Foreign Languages, MA

Program Overview

George Mason University's Master of Arts in Foreign Languages program offers students a comprehensive immersion into sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, cultural studies, and literary studies. Concentrations include Chinese, French, Spanish, French and Spanish, and Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education. Leveraging its location in proximity to Washington, D.C., the program provides opportunities for practical experiences through internships, relationships with schools, embassies, and international organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Arts in Foreign Languages program at George Mason University aims to enhance students' linguistic and cultural proficiency through courses in sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, film studies, cultural studies, and literary studies. The program offers five concentrations: Chinese, French, Spanish, French and Spanish, and Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• Total Credits: 30-42 (varies by concentration)
• Core Requirements: All students must meet core and distribution requirements and demonstrate proficiency through a portfolio or a thesis/capstone project.
• Concentrations:
• Chinese (CHIN):
• Core Courses (18 credits):
Choose six courses from a list including 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, and Chinese Theatrical Dramas in the 20th Century.
• Elective Courses (12 credits): Choose four courses from a list including Capstone Project, Master's Thesis, Internship in Chinese Studies, 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, Theory of Translation, Basic Issues in Language Pedagogy, Heritage Language Education, Geography of China, and other courses in select areas in consultation with an advisor.
• French (FRN):
• Literature (6 credits):
Select two courses in literature chosen in consultation with an advisor and cover two different literary periods or Francophone regions.
• French Language and Linguistics (6 credits): Select two courses in French language and linguistics chosen in consultation with an advisor.
• French (6 credits): Select two additional courses in French literature or language in consultation with an advisor.
• Electives (12 credits): Select four electives in consultation with an advisor.
A maximum of 6 credits may be used for directed reading and research or thesis.
• Spanish (SPN):
• Required Core Courses (6 credits):
SPAN 502 Hispanic Sociolinguistics and SPAN 510 Methods of Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Latino, Latin American, or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics (15 credits): Select any five courses with the SPAN subject code.
• Electives (9 credits): Select three electives in consultation with an advisor.
• Spanish and French (SF):
• French (18 credits):
Select six required courses (not electives) specified under the concentration in French.
• Latino, Latin American, or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics (18 credits): Take the two required core courses specified under the concentration in Spanish, plus four electives with the SPAN subject code.
• Electives (16 credits): Select two electives with the FREN, FRLN, and SPAN subject codes.
• Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education (SBM):
• Required Core Courses (6 credits):
SPAN 502 Hispanic Sociolinguistics and SPAN 510 Methods of Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Latino, Latin American or Spanish cultures, literatures, or linguistics (12 credits): Select four courses with the SPAN subject code.
• Education Courses (6 credits): Select two courses from a list including Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts, Introduction to Culturally and 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, and Reading/Writing in Foreign/World Languages.

Other:

• Dual Degree Options: The Department of Foreign Languages and the Global Affairs Program offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Foreign Languages MA (concentration in French, Spanish, or Spanish-bilingual/multicultural education) and the Global Affairs MA in a minimum of 48 credits.
• Accelerated Master's: Highly-qualified Mason undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Chinese or Spanish and an MA in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Chinese or Spanish in an accelerated time-frame.
• Program Outcomes: The program aims to develop students' advanced argumentation skills, critical thinking, research skills, recognition of multilingual and multicultural diversity, and effective oral presentation skills.