Academic Programs Catalog

Master of Arts degree programs are offered in the following areas:  African American and African studies, arts, cultural management and museum studies, comparative literature, English, French, German, Hispanic literatures, history of art, linguistics, philosophy, and Russian.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants must meet the general requirements for consideration for admission to master's and doctoral degree programs in the College of Arts and Letters referenced above.

To be admitted to a Master of Arts degree program in the College of Arts and Letters on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A baccalaureate degree from a recognized educational institution.
2. A cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.00 in the junior and senior years of the baccalaureate degree program.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

The student plans a program of study in consultation with a graduate advisor subject to the rules of the department or school, the College, and the University. Two patterns are in general use: Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).

Academic Standards

A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the degree.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits must have been completed within the time limit for the degree.

Refer to the statements on the Department of Art, Art History, and Design and Department of Theatre.

Doctor of Philosophy degree programs are offered in the following areas:  African American and African studies, American studies, English, French, German, linguistics, philosophy, second language studies, and Spanish.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants must meet the general requirements for consideration for admission to master’s and doctoral degree programs in the College of Arts and Letters referenced above.

To be admitted to a Doctor of Philosophy degree program in the College of Arts and Letters on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. a record of high academic achievement and demonstrate potential as a research scholar acceptable to the department, program or school. Some degree programs will require completion of a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
2. a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in any previous graduate course work.

Admission on provisional status may be offered if the applicant’s record is incomplete or contains minor deficiencies in preparation.

The Master of Arts degree in Arts, Cultural Management and Museum Studies is a multidisciplinary degree administered by the College of Arts and Letters that prepares students for leadership positions related to the management and advocacy of arts and cultural organizations or industry dimensions of an artistic and humanistic entrepreneurial career. Students will customize their program electives for deeper exposure to museum, artistic, and cultural management depending on their area of interest.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Arts, Cultural Management and Museum Studies

The Master of Arts degree in Arts Cultural Management and Museum Studies is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits are required for Plan A and 31 credits for Plan B.

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B
1.	All of the following courses (13 credits):
	ACM	801	Introduction to Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies						3
	ACM	861	Strategic Planning, Human Capital and Financial Management for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	865	Leadership Development for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	869	Policy and Advocacy for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	892	Arts, Cultural Management and Museum Studies Seminar						1
2.	At least 14 credits from the following courses:
	ACM	862	Public Communications in Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	863	Event Management and Design for Arts and Culture						3
	ACM	864	School and Community Education in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	866	Operations and Facilities Management for Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	867	Development and Fundraising Theory and Practice for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	868	Non-Profit Law for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	872	Practicum in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	880	Arts and Cultural Management Experience						1
	ACM	890	Independent Study						1 to 3
	ACM	891	Special Topics in Arts and Cultural Management						1 to 4
	MUSM	880	Museums and Cultural Management Experience						1
	MUSM	885	Fundamentals of Museum Studies						3
	MUSM	887	The Digital Museum						3
	MUSM	888	Curatorial Practices in Museums and Cultural Organizations						3
	MUSM	889	Museum Collections						3
	MUSM	890	Independent Study						1 to 3
	MUSM	892	Special Topics in Museum Studies						1 to 3
	MUSM	894	Exhibit Communication						3
	MUSM	897	Practicum in Museum Studies						1 to 3
	MUSM	898	Museum Visitor Studies						3
	Other management-focused or arts and humanities courses may be substituted with the approval of the academic advisor. The maximum amount of credits allowed in ACM 880 and MUSM 880 is 8 credits.

 

Additional Requirements for Plan A
1.	Complete 4 credits of ACM 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
2.	Prepare an approved thesis proposal and pass an oral defense of the thesis.
Additional Requirements for Plan B
1.	Complete a minimum of 3 credits from the following:
	ACM	896	Internship in Arts and Cultural Management						1 to 3
	ACM	872	Practicum in Arts and Cultural Management						1 to 3
	MUSM	896	Museum Internship						1 to 3
	MUSM	897	Practicum in Museum Studies						1 to 3
2.	Pass a final evaluation.

