Program/Course Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the program requires:

a) Eighteen units, including Languages, Literatures and Cultures 600, 601 and, depending on research perspective, either Languages, Literatures and Cultures 602 or 603.

b) A scholarly and/or critical thesis (approximately 100 pages).

Applicants lacking the requisite background in language or literature may be admitted as qualifying students. In this case, extra course work is normally required. A qualifying oral examination based on set texts may be required before the students attain regular Master of Arts status. Courses taken as a qualifying student do not normally count as part of the student's course requirements.

Copyediting

The program prohibits copyediting of the students' theses written in French or Spanish for the MA or PhD degrees.

Note: Normally no more than 3 units of Directed Reading may be taken for credit.

a) All students are encouraged to attend University orientation sessions. Students enrolled in a Fall Block week course are encouraged to attend an orientation session at the earliest opportunity.

b) Before the end of their second year of study, MA Thesis students are required to make an internal or external presentation relating to their research.

c) Students in the thesis-based programs are also expected to demonstrate their participation in university-wide research activities by attending internal or external scholarly presentations every year in their programs. A minimum of one workshop on language training (see section (d) below) and at least two other presentations are required. Students should list all presentations attended in their Annual Progress Report.

d) Our graduate students are expected to complete training that will enhance their profile as a Language Teacher. Beyond Languages, Literatures and Cultures 601, training may include further courses such as:

LANG615
LANG625
LANG699
EDER613
EDER667
EDER669
EDER696
DELE/DELF/German CEFR examiner accreditation courses

These courses do not count towards degree requirements.

It is also highly recommended that students avail themselves of other training offered by the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

e) MA students in French and Spanish have a knowledge areas requirement that must be satisfied by the first month of the second year in program, or, as appropriate, one month after the completion of course work, whichever occurs first. MA students in French are expected to complete coursework that fulfills five knowledge areas, and MA students in Spanish are expected to complete coursework on all of the knowledge areas.

Knowledge areas: French

Medieval and Early Modern French Literature and Culture, Modern French Literature and Culture, Contemporary Literature and Culture of France, Franco-Canadian and Québécois Literature and Culture, Francophone Studies (outside Canada), History or Theories of Language, Theories of Culture or Literature.

Knowledge areas: Spanish

Medieval and early Modern Spanish Literature and Culture, Spanish American Literature and Culture to 1900, Modern and Contemporary Peninsular Literature and Culture, Latin American Literature and Culture since 1900, History or Theories of Language, Theories of Culture or Literature.

When studying an application for admission, the Graduate Program Director, in consultation with the Graduate Committee, will determine, based on undergraduate transcripts, which of the required knowledge areas have not yet been satisfied. Where the appropriateness of a course to fulfill a knowledge area is in doubt, a syllabus and/or a course description will be requested from the applicant. Upon admission, students will be advised of any specific course or other work needed to fulfill this requirement. Unfulfilled knowledge areas may be accomplished by either completing a graduate course in the area, which will form part of the course requirements (or may be in addition to them), or by completing specific readings under the supervision of an area specialist followed by demonstration of good knowledge of the specific area. This will be in the form of a paper written in response to a specific question, followed by an evaluation of the paper and an oral exam with the area specialist and another member of the School.

f) Graduate students must consult with the Graduate Program Director concerning course selection, leave of absence, course or program withdrawal.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process, as set out in section Advanced Credit.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

The Languages, Literatures and Culture program in the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures will not permit the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course offered by the Languages, Literatures and Culture Program.

Students may not choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Only in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate to a student’s program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599. No more than 6 units can be at the 500 level.

Time Limit

Expected completion time for full-time students in a master's thesis MA program is two years. Maximum completion time is four years.

Supervisory Assignments and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

The Graduate Program Director is normally the interim supervisor for newly admitted students. Students are expected to choose a permanent supervisor by the end of the second regular academic session after first registration (April 30 for September registrants and December 15 for January registrants). Selection of a supervisor should be by mutual agreement between the student and the staff member concerned, approved by the Graduate Program Director, and is based on the stated research interests of the students, the disciplinary expertise of faculty members and program capacity.

Research Proposal

Thesis students are required to submit a written thesis proposal thirteen months after initial registration (for September registrants: 1st draft to the supervisor is due by September 1 and the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is due by September 30; for January registrants: 1st draft to the supervisor is due by January 2 and the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is due by February 1). This proposal should be approximately 1200 words in length and be accompanied by an abstract and an appropriately detailed preliminary bibliography. It should be drafted after consultation with the student’s supervisor and have their preliminary approval. These documents will be circulated to the program's Graduate Committee for approval. Abstracts of proposals may be reproduced for information purposes.

Thesis Examination

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Thesis Examinations, the program requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Funding is available to qualified thesis-based students in the form of scholarships, awards and/or teaching assistantships. Students applying for departmental funding for the following academic year must submit their applications to the Department by February 1. All students are strongly encouraged to seek external financial assistance throughout their program. For information on other funding opportunities, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar and the Faculty of Graduate Studies website: grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.

Master of Arts (MA) Thesis-based in Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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