Graduate Programs
The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the State University of New York at Buffalo offers the Master of Arts and the Doctorate in French and Spanish. Through the interdisciplinary Master of Arts in the Humanities Program, the MAH in Italian, in Caribbean Studies, or in a combination of two or more languages is also available.
The Department offers courses in a wide range of subjects, including the literature of France and Francophone areas, of Italy, Spain, Latin America and other Hispanic populations such as U.S. Latinos. Within these general areas, courses may be panoramic, geared to a particular period or genre, or focused on a specific author or group of authors or a major literary motif. As an integral part of their education, graduate students are exposed to and may choose to specialize in Linguistics, Critical Theory, and Cultural Studies. The vibrant community of faculty covers a vast array of theoretical and disciplinary interests, and students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary opportunities in Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, History, and Media Study, among others.
The Master's Degree enhances the student's expertise in the language and culture of the chosen specialization. It begins with thirty hours of coursework and culminates in the writing of a Master's Project under the direction of a faculty member. The degree is useful in business, law, journalism, and many other careers, in addition to being an important teaching credential.
The Ph.D. prepares the student for an academic career. After completing ten courses beyond those required for the M.A. and passing the Qualifying Examination, the student writes a dissertation under the guidance of faculty that will constitute an original contribution to scholarship in the field. The Department has an excellent placement record for its alumni at colleges and universities both locally and across the nation.
The Department hosts speakers, films, reading groups, conferences, workshops, and theatrical presentations each semester that bring the subjects of study into living focus. Opportunities to assist with study abroad programs in Spain and Cuba benefit several students each year, and there are annual exchange programs with the University of Paris-Charles V, as well as with universities in Mexico and Italy.
Graduate students are often awarded teaching assistantships that grant a full tuition waiver and a stipend in exchange for the teaching of one language course throughout the academic year. The assistantship is renewable annually for a period of four years for students who enter the Ph.D. program without prior graduate course work. The stipend amount for entering students in fall 2008 will be $13,000. Fifth year support is sometimes available in the form of a TAship extension. Students requiring additional time to complete their degree may apply for lectureships in the department.
A limited number of enhanced teaching assistantships are awarded annually by the College of Arts & Sciences on a competitive basis. Members of under-represented minority groups are eligible for the Schomburg Fellowship. The College of Arts & Sciences awards Dissertation Fellowships to the most outstanding students who are at an early stage of dissertation writing.
Standard Admission Minima for UB:
- 550 Paper Test
- 213 Computer Test
- 79 Internet Test
Conditional Admission Minima for UB:
- 500 Paper Test
- 173 Computer Test
- 60-78 Internet Test