The Graduate Certificate in Arts and Cultural Management provides both working professionals and graduate students the opportunity to improve employment possibilities in creative and artistic positions while expanding their knowledge around related fields through building skills in management and administration.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Arts and Cultural Management

Students must complete 12 credits from the following:
1.	The following course (3 credits):
	ACM	801	Introduction to Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies						3
2.	A minimum of 6 credits from the following courses:
	ACM	861	Strategic Planning, Human Capital and Financial Management for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	862	Public Communications in Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	863	Event Management and Design for Arts and Culture						3
	ACM	864	School and Community Education in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	865	Leadership Development for Arts, Cultural, and Museum Management						3
	ACM	866	Operations and Facilities Management in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	867	Development and Fundraising Theory and Practice for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	868	Non-Profit Law for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	869	Policy and Advocacy for Arts, Cultural and Museum Management						3
	ACM	880	Arts and Cultural Management Experience						1
	MUSM	880	Museums and Cultural Management						1
	The maximum amount of credits allowed in ACM 880 and MUSM 880 is 6 credits.
3.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	ACM	872	Practicum in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	ACM	896	Internship in Arts and Cultural Management						3
	In cases where an outside internship or professional practicum is not possible, a substitution may be made with advisor approval. With departmental approval, requirement 3. may be substituted for a like offering in another department.

 

The Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities encompasses both the use of computational methodologies in studying the traditional materials of the humanities as well as the use of more traditional humanistic methods in studying the materials, the processes, and the results of digital technologies. It is also deeply concerned with the use of digital forms to craft and publish humanities scholarship. Digital Humanities is both critical and hands-on, invested in both the innovative use of, and the careful study of the technologies that increasingly mediate human cultures. Students will learn how the digital humanities can open up transformative avenues of research and pedagogy that may help to re-envision what it means to do research and teaching in the humanities. Students will examine both theory and practice, engaging in critical discussion as well as production. Important to the program is flexibility for students to follow interests related to their specific fields, while also giving them a broad knowledge of the possibilities involved in digital humanities work.

Admission

Admission to the certificate program requires an application submitted at https://digitalhumanities.msu.edu/graduate-certificate/.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities

Students must complete 9 credits from the following:
1.	One of the following foundation courses (3 credits):
	DH	865	Digital Humanities Methods Seminar						3
	HST	812	History in the Digital Age						3
2.	Complete a Pedagogical Experience (3 credits):
	The digital humanities pedagogy experience may be fulfilled through a teaching-related course.  The following courses may be used to fulfill this requirement:
	AL	891	Special Topics in Arts and Humanities
	DH	861	Digital Humanities Pedagogy
	DH	890	Digital Humanities Independent Study
	DH	893	Digital Humanities Internship
	A specific, focused, supervised pedagogy project completed in conjunction with another course may also fulfill this requirement. The project may include: (1) taking another pedagogical methods course with a digital humanities emphasis; (2) completing a Graduate Assistantship or interning in a digital humanities unit in which teaching and the creation of educational materials is at the center of the work; (3) teaching or serving as the Teaching Assistant in a course which incorporated digital humanities methods; (4) completing the Cultural Heritage Informatics Fellowship with a pedagogically focused project. This project and its associated course will be documented in the final portfolio, reviewed by the Digital Humanities Curriculum Committee, and approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Letters.
3.	Complete a Research Experience (3 credits):
	A digital humanities research experience may be fulfilled by participating in a digital humanities project. The following courses may be used to fulfill this requirement:
	DH	863	Digital Humanities Research
	DH	890	Digital Humanities Independent Study
	DH	893	Digital Humanities Internship
	A specific, focused, supervised research experience completed in conjunction with another course may also fulfill this requirement. The project may include: (1) taking a course in which digital humanities work is a substantial part; (2) taking a disciplinary course in which a digital humanities project is undertaken by the student; (3) completing a Graduate Assistantship or interning in a digital humanities unit on campus or with a faculty member engaged in digital humanities work; (4) completing the Digital Scholarship Lab Graduate Arts Fellowship; (5) completing the Cultural Heritage Informatics Fellows Program; (6) completing an individual digital humanities research project based on previous course work, leading to a substantial academic output.
Portfolio
Upon completion of the above requirements, students will submit a portfolio that illustrates the learning outcomes and educational objectives of the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities no later than the last day of instruction of the semester the student intends to graduate. The portfolio must include (1) a reflective narrative; (2) documentation that demonstrates how the student has met the pedagogy and research requirements; (3) samples of work such as papers or creative work as appropriate. The portfolio will be reviewed by the Digital Humanities Curriculum Committee, and if approved, sent to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Letters for final approval.

The Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching provides the aspiring foreign language teacher with the fundamental background and practical experience to teach a specific target language, while also offering current foreign language teachers opportunities to continue and enhance their education. With its focus on solid foundations in second language acquisition (SLA) and the intersection of SLA with the practice of foreign language teaching, this program prepares students to design lesson plans, courses, and curricula that support teaching for high levels of language proficiency. Students will be prepared to integrate technology effectively into the teaching of language and culture and work with faculty mentors to create a praxis-oriented experiential module that is designed to enhance the student’s plan of study and contribute substantially to preparation for career placement.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching, an applicant must:

1. have the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test forwarded to the College if the applicant is a native speaker of English.
2. complete the online application which includes an academic and personal statement.
3. submit three letters of recommendation, completed by instructors or supervisors familiar with the applicants work. Letters of recommendation must be submitted on official stationary with an original signature.
4. take one of the tests of English language proficiency described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog if the applicants native language is not English.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a recognized educational institution.

In addition, students who are non-native speakers of English are required to have fulfilled the university’s English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog by achieving a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 100 (Internet-based), 250 (computer version), or 600 (paper version) or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.5 or higher.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Foreign Language Teaching

The Master of Arts degree in Foreign Language Teaching is available only online and only under Plan B (non-thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the program director. The student must meet the requirements specified below:

1.	All of the following courses:
	FLT	807	Foreign Language Teaching Methods				3
	FLT	808	Assessment for Foreign Language Teaching				3
	FLT	815	Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Courses				3
	FLT	817	Foreign Language Program Development and Administration				3
	FLT	845	Language Concepts for Foreign Language Teaching				3
	FLT	860	Second Language Acquisition				3
	FLT	881	Teaching Foreign Language with Technology				3
	FLT	885	Experiential Module in Foreign Language Teaching				5
2.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	FLT	841	Topics in Foreign Language Teaching				3
	FLT	842	Teaching Reading in a Foreign Language				3
3.	Complete the following course:
	FLT	898	Master's Comprehensive Foreign Language Teaching Portfolio Examination				1
4.	Successfully complete a final examination or evaluation which is fulfilled by completion of a portfolio developed during the FLT 898 course and must be submitted to the program director after completion of the core courses and experiential module(s). The purpose of the portfolio as a certifying examination is (1) to demonstrate an understanding of second language acquisition theories and their application to student learning and to the practice of teaching the target language, (2) to demonstrate an understanding of theories of culture and their application to the practice of teaching the target culture in the target language classroom, and (3) to enable the student to articulate the integration of learning from the experiential modules into the program of study and career objectives. The portfolio must include artifacts that are outlined in the comprehensive language teaching portfolio examination handbook, which is given out each year by the program director and is available on the program's Web site.

Academic Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5. A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses taken for the purpose of satisfying the degree requirements.

The Graduate Certificate in Foreign Language Teaching is designed to meet the needs of current and aspiring language educators around the world and relies on a distance-based model that emphasizes interaction, collaboration, and interconnectedness with participants’ local contexts for language learning and teaching. Unlike other professional development options for language teachers, the certificate offers a multilingual approach grounded in applied linguistics. Students explore contemporary proficiency-based approaches to language teaching and engage in courses assignments, projects, and related activities that incorporate national and international standards. Participants may teach or plan to teach any world, heritage, indigenous, or classical language.  The graduate certificate is available to students currently enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Foreign Language Teaching, an applicant must:

1. complete the online application, which includes an academic and a personal statement.
2. submit three official letters of recommendation, completed by instructors or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s work.
3. take one of the tests of English language proficiency described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog if the applicant’s native language is not English. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) or a minimum rating of 7.5 according to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Foreign Language Teaching

The student must complete 10 credits from the following:
1.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	FLT	807	Foreign Language Teaching Methods						3
	FLT	817	Foreign Language Program Development and Administration						3
2.	Two of the following courses (6 credits):
	FLT	808	Assessment for Foreign Language Teaching						3
	FLT	815	Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Courses						3
	FLT	841	Topics in Foreign Language Teaching						3
	FLT	845	Language Concepts for Foreign Language Teaching						3
	FLT	860	Foreign Language Acquisition						3
	FLT	881	Teaching Foreign Language with Technology						3
3.	Complete the following course:
	FLT	898	Master’s Comprehensive Foreign Language Teaching Portfolio Examination						1
4.	Complete a web-based final portfolio that serves as the comprehensive examination and receive a rating of High Pass or Pass from a committee of two faculty members. The portfolio will be developed during the FLT 898 course and must be submitted to the program director in the same semester as the last of the three core courses or in the following semester. Required elements of the portfolio are outlined in the comprehensive language teaching portfolio examination guidelines, which are updated by the program director on an annual basis and provided to students on the program’s public  Web site and in the learning management system.

Academic Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5. A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses taken for the purpose of satisfying the degree requirements.


 

The Graduate Certificate in Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities, which is administered by the College of Arts and Letters, engages students in course work and experiential learning that makes an important intervention into conceptualizations of ‘the global’ conceptualizations that often focus solely on economic and political conditions.

