PROGRAM

Master of Arts in Modern Languages:

The Department of Modern Languages offers the M.A. in Modern Languages with emphases either in French, German, Spanish, or Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). A long-standing program in French, German and Spanish, we have recently added TESL to our graduate offerings. We have a young, dynamic faculty in a department that teaches at least nine foreign languages and linguistics at the undergraduate level. Click here to see a complete list: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/ . We are a state leader in promoting foreign language teaching and provide many course offerings in culture studies, film, linguistics, and literature. The ML department looks favorably on studying other languages as electives within your program in TESL, Spanish, French or German; if you reach graduate level study (500) these courses may count toward your Modern Languages degree.

The Modern Languages Department is located in Bondurant Hall near the library and shares the building with the English Department. We sponsor an annual lecture and many talks and workshops throughout the year. The small classes and frequent professorial contact within the degree make for a close-knit community. The advantages of small academic seminars are complemented by the social, sport, and cultural opportunities of a great American university in a vibrant campus town, not far from the cities of Memphis and Tupelo.

Three types of financial assistance are offered from the department: the MILTA award, research assistantships, and graduate instructor positions. Regarding Financial Assistance, please consult:
1) UM Financial Aid: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/
2) Modern Languages Financial Assistance, including the MILTA Award, research assistantships and graduate instructor positions, the Chair of Modern Languages, Dr. Donald Dyer, mail to: mldyer@olemiss.edu.

For more information about the University and the surrounding area, please explore these websites:
Ole Miss home page: http://www.olemiss.edu/
Ole Miss athletics: http://www.olemiss.edu/athletics/index.html
Museums and Culture Events on campus: http://www.olemiss.edu/museum/index.html
Information about the town of Oxford: http://www.oxfordcvb.com/
Student government, the Graduate Student Council: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/gsc/
To contact faculty and staff in your language of interest, please explore here: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/Staff.html

For more information about the program, contact us:

Graduate Director for French, German, and Spanish, Fall 2009: Dr. Diane Marting, dmarting@olemiss.edu - Phone: 662-915-7104, Bondurant E104.
Graduate Director for TESL, Fall 2009: Dr. Felice Coles, fcoles@olemiss.edu - Phone: 662-915-7702, Bondurant E-210A.
Chair, Department of Modern Languages, Dr. Donald Dyer, mldyer@olemiss.edu - Phone: 662-915-7298, Bondurant 115-C.

Mailing address: Modern Languages Department, P.O. Box 1848, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677 Fax: 662-915-1086

Preliminary Requirements for Admission

The M.A. in Modern Languages degree with a specialization in French, German or Spanish requires, as a prerequisite, 30 hours of course work in one of the three languages in which the student intends to specialize or a total of 30 hours in two or three languages, ancient and/or modern, provided that at least 18 hours are in the major language to be studied. In extraordinary cases, this prerequisite may be modified.

The M.A. in Modern Languages degree with a specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) program requires, as a prerequisite, either 30 hours in English, linguistics or a foreign language, or a total of 30 hours in any combination of the above, provided that a minimum of at least 18 hours are in one of the fields. In extraordinary cases, this prerequisite may be modified.

For more information, see the Graduate Admissions website: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/graduate_school/applyonline.php

Requirements for the Modern Languages Master of Arts

In addition to the following course requirements, students must maintain at least a B average in their course work or be subjected to probation and/or expulsion from the program.

Specialization in French

An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in French gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the French-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.

Course Requirements:

Two options are available. One option requires 24 hours of graduate-level course work with a minimum of 15 hours in the major field (French) plus a thesis in the major field, and a maximum of 9 hours in the minor field, subject to approval of the department. The second option requires 36 hours of graduate-level course work, of which a minimum of 24 hours must be in the major field and up to 12 hours in one or more minor fields, subject to department approval.

Click here to see a list of all French courses offered by the department. Courses numbered 500 and above are at the graduate level. http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/FrenchCourses.html

Specialization in German

An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in German gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the German-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.

Course Requirements:

Two options are available. One option requires 24 hours of graduate-level course work with a minimum of 15 hours in the major field (German) plus thesis in the major field, and a maximum of 9 hours in the minor field, subject to approval of the department. The second option requires 36 hours of graduate-level course work, of which a minimum of 24 hours must be in the major field and up to 12 hours in one or more minor fields, subject to department approval.

Click here to see a list of all German courses offered by the department. Courses numbered 500 and above are at the graduate level. http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/GermanCourses.html

Specialization in Spanish

An M.A. in Modern Languages with a specialization in Spanish gives graduates a high proficiency in communicative skills and a deep awareness of cultures in the Spanish-speaking world. The degree prepares students for a teaching career at a variety of levels as well as doctoral work in the discipline.

College Course Requirements:

Two options are available. One option requires 24 hours of graduate-level course work with a minimum of 15 hours in the major field (Spanish) plus thesis in the major field, and a maximum of 9 hours in the minor field, subject to approval of the department. The second option requires 36 hours of graduate-level course work, of which a minimum of 24 hours must be in the major field and up to 12 hours in one or more minor fields, subject to department approval.

Click here to see a list of all Spanish courses offered by the department. Courses numbered 500 and above are at the graduate level. http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/ modern_languages/SpanishCourses.html

Click here to see a list of the most recent Graduate Level Spanish Courses: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/Graduate Level Spanish Courses.doc

Specialization in TESL

Students who specialize in TESL learn best practices in the teaching of English as a second language, training, most importantly, for careers as English-language teachers. With its heavy focus on applied and theoretical linguistics, the TESL specialization within the modern languages master’s program also prepares its graduates for doctoral work in the discipline.

Three options for completing the degree are available, all of which require 36 credit hours. The three options are as follows:
(1) 36 hours of course work in TESL, Ling, Mlll, and Engl;
(2) 24 hours of course work in the above areas and 12 hours of course work in a minor field approved by the department; or
(3) 24 hours of course work in the above areas and 12 hours of thesis work.

The course work consists of 36 hours of 500- and 600-level courses from TESL, Ling, Mlll, and Engl. Twelve of the 36 credit hours must consist of the core requirements, which are Ling 600, TESL 542 or 672, 631, 645, 647, and 695, as well as an additional three hours coming from ENGL 501 or 592. Students who wish to pursue the thesis option are additionally required to take TESL 694.

For more information, please consult this link: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/modern_languages/TESL.html

Links for Currently Enrolled Students: Ole Miss Graduate Student Handbook: http://www.olemiss.edu/gradschool/forms/gradstudhandbook.pdf

MA reading lists
in Spanish:

Explanation of Policy regarding RAs, and GTAs:

Ole Miss site for recently admitted graduate students: