Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Spanish and Portuguese
Graduate Degrees
The Ph.D. in Linguistics (Hispanic Linguistics) is offered through the Linguistics Department. See here for degree requirements. The M.A. and Ph.D., Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture (Spanish and Latin American Studies) are offered through the Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture program. See here for degree requirements.
Certificate in Foreign Language Teaching
The Certificate in Foreign Language Teaching provides certification in the theory and practice of second or foreign language teaching for student language teachers concurrently enrolled in graduate degree programs in foreign languages or related graduate programs at USC; for graduates of such programs who are teaching languages; for external candidates concurrently enrolled in similar programs in accredited colleges or universities; or for graduates of such programs who are teaching languages. The certificate is meant to supplement graduate study in the literature or linguistics of foreign languages. It is also meant to supplement classroom teaching. Therefore all candidates for this certificate are required to have taught a second or foreign language for at least one academic year at USC or elsewhere. At USC, this requirement and the course work requirements can be fulfilled concurrently, but external candidates are required to show proof of such teaching experience as a condition of admission.
In addition to teaching, certificate candidates must complete a minimum of four courses (minimum of 12 units) in four areas of study — linguistics, language acquisition, language teaching methodology, and the teaching of literacy or the literature or culture of a second or foreign language.
Requirements for Completion
The program consists of a practicum and a minimum of four courses: one each in linguistics, language acquisition, language teaching methods, and the teaching of literacy, literature or culture.
Linguistics: (minimum of 3 units) LING 411x Linguistics and Education or, with permission of instructor, an appropriate course in the linguistics of a particular language
Language Acquisition: (minimum of 3 units) LING 527 Second Language Acquisition or an appropriate alternative course
Language Teaching Methods: (minimum of 3 units) MDA 593 Practicum in Teaching the Liberal Arts or EALC 562 Teaching of the East Asian Languages or SPAN 511 Techniques and Procedures of Teaching Spanish as a Second Language or an appropriate alternative course
Literacy/Literature/Culture: (minimum of 3 units) An appropriate course in teaching of the literature or culture of a particular language