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Graduate program

Graduate Brochures

Programs of Study.  

The School of Languages and Cultures offers graduate study leading to the M.A. degree in French, German, Japanese and Spanish (with tracks in literature or applied linguistics) and the Ph.D. degree in French, German, and Spanish.  M.A. and Ph.D. degrees are also granted in Applied Linguistics/Foreign Language Acquisition.  In addition, the School of Languages and Cultures participates in curriculum for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees granted by the Program in Comparative Literature.

A minimum of 30 hours of graduate-level course work is required for the M.A. (24 hours for the M.A. thesis option).  For the Ph.D., 60 hours of course work beyond the B.A. are required, along with a dissertation (30 credit hours of research).  For full-time students, the M.A. program normally takes four semesters to complete.  Graduate students receive college-level teaching experience while pursuing their degrees.  Because of the favorable faculty-student ratio, individual guidance of student programs of study is possible, and graduate classes and seminars are small.

Research Facilities. 

The Purdue University libraries hold book and periodical collections of more than two million volumes, housed in fourteen school and departmental libraries.  The Humanities, Social Science, and Education Research Library maintains a continuing acquisitions program and is equipped for research at the master's and doctoral levels.  These resources are supplemented by the three million items of research materials held by the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago.  Purdue is within easy driving distance of three major research libraries at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, and Indiana University, and Purdue faculty members and graduate students have browsing and borrowing privileges at all three.  Further, Purdue’s inter-library loan system connects with hundreds of other universities.

Financial Aid.  

The school is most often able to support students with teaching assistantships who meet its admission requirements.  In 2012-13, graduate teaching assistantships provide a minimum of $13,463 per academic year plus the remission of most tuition and fees in return for half-time teaching or other staff duties in the school.  Andrews ($15,750 per year plus tuition remission for 2 years), Ross and Lynn Fellowships ($15,750 per year plus tuition remission) are available to new Ph.D. students of superior academic ability.  There is also a two-year Purdue Doctoral Fellowship for students of superior ability and diverse backgrounds, views and experiences.  Further, a one-year Knox Fellowship is available to support new masters-seeking students who have diverse backgrounds, views and experiences.  After one year of teaching, continuing graduate students with a 3.00 GPA or higher working on their Ph.D. research are eligible for Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) annual and summer grants.  The total award for the PRF Annual Grant is currently $15,750.  In addition, the student supported on the grant receives a remission of all tuition and fees except $252.00 per semester and $126.00 for the summer session.  The total award for the Summer Research Grant is currently $1,312.50 per month for two summer months for a total of $2,635.  In addition, the student supported on the summer grant receives a remission of all tuition and fees except $126.00.

Cost of Study.  

The tuition and fees for Indiana residents for the 2012-13 academic year are $9,478, and for out-of-state students, these costs are $27,646; however, graduate teaching assistants do not pay tuition charges, and they spend only $504 per year on graduate student fees.

Cost of Living.  

The estimated cost of living, including tuition and fees, for single students is approximately $7,246 for Indiana residents and $7,331 for non-residents per year for housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.  University housing is available for single and married students, and there are numerous off campus facilities.

Student Group.  

The school has approximately 104 full-time graduate students, most of whom receive financial assistance.  About 68% of the graduate students are foreign-born and foreign-educated.  Forty-three percent of the students are M.A. candidates.

Location.  

Purdue University's main campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the banks of the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County.  West Lafayette and its twin city, Lafayette, have a combined population of 203,608 people.  The cities and campus are served by major intercity bus lines and limo service to Chicago, which is 126 miles to the northwest.  The campus is approximately one hour's drive from Indianapolis and a little more than two hours by car from the University of Illinois and Indiana University.  Purdue is the cultural center of northwest Indiana, providing a rich variety of film, theater, concert, and lecture series.

The University.  

Founded in 1869, Purdue is the Indiana link in the chain of sixty-eight land-grant colleges and universities in the United States.  The University enrolls students from all fifty states and many foreign nations; 46.9% of the students are women.  Purdue has five campuses and a faculty of 1,827 on the West Lafayette campus.  Thirteen schools/colleges form the academic nucleus of Purdue's main campus.

Applying.   

Applications are accepted throughout the year.  Scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations are required for admission for all U.S. citizens and permanent residents.   Applicants should plan to take the GRE as early as possible.  For international applicants whose native language is not English, the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted to the Purdue University Graduate School.  All degree-seeking international applicants are required to have a minimum TOEFL score of 213 on the computer-based test, 550 on the written test, or 77 (with a minimum of 18 on writing, 18 on speaking, 14 on listening and 19 on reading) on the internet-based test.  We also accept the IELTS test with a minimum score of 6.5 and the Pearson Test of Spoken English with a minimum score of 58. Applicants for Andrews Fellowships, Ross Fellowships, Purdue Doctoral Fellowships, Lynn Fellowships and David Ross Master’s Fellowships must submit their credentials by January 12.  Consideration for assistantships will normally be given to applicants until January 12. 

Please send correspondence and information to:  Professor Keith Dickson, Interim Head, School of Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, 640 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2039, Telephone 765-494-3841.

Languages with Graduate programs