Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do MA and MAFLL stand for?
A: MAFLL stands for Master of Arts in Foreign Language and Literature, the name of the interdisciplinary graduate program in which one earns an MA in a language, comparative literature, linguistics, or translation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
Q: Is MAFLL the same as a Department?
A: MAFLL is not a department in itself. It is the combined Graduate Program of three departments:
- Foreign Languages and Linguistics (FLL)
- French, Italian, and Comparative Literature (FICL)
- Spanish and Portuguese
Q: Can I get a Master's in Spanish (or French, German, etc.) at UW-Milwaukee?
A: No, your degree will not be an MA "in Spanish." Your degree is an MA "in Foreign Language and Literature," with a concentration in Spanish (of French, German, etc.), which would be designated on your transcript. MAFLL is an interdisciplinary graduate program that includes an array of theoretical and methodological seminars (MAFLL core seminars) common to all the concentrations.
Q: What can I study in MAFLL? What are the concentrations?
A: The three departments that make up MAFLL offer many graduate courses in their curricular areas. Graduate School Bulletin - Courses
Five courses (15 credits) in a single area are required for a concentration. The following nine areas are official "Transcript-designated concentrations":
- Ancient Greek
- Classics
- Comparative Literature
- French
- German
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Spanish
- Translation
For more detailed information about the MAFLL plan of study requirements, including MAFLL core seminars (6 credits required) and related courses (9 credits required), please see the Plan of Study page of the MAFLL web site: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/MAFLL/study.html
It is also possible to complete a MAFLL degree with two concentrations, for example, two languages. The minimum number of credits required for double concentrations is 36.
Q: How long does it take to get an M.A.?
A: The MAFLL degree requires 30 credits and a Comprehensive Exam. It is possible to complete this work in 4-5 semesters. A double concentration would require an additional semester.
Q: Can I study in the Master's program part time, while working during the day?
A: Yes, a number of MAFLL students are part time and take one course per semester. The Graduate School requires that Master's programs be completed within five years.
Q: How often are MAFLL core seminars offered? What are the topics?
A: MAFLL schedules at least two core seminars per semester. Several of them are team-taught by two professors from different departments. You would choose the seminars that best correspond to your interests in the areas of language, literature, linguistics and translation. For a description of the seminars, please go to: Graduate School Bulletin - Courses
Q: What do I need to do to apply to Graduate School?
A: Please see the Admissions page of the MAFLL web site for detailed information about application procedures: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/MAFLL/admissions.html
Q: What is the deadline for applying to grad school?
A: Applications should be completed in early January to be considered for admission in the following fall semester. Applications should be completed in early September to be considered for admission in the following spring semester.
Your application will be processed as soon as all required materials have been received.
Q: Is the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) necessary for admission to the MAFLL Program?
A: No. But it is a good idea to take the GRE is you plan to apply for a Graduate School Fellowship or an Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship. International students must take the TOEFL exam. See Center for International Education.
Q: How many letters of recommendation does the MAFLL application require?
A: The program requires three letters of recommendation, to be sent to the MAFLL Coordinator not the Graduate School. There is no standard form, but please ask the persons writing a recommendation for you to use institutional stationery or other appropriate official letterhead. At least two of the letters should come from former instructors who can speak to your ability to do graduate work. For more information, please see the Admissions page of the MAFLL web site: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/MAFLL/admissions.html
Q: Is the Translation Program Qualifying Exam written, oral, or both? What criteria are used to grade it?
A: Please see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/GCIT/admission.html for detailed information.
The Qualifying Exam is written. There is no oral component, since translators (unlike interpreters) do not have to speak the language they translate.
While the admissions process is different for the 24-credit Graduate Certificate Program in Translation and the 30-credit MA with a concentration in Translation, both programs require satisfactory performance on the Translation Program Qualifying Exam for admission.
The exam is two-part: 1) is a 250-300 word text to translate from the candidate's source language (usually the second or third language) into the target language (usually the first language) with dictionaries; 2) is a 150-word essay to be written in the candidate's target language. Candidates are given 2 hours to complete the exam.
Qualifying exams are evaluated on a pass/fail basis by translation faculty to determine whether the candidates know their source language well enough to be able to translate accurately and whether they write well enough in their target language to make translation a viable career option.
Q: About how much would tuition cost for this program?
A: Tuition varies from semester to semester and is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please see: http://www.bfs.uwm.edu/fees/
Q: What about financial aid? Teaching assistantships?
A: Financial aid is available to graduate students in the form of Teaching Assistantships, a limited number of Graduate School Fellowships, and Non-Resident Tuition Remission. Student loans and work-study opportunities are also available. For information on Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships, go to www.graduateschool.uwm.edu/students/ financial-support/. For loans and work-study opportunities, go to www4.uwm.edu/financialaid/ and click on "Financial Aid Information."
If you wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship, please see the application procedures outlined on the Teaching Assistantships page of the MAFLL web site: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/MAFLL/ta.html.
Q: Are any classes offered at night or on the weekends?
A: We try to offer our courses at 4:00 pm or later. Some meet twice a week for 75 minutes per session and others once a week for 2 1/2 hours. All MAFLL core seminars are offered after 4:30 pm.
Q: Are any courses offered on-line?
A: Not at present.
Q: Can I study abroad and, if so, will the courses count?
A: If they have not done so already, MAFLL students are encouraged to study abroad with the consent of their advisor. In order to receive credit, such courses must be approved in advance of travel.
Q: What have graduates done professionally with a MAFLL degree?
A: A number of MAFLL graduates go on to PhD programs at prestigious universities, such as Yale, Indiana U., UW-Madison, Penn State and Washington U. Others continue teaching high school (but at a higher salary) or enter secondary education. Some have entered the business world and work for international companies. One MAFLL graduate is a law librarian.
Translation as a program was introduced in 1997 and has 57 graduates, as of August 2007. A number of our graduates have found employment as project managers, client services directors, sales representatives, or account specialists in translation companies. Others handle multilingual projects for companies doing business internationally. A few have obtained employment as medical and/or community interpreters. Some have continued their employment as high school teachers while free-lance translating on the side, while others have launched themselves as full-time free-lance translators. Finally, some opt to continue studies in PhD programs, either in Translation, Languages, English or Second Language Acquisition.
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