Recognizing the complexities of the rapidly changing conditions of the globe, this global studies certificate foregrounds theoretical, critical and creative engagements with globalization.

The certificate enhances a master’s or doctoral program in a specific field of study through interdisciplinary course work and experiential opportunities in the field of global studies.

The certificate is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs at Michigan State University. Students must meet the requirements of the certificate specified below, in addition to the requirements for the student’s primary degree program.

The students program of study must be approved the Director of Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities program.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities    

Students must complete 9 credits from the following:

1.	The following course:
	GSAH	850	Seminar on Global Theories and Concepts in the Arts and Humanities						3
2.	One 3 credit graduate-level course offered outside of the student’s home program that addresses global issues or themes. The course is chosen in consultation with their primary advisor and approved by the Director of the Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities program.
3.	Completion of a 3-credit international experience through participation in a study abroad program, an approved internship with a global dimension, advanced language studies, or mentored research experience (independent study). The experience is chosen by the student in consultation with their primary advisor and approved by the Director of the Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities program.

 

The Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies, which is administered by the College of Arts and Letters, provides students with course work and a scholarly community that places intellectual value on Indigenous knowledges, methodologies, and collaborative research. The certificate underscores the importance of American Indian and Indigenous knowledge, while students critically engage the place of Indigenous peoples and knowledge historically and contemporarily. It draws on interdisciplinary research, teaching, and community engagement to examine these complex concepts and to respond to them thoughtfully. From a wide range of intellectual perspectives, students will work with, for, and on issues directly affecting Indigenous communities. While committed to comparative and global histories, knowledge, and sovereignties of Indigenous peoples, the certificate focuses primarily on Indigenous issues in the cross-border Great Lakes region, commonly known as Anishinaabewaki or Three Fires (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi) territory.

The certificate is available to students who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program at Michigan State University.

The student’s program of study must be approved by the Graduate Director in Indigenous Studies in the College of Arts and Letters.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies

Students must complete a minimum of 9 credits from the following:

1.	The following course (3 credits):
	AIIS	801	Indigenous Theories and Methodologies						3
2.	At least two of the following courses (minimum of 6 credits):
	AIIS	890	Independent Study in American Indian and Indigenous Studies						1 to 6
	AIIS	891	Special Topics in American Indian and Indigenous Studies						3
	ANP	811	Knowledge, Memory, and Archives						3
	LWG	835B	Federal Law and Indian Tribes						3
	LWG	835D	American Indian Children and the Law						2
	LWG	835E	Tribal Law						2
	LWG	835G	Global Perspectives on Indigenous Peoples						2
	Other courses may also satisfy this requirement with approval of the Graduate Director of Indigenous Studies.
3.	Complete the following capstone requirement in consultation with and approved by the Director of Indigenous Studies.
	a.	Participation in eight American Indian and Indigenous Studies co-curricular individual activities and events, including, but not limited to, the Indigenous Studies Writing Group, Voices on Campus, Traditional Arts Gatherings, Sugar Bush, or other activities upon approval of the Graduate Director of Indigenous Studies.
	b.	Presentation in at least one Indigenous Studies Graduate Colloquium, which is held annually every spring semester.
Upon completion of the capstone requirement a. and b., students will submit a portfolio that illustrates the learning outcomes and educational objectives of the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies no later than the last day of instruction of the semester the student intends to graduate. The portfolio must include (1) a narrative statement; (2) documentation that demonstrates how the student has met requirements a. and b.; (3) samples of work such as papers or creative work; and (4) a curriculum vitae.

 

The Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies provides students with theoretical and practical experience in museums and focuses on object-based collections. The certificate enhances a specific field of study through consideration of various museological areas such as curation, education, technology, exhibition and administration.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies

Students must complete 12 credits from the following:

1.	The following course (3 credits):
	MUSM	885	Fundamentals of Museum Studies				3
2.	A minimum of 6 credits from the following courses:
	ACM	880	Arts and Cultural Management Experience				1
	MUSM	880	Museums and Cultural Management				1
	MUSM	894	Exhibit Communication				3
	MUSM	898	Museum Visitor Studies				3
	MUSM	887	The Digital Museum				3
	MUSM	888	Curatorial Practices in Museums and Cultural Organizations				3
	MUSM	889	Museum Collections				3
	MUSM	892	Special Topics in Museum Studies				1 to 3
	The maximum amount of credits allowed in ACM 880 and MUSM 880 is 6 credits.
3.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	MUSM	896	Museum Internship				3
	MUSM	897	Practicum in Museum Studies				3