College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences > Department of Modern and Classical Languages > World Cultures and Literatures, MA
The MA in World Cultures and Literatures is an innovative, interdisciplinary graduate program with strong cultural studies focus and in-depth study in one of the target languages and/or cultures. With an emphasis on languages, literatures, and cultures, the WCL MA program involves a wide range of possible directions as it seeks to meet individual student's academic and career interests and needs. The program addresses issues such as modernity, postmodernity, globalization, colonialism and post-colonialism, transnational and transcultural concerns, urban and diasporic studies, and the formation of cultural identities. It incorporates literary, film, visual, media, and gender studies. Students in language core areas acquire high proficiency in the target language, translation skills, and, in some areas of concentration, training in applied linguistics and second language teaching.
Areas of Concentration
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Italian
- European Cultural Studies with French, German or Italian Core
- Latin American and Latino Cultural Studies
- Comparative Literary and/or Cultural Studies
- Global Cinema Studies
Our faculty , dedicated scholars and teachers drawn from the Chinese, Classical Studies, French, German, Italian, and World Cultures and Literatures programs of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages as well as from other disciplines and departments, provide students with diverse perspectives and approaches relevant to the study of cultures and languages in multiple contexts. Instruction is student-centered, engaging, and encourages faculty-mentored individual and collaborative research. We are committed to excellence in scholarship, student success, and cultural diversity.
The MA in World Cultures and Literatures prepares and qualifies students for a wide range of career areas or for doctoral studies in given languages. In a rapidly changing job market, there is a growing demand for people with an understanding of historical and global contexts who can think across cultures and disciplines, imaginatively frame questions and consider multiple perspectives, combine various approaches and find innovative solutions. The WCL MA contributes to the University of Houston's mission of preparing students for an increasingly diverse and interdependent world and accommodates the educational needs of:
- BA recipients who want to go on to a more advanced language training in a terminal MA program;
- BA recipients who wish to complete an MA as a bridge program to prepare them for doctoral study at other universities;
- Working professionals, including foreign language teachers, who wish to continue their education in foreign languages and cultures.