Graduate Studies
The Department of Modern Languages offers four M.A. programs:
- Literature in French, German, or Spanish
- Language Acquisition in French, German, or Spanish
- Language Acquisition with Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in French, German, or Spanish
- Second Language Acquisition / Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
In this section, you will find general information about Master's degrees in Modern Languages, along with specific information about admission, financial support, a checklist for US citizen & resident application, and a checklist for international student application.
Dr. Claire Dehon (dehoncl@k-state.edu) is the Graduate Program Coordinator. Please contact her if you have any questions.
General Information
Graduate level courses in the Department of Modern Languages further increase the student's sophistication in spoken and written language skills and train him or her in the specialized techniques of literary study, language acquisition, language acquisition with teaching certificate, or teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Master's degrees are available in French, German, Spanish, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The program offers a limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) to qualified applicants. The Department also offers a limited number of scholarships: one for promising first year students, and another for high performing second year students. Please contact the Office of Modern Languages (modlang@ksu.edu) for more information.
An array of courses provides graduate students an excellent education in literature, culture, and language. Many full-time faculty, GTAs and temporary instructors are native speakers. Because there is a small ratio of students to faculty members, students are closely supervised and they have easy access to their professors. Each student in the program will have a Graduate Advisor to help the student outline his/her program of study. While only professors teach upper-level and graduate level courses, in lower-division courses there is flexibility and the opportunity for GTAs to teach different subjects, depending on individual abilities and experience.
Final examinations
In both program options a final comprehensive written and oral examination is required at the completion of course work. This exam is tailored to the particular M.A. option. It generally takes two years to complete the M.A. program in literature. Practicing teachers who typically take only one course per semester may need an additional year or two to complete the option in language acquisition.
Teaching support
The Department of Modern Languages prides itself on the excellence of its teaching staff, and it considers one of its most important goals that of training outstanding future teachers. The faculty works closely both with on-campus teaching assistants and practicing teachers to ensure the maximum benefit from the program.
Careers
Graduates in Modern Languages can pursue careers in textbook publishing, consultation in multimedia language programs, educational graphics, translation and editing, educational foundations, educational travel, and educational administration. Some of these career fields require additional specialized training. The knowledge of a language, culture, and literature at this level can also be combined with other fields: journalism, ecology, theology, music and art, film, library science, and business.
Special programs and activities
We offer summer programs in France, Germany, Spain, and other Hispanic countries. Graduate students in German may qualify for substantial scholarships in a recently expanded program for study in selected universities of Austria, Germany, or Switzerland. The university has an agreement with the University of Costa Rica and connections to a number of study abroad programs including International Students Exchange Program.
Admissions
Applications must be received by February 1st (for fall admission), and September 1st (for spring admission) for International Students; and by April 1st (for fall admission), and December 1st (for spring admission) for US residents and citizens.
Requirements for Admittance*
1) B.A. in related field (language, education, etc.) or 3 years of European University in related field, or equivalent. Students with other academic backgrounds may apply provided that they make up the courses necessary to bring them at the right level.
2) Teaching experience desirable (as a practicing or former teacher, or as a student-teacher)
3) Acceptance by a committee of graduate program advisors; basis for acceptance: the student's previous transcript & experience. NOTE: For students applying to the M.A. in Language Acquisition with Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, an initial consultation with Dr. Amanda Morales (morales@k-state.edu) in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is recommended.
*Prospective students may be accepted provisionally until deficiencies in course work or professional experience are completed satisfactorily.
See checklist for graduate application: US residents & citizens, international.
Financial Support
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Most applicants to the Modern Languages M.A. programs qualify to be GTAs (Graduate Teaching Assistants). This position allows our students to develop their teaching skills in a supportive and cooperative environment while earning a degree in the field of their choice, and receiving financial support.
A GTA will typically teach three sections of lower level language courses throughout the academic year, provided classes are available and the student has shown potential as a teacher. The current stipend for a nine-month contract (August to May) is $10,100, this stipend can be complemented by scholarships (email Modern Languages for more information about scholarships). All full time GTAs receive a full tuition waiver (about $3,500 for in-state tuition, or $7,500 for out-of-state) for each year as a GTA, and can join the University's health insurance program. GTAs may teach in the summer if classes are available.
If you are interested in a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, we ask that you include with your application a personal voice recording (standard cassette or disk) in which you introduce yourself in English and in the language you wish to study for two or three minutes (one minute or so in each language). Include also a reading of a short text in the language to be studied. A passage of two or three minutes read from a literary selection would do nicely. We also may telephone you for an interview.
If you have questions about your specific plans and needs, we would be happy to send you additional information. Simply write to us at the Department of Modern Languages, Graduate Program Coordinator, 104 Eisenhower Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1003, USA. You can also email questions to Professor Claire Dehon (dehoncl@k-state.edu), Graduate Program Coordinator.
For other types of financial assistance (student loans or work study), please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Fairchild Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1104.
Checklist for US Residents & Citizens Graduate Application
-
Completed Application available through the Graduate School. You must apply directly online through the Graduate School webpage.
-
Statement of objectives, in English (one page maximum).
-
Official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate classes.
-
Three letters of recommendation from professors and others who know your work.
-
Application fee payable to the Kansas State University Graduate School. See the Graduate School Application webpage for details.
US residents and citizens who are not English native speakers will be required to take the TOEFL and SPEAK test.
If you are requesting a Graduate Teaching Assistanship, do not forget to include a cassette tape/CD.
When your application file is complete, send all materials to the Department of Modern Languages, Graduate Program Coordinator, 104 Eisenhower Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1003, USA, we will forward it to the graduate advisor in the language you wish to study. He or she will contact you regarding your acceptance to the program and your assistantship, if you have applied for one. Your application must be approved by both the faculty in your language section and the Graduate School. This will take a few weeks. We appreciate your patience.
Checklist for International Students Graduate Application
Please be sure to contact the Graduate School for more detailed information regarding the University's admission policy of International students, and application deadlines.
-
Completed International Student Application available through the Graduate School. You must apply directly online through the Graduate School webpage.
-
Statement of objectives, in English (one page maximum).
-
Official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate classes, translated if from a non-English-speaking country.
-
Three letters of recommendation from professors and others who know your work, in English if possible.
-
Statement of financial support, with documentation (official bank statement, letter from sponsors, letter of credit, etc.). Please sign in all three boxes on the application.
-
TOEFL score documentation unless you have an undergraduate degree from a university in the United States; minimum of 560 (paper-based test), 220 (computer-based test), or 83 (iBT - internet-based test) required for admittance to Graduate School and 610/253/101-102 for student with a Teaching Assistanship.
-
SPEAK test: If you are applying for a teaching assistanship, please know that the Kansas Board of Regents mandates that any student who teaches in a university class must pass the SPEAK test / TSE (Test of Spoken English) with a score of 50 or receive a 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT. (Please contact the English Language Program for details on the SPEAK test).
-
Application fee payable to the Kansas State University Graduate School. See the Graduate School Application webpage for details.*
*Please note that international KSU graduate students who are going on for another degree or are changing curriculum within KSU do not pay the application fee.
If you are requesting a Graduate Teaching Assistanship, do not forget to include a cassette tape/CD.
When your application file is complete, send all materials to the Department of Modern Languages, Graduate Program Coordinator, 104 Eisenhower Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-1003, USA, we will forward it to the graduate advisor in the language you wish to study. He or she will contact you regarding your acceptance to the program and your assistantship, if you have applied for one. Your application must be approved by both the faculty in your language section and the Graduate School. This will take a few weeks. We appreciate your patience.