MA Programs and Graduate Certificates

The Department of Modern Languages offers an MA in Modern Languages with tracks in French, German, Spanish; an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL); and a Graduate Certificate in TEFL. Our highly customizable options allow graduate students to tailor their studies to their interests and career goals.

Graduate programs in the Department of Modern Languages increase students' sophistication in spoken and written language and train them for specialized fields of study, including literary or cultural studies, L2 Pedagogy, or second language acquisition (SLA). It generally takes 2 years to complete the MA degrees in Modern Languages (Spanish, French or German) or TEFL, while adding a Graduate Certificate in TEFL may extend coursework an additional semester.

An array of courses provides a customizable education in literature, culture, language, translation and interpretation, SLA and pedagogy, and linguistics. Our MA students are closely supervised and build strong mentoring relationships with their professors to guide them through courses and research. Students in the program also have a Graduate Advisor who helps outline their program of study.

The program consists of 30 credit hours, or 10 courses at the 600-800-level. These courses are generally divided so that a minimum of 6 (18 credit hours) are in the language of specialization, and the remaining 4 (12 credits) consist of our MLANG electives, courses that are taught in English for the purpose of advanced Language (L2) teaching and research.

The Graduate Handbook of the Department of Modern Languages is available here, and a semester-by-semester overview of milestones and requirements is here.

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, all applications, domestic or international, must be submitted by December 15 for fall admission and for priority consideration for funding. See below under "Financial Support."

MA in Modern Languages (French, German, or Spanish)

The program is designed to help students attain a high level of proficiency in all aspects of the language; how to read, analyze, interpret, and discuss a wide selection of works in the target language; and to synthesize the material read into an accurate and coherent picture of linguistic, literary, and cultural developments. This degree is recommended for those students who wish to teach at the secondary level or to continue graduate work elsewhere with the intention of teaching at the secondary or university level, or for students who wish to develop their skills in language and literature in preparation for other careers. For students interested in teaching as a career, a variety of courses in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) support these goals.

MA in TEFL

Intended for aspiring teachers of English or for practicing teachers who wish to enhance their credentials. Upon completion of the program, students are equipped to teach English in a wide range of contexts, both abroad and domestically. Program description: TEFL.

TEFL Certificate - 6 classes (18 credit hours); can be completed in conjunction with the MA degree, as an “add-on”. Information on the TEFL certificate is available here.

General Admission Information

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 faculty; basis for acceptance: the student's previous transcript, application materials, and letters of recommendation.
NOTE: For students applying to the M.A. in Second Language Acquisition with Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, an initial consultation with Dr. Leah McKeeman (leahmac@ksu.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.

Financial Support

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (see below), all applications, domestic or international, must be submitted by December 15 for fall admission and for priority consideration for funding.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Many applicants to the Modern Languages M.A. programs qualify to be GTAs (Graduate Teaching Assistants). These positions allow our students to develop their teaching skills in a supportive and cooperative environment while earning their degree and receiving financial support. Positions are limited and competitive.

A GTA teaches 3 sections of basic language courses throughout the academic year. The current stipend for a nine-month contract (August to May) is $14,000, which can be complemented by scholarships (email Modern Languages for more information). All full-time GTAs receive a full tuition waiver for each year as a GTA, and may elect to join the University's health insurance program. .

If you are applying for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, you may be contacted for an interview by Zoom.

The department of Modern Languages also offers a number of scholarships and awards for graduate students.

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.

Domestic Students Graduate School Application Process & Forms

International Students Graduate School Application Process & Forms

If you have any questions about these programs, and/or the application process, please contact:

Dr. Rebecca Bender
Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies
107 Eisenhower Hall
rmbender@ksu.edu

MA Programs and Graduate Certificates

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