committee for admission to the minor. Criteria for admission are the same as those applied to all other degree candidates. Once admitted to the minor, the student must be assigned an advisor who is a member of the graduate faculty. With the advisor's approval, the student will select courses with the goal of a comprehensive program of study.
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Double Major (42 credits)
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Five courses (15 credits) in the major literature I and five courses (15 credits) in the major literature II.
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At least three courses (9 credits) in the field of world language pedagogy. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
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One course (3 credits) may either be in the major literature or in pedagogy.
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2. Coursework for MA-LLCP students on Certification Track
Students who wish to obtain teacher certification must take 37 credits of coursework, and complete 3 credits of student teaching, distributed as follows:
Program (credits) |
Course Requirements |
|---|---|
MA-LLCP, Teacher Certification Track (37 credits)
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Five courses (15 credits) in the major language/literature. These credits must be earned in the classroom, not as thesis credits.
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Five courses (13 credits) in world language pedagogy. These courses must include:
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Two courses (6 credits) in education:
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Notes *All recipients of a graduate assistantship (TAship, RAship, etc.) are required to take LLCU 623. If a student has completed coursework judged equivalent to LLCU 622, 623 or 624 and can provide documentation (e.g., teaching portfolio, syllabi, teaching certificate), substitutions within the field of world languages pedagogy may be accepted. **LLCU617 (1 credit) includes a clinical placement in a local school. See the coordinator of World Languages Education to discuss arrangements for such a placement. *** EDUC 613 includes an 18-hour clinical placement in a local school. In addition to these 37 credits, 3 credit hours of Student Teaching (EDUC 750) must be completed before obtaining the MA-LLCP degree. Applications for student teaching are submitted to the coordinator of world languages education in February of the spring semester for all placements in the following academic year. |
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Important Notes
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Comprehensive Examinations
- Students in the MA-LLCP program have two sets of comprehensive examinations. The first is focused on pedagogy and takes place typically in the third semester of study. The second is focused on literature and culture; it takes place typically in the fourth semester of study. Given these students are in the Pedagogy track, literature and culture comprehensive examinations are reduced in scope.
- All comprehensive examinations have a written component as well as an oral component.
- All comprehensive examinations are based on coursework. Pedagogy comprehensive examinations also include a reading list, available online: Pedagogy reading list
- Students must submit the application to take the pedagogy comprehensive exam to the graduate academic program coordinator by the last day of September (fall exams) or the last day of February (spring exams).
- Students must submit the Application to take Master’s Exam to their respective language/pedagogy representative by the last day of September (fall exams) or the last day of February (spring exams).
