Graduate Studies FAQ

Advising

Classes

  • How do I make my course selections?
  • I don't see the 800-level classes in the printed Schedule of Courses. Where do I find them?
  • The 800-level classes don't have meeting days and times. How do I find this information?
  • I am a graduate student. Can I take a literature or civilization course at the 500/600 instead of the 800 level?
  • What is the difference between a 500/600-level class and a 800-level class?
  • What is SPAN 805? When can I take it?

Graduation and Exams

  • What steps do I need to take to graduate?
  • What specifically do I need to do, and in what sequence?
  • I am a GTA and I have completed my 32 hours of graduate work. I still have one semester to go, to take my Master of Arts exams, and I am continuing with my teaching assignment. Do I need to enroll in any classes?
  • I was informed I have failed one of my written exams. What do I do now?

Other

  • I have heard that there are two different Master of Arts reading lists. Which one do I use to study?
  • I am interested in the Master of Arts in spanish at WSU, but I don't live in Wichita. Can I complete the degree long-distance?
  • What is the difference between the "new" and "old" system of Master of Arts examinations? Which one is relevant to me?

I am interested in an advanced degree in spanish. Where do I start?

Contact the graduate coordinator at MCLL. Meeting in person is encouraged whenever possible. During regular semesters you can expect no more than a 2-day delay in responding to your voicemails or e-mails. Between May 20 - August 10 advising is only available via e-mail.

Who is the graduate coordinator?

Currently, the graduate coordinator is Dr. Maria Akrabova. Contact information:

I applied and was accepted to the Master of Arts in spanish prior to fall 2004. I have completed a number of courses - however I haven't taken classes in the last several years. What do I need to do to graduate?

First of all, check your date of admission. If ten years have passed since that date, you will have to re-apply to the program. Next, check the classes you have taken. Courses that are more than 6 years old cannot counts towards your degree: they will have to be validated. Courses more than 10 years old cannot be validated. Contact the graduate coordinator for more details on the validation process.

Can I complete the Master of Arts in spanish and earn another concurrent degree?

Yes. However, you cannot be a student in two programs at the same time. Make sure you contact the graduate coordinators of the programs you are ineterested in, and follow these guidelines:

  • If the other degree is your first choice: work on the requirements for your other degree, while also taking courses towards the completion of the MA in Spanish. The semester of graduation from your other degree, apply separately to the MA in Spanish (application fee). Then, visit with the graduate coordinator in Spanish to map out your examination schedule. No more than 6 credits can be claimed for both graduate degrees.
  • If the Master of Arts in spanish is your first choice: work on the requirements for the MA in Spanish, while also taking courses towards the completion of the other degree. The semester of graduation from the MA in Spanish, apply separately to the other degree (application fee). Then, visit with the graduate coordinator of the other degree to map out your examination schedule. No more than 6 credits can be claimed for both draduate degrees.

How do I make my course selections?

Consult the WSU Schedule of Courses, and make your selections. Then, consult with the graduate coordinator. As a general rule, use the opportunity to take a survey course whenever this course is offered: your graduation plans may change and you can miss its next rotation.

I don't see the 800-level classes in the printed Schedule of Courses. Where do I find them?

Sometimes the printed version of the Schedule of Courses does not contain the graduate classes. Try looking them up online.

The 800-level classes don't have meeting days and times. How do I find this information?

Almost all 800-level courses are taught in conjunction with a 500/600-level class. Look the class up by the name of the professor. The information listed for the 500/600-level class is relevant for the 800-level as well.

I am a graduate student. Can I take a literature or civilization course at the 500/600 instead of the 800 level?

Yes. However, you will be required to do extra work.

What is the difference between a 500/600-level class and a 800-level class?

As a graduate student, even if you take the class at the 500/600 level, you will be required to do some extra work and will have a different research requirement than the undergraduate students at the same level. If you take the class at the 800 level, you can expect an extended/specialized list of readings, additional theory, between 3-5 additional meetings, different requirements for presentation and writing assignments.

I am having problems enrolling online in a 800-level class. What do I do?

This happens because of the restrictions placed on graduate courses. Contact the MCLL office staff (305 Jardine Hall, 316-978-3180) and identify yourself as a graduate student. You will then be walked through the enrollment process.

What is SPAN 805? When can I take it?

SPAN 805 is a directed readings course. It is your opportunity to work on specific areas/works on which you feel you need additional guidance. You can take between 1-4 credits of SPAN 805 with one professor, and as many hours as you need to help you prepare. You can work with different professors on different topics for a different total of credit hours (for example, 2 credits of SPAN 805 with Dr. Wilks and 1 credit of SPAN 805 with Dr. McGlynn). As a rule of thumb, the number of readings required to fulfill the requirements for 1 credit hour of SPAN 805 is five; a "reading" can be a long poem or a collection of poems; a novella or an average-lenth novel; a long essay or a collection of essays; a long story or a collection of stories. Please, note that:

  • Not all faculty may be available to offer SPAN 805—you will need to make a personalized request;
  • Precedence is given to regular courses. If a teacher is offering a class that covers the works you want to discuss during the semester you request SPAN 805, you will be advised to take the regular class;
  • Unless there are special circumstances, it is not recommended to request a SPAN 805 course before completing the first two semesters of graduate work;
  • Although you may take unlimited hours of SPAN 805, no more than 6 credits of this Directed Readings course will count towards your degree.

What steps do I need to take to graduate?

First, decide which is your desired semester of graduation. Next, schedule an appointment with the graduate coordinator the semester before the semester of graduation. To prepare for this appointment, you must fill out the List of Courses Taken in the Plan of Study form, and make a preliminary list of desired dates for the following examinations: Oral Proficiency Interview; Reading Competence Exam; Required Elective Specialization written exam. You have the option to spread out your MA exams over two semesters. Remember: it is important to schedule the Reading Competence Exam before any other written exam. You will have to follow the Graduate School graduation deadlines, as well as the department of MCLL fixed schedule of written and oral Examinations.

What specifically do I need to do, and in what sequence?

  • Complete your exit Oral Proficiency Interview no later than the second week of your semester of graduation;
  • Make sure you are enrolled in at least one credit hour during the semester of your graduation;
  • File an Application for Degree with the Graduate School. The deadline is September 10 (for Fall graduation) and February 10 (for Spring graduation);
  • Check the accuracy of your Plan of Study and make sure one is filed with the Graduate School. The deadline to file is the 20th day of classes of the semester of graduation;
  • You need to select an area of specialization (based on a specific class), contact the professor teaching the class for an extended reading list and make arrangements with him/her for the date of your written exam. Please, finalize your written exam date for your area exam as soon as possible. It is recommended that you have your schedules set by the third week of September (for Fall graduation) or February (for Spring graduation);
  • The written exam in Latin American Literature (MA reading list) will be scheduled for the first Tuesday in November (for Fall graduation) or the first Tuesday in April (for Spring graduation). Time and place TBA.
  • The written exam in Spanish Literature (MA reading list) will be scheduled for the second Tuesday in November (for Fall graduation) or the second Tuesday in April (for Spring graduation). Time and place TBA.
  • The Oral Exam will take place the last week of November (for Fall graduation) or the last week of April (for Spring graduation). Time and place TBA.

I am a GTA and I have completed my 32 hours of graduate work. I still have one semester to go, to take my Master of Arts exams, and I am continuing with my teaching assignment. Do I need to enroll in any classes?

You will have to take into consideration two separate graduate school requirements: all degree candidates must be enrolled in at least one credit hour during their semester of graduation; all GTAs must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours. During your last semester you can maintain minimum enrollment (between 1-6 credits), but if you drop below 6 credit hours, you must file an Application for Exception form. Print and fill out the form, stating in a logical and coherent manner a rational basis for the requested exception. Then get a signature from the graduate coordinator before forwaring the form to the Graduate School.

I was informed I have failed one of my written exams. What do I do now?

First of all, don't panic. You do have up to six years to complete your degree and this setback is a minor delay. Make sure you understand the examinators' comments and follow the recommendations, if such are included on your score sheet.

  • If you failed your Reading Competence Exam in a Foreign Language, you will have two more chances to re-take it. Each attempt should be made no less than 30 days after the last one. Be prepared that this may interfere with the set exam schedule, and you may have to take the rest of the written exams in the semester to follow.
  • If you failed your Required Elective Specialization area exam, you will have one more chance to re-take it. The attempt should be made no less than 30 days after taking the original exam. Be prepared that this may interfere with the set exam schedule, and you may have to take the rest of the written exams in the semester to follow.
  • If you failed one of the set exam areas (Peninsular Literature or Latin American Literature), you will have to take the exam the next time it is offered, i.e. the following semester. During a Spring semester you may request an exception, and the graduate coordinator will negotiate a make-up date, and an alternative date for your Oral Exam. You will then be placed on the list of Summer graduates. Please, note that the 30 day rule is still in effect: the make-up date must be scheduled no less than 30 days after the date of the original exam.

I have heard that there are two different MA Reading lists. Which one do I use to study?

Yes, there are two versons. However, the differences are minor and pertain to some of the works in Golden Age Theatre and Latin American Theatre. If you started your studies between fall 2005 and spring 2008, contact the graduate coordinator for the previous version of the reading list. If you started your studies in or after fall 2008, consult the MA Reading List published on this site.

I am interested in the Master of Arts degree in spanish at WSU, but I don't live in Wichita. Can I complete the degree long-distance?

It's a bit complicated, but not impossible. You can take advanced and graduate classes as a participant in the summer program in Puebla; can take up to 6 hours of transferable credits at other institutions of higher learning; and plan to attend WSU for several advanced/graduate pre-session classes. Contact the graduate coordinator to create your personalized course of study. Be advised that there's a minimum of classes that must be taken at the WSU campus.

What is the difference between the "new" and "old" system of MA examinations? Which one is relevant to me?

For students who started their MA program prior to Fall'05, the written exam structure was the following:

  • Spain (Spanish Literature/Culture): exam based on a specific course, reading list provided by the professor;
  • Latin America (Latin American Literature/Culture): exam based on a specific course, reading list provided by the professor;
  • Required Elective Specialization: exam based on a specific course, reading list provided by the professor.

All professors providing reading lists were by default members of the examination committee. A student could not take more than 2 areas of the written exam with the same professor. If the default members of the exam committee were only two, the student was expected to select a third member in consultation with the graduate coordinator.

For students who started their MA program in or after Fall'05, the written exam structure is the following:

  • Spain (Spanish Literature): reading list provided by the department;
  • Latin America (Latin American Literature): reading list provided by the department;
  • Required Elective Specialization: exam based on a specific course, reading list provided by the professor.

All available members of the Spanish Graduate faculty form the oral examination committee. The default chair is the professor teaching the course on which the Required Elective Specialization area exam is based.

All students who initiated their studies prior to fall 2005 may request to take their exams following the current system, if they so desire.

This site is maintained by MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES. This page last modified on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 4:32:25 PM Central US Time. If you find errors please bring them to the attention of Wilson Baldridge (wilson.baldridge@wichita.edu).
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