World Languages and Literatures

Graduate Degree Programs

The Department of World Languages and Literatures offers a degree program leading to the M.A. in World Language with a major in German. 
 
Note: The M.A.s in World Language: Japanese, Spanish, and World Languages and Literatures (dual-language) are currently on moratorium. During this time, current students may finish their degree, however we are not admitting students to a WLL M.A. in these three subjects while the moratorium is in effect. The M.A. in World Language: German is still open.
 

Graduate Degree Programs

Street in a Bavarian town

German Master's
HOW TO APPLY

Teach a World Language in an Oregon Secondary School

Students who wish to teach a world language in Oregon secondary schools must be admitted into the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) in Portland State’s Graduate School of Education and complete the requirements for an Oregon Teaching License. Admission to GTEP as a world language specialist requires a bachelor’s degree in a world language taught in Oregon schools, and the recommendation of the Department of World Languages and Literatures. For other criteria, please refer to the Graduate School of Education section of the Bulletin.

In order to be recommended by the department, the applicant must do the following:

  1. Apply for admission to the Graduate Teacher Education Program in the Graduate School of Education.
  2. Complete a BA or BS which includes coursework equivalent to the 52 credits required for a major in one world language at Portland State University.
  3. Have a cumulative 3.00 GPA in the last 40 of the above 52 credits earned.
  4. Obtain an Oral Proficiency Rating of Advanced High or higher on the ACTFL scale in French, German, or Spanish, or a rating of Intermediate High or higher in Japanese or Russian. (Note: The M.A. is currently only available in German.)

The Department of World Languages and Literatures highly recommends that applicants also:

  • Earn upper-division credits in their chosen language beyond the minimum of 52 required;
  • Spend time in a relevant program abroad;
  • Coursework includes as many of the following as possible: Phonetics, General Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Culture and Civilization, Practicum, and Methods of Teaching World Languages.