Sego Graduate Student Conference
Sego 2026
Community in the Wilderness:
Approaching Academia Today
March 27, 2026 10 AM-2 PM

2026 Sego Graduate Student Organizing Committee:
Tomás Cruz Villalvazo, Chair
Ryan Christenson
Ignacio González Álvarez
Yuri Ishii
Eduvey Ramirez
Click here to see information regarding past conferences.
Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies (WLC.MA)
Through a specialization in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies, students explore and analyze texts across world cultures. With its methodology based in the idea that new insights about our world traditions are illuminated when they are compared and contrasted, the program promotes cross-cultural and interdisciplinary analysis. Within the Department of World Languages & Cultures students have access to specialists who work in European, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern cultural traditions. We are also affiliated with richly interdisciplinary programs such as Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. In their courses, faculty offer students various critical frameworks through which to link and/or interrogate national traditions. Our challenge is to overcome conventional national and linguistic divisions, and produce scholars with a new vision of world aesthetics.
The American Comparative Literature Association is a great resource for CLCS students. Please check it out for information about conferences, prizes and other resources.
French (WLC.MA)
Our distinguished faculty have a wide range of teaching and research interests, covering French and Francophone literature, culture, and language studies. All of our graduate classes are discussion-based seminars, so students enjoy a communal approach to education and forge meaningful intellectual relationships with their professors. As a Teaching Assistant (TA), you will also be trained in the latest advances in second-language pedagogy. The University of Utah has an excellent research library, rare book collection, film and video collection, and Fine Arts Museum.
The French Studies program of the Department of World Languages & Cultures is committed to offering students a truly eclectic forum for the study of literature and culture. Our approach is multicultural and interdisciplinary. Graduate students in French work alongside students in German, Spanish, and Comparative Literature. We draw our diverse student population from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The French MA is offered in two formats - a traditional MA degree or an MA degree with licensure. Please review the courses of study below:
French WLC.MA COURSE OF STUDY French WLC.MA With LicensurE COURSE OF STUDY
Funding Opportunity
French Embassy Fellowship for Master's Students in French Teaching DLI
The candidate will complete Candidate Information and Motivation sections of this application. A faculty member or administrator from the Partner University will support the candidate’s application. The faculty member or administrator will complete the Nominating Faculty or Administrator section of the application, and will also complete a letter of support for the candidate. The candidate will submit this Application, along with their CV (in English or French) and the Letter of Support (in English or French)
icon Print Out Application Here

Spanish (WLC.MA)
The Spanish specialization provides intensive training in the analysis and research
of Latin American and Peninsular literary and cultural studies and language pedagogy.
The Spanish Literature specialization prepares students to approach texts and cultural
production from a variety of methodological and theoretical paradigms, and to conduct
research in the field. Students will acquire knowledge of a broad body of canonical
and non-canonical texts from Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean from an interdisciplinary
perspective. Skills and knowledge developed in the MA program prepares students for
continued graduate work in the humanities and other professional disciplines. Faculty
areas of expertise are diverse and consider national, transnational and post-national
perspectives on research areas including Hispanic cultural history, Afro-Caribbean
music, indigenous literary trends, subaltern, environmental, and queer studies.
All of our graduate classes are discussion based seminars, so students enjoy a communal approach to learning and meaningful intellectual relationships with the faculty. Teaching Assistants will receive training in language pedagogy. The University of Utah has an excellent research library, rare book collection, film and video collections and access to numerous electronic data bases and resources.
Spanish WLC.MA Course of Study Spanish WLC.MA Reading List
This is a comprehensive list of the works students should know before taking the final exams for the Master of Arts in World Languages & Cultures with an emphasis in Spanish.
Chinese (MALP)
The MALP in Chinese allows students to choose coursework which focuses on a specific area - secondary teaching, pedagogy, or dual language immersion - while providing a solid foundation in Chinese culture and literature.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate Chinese proficiency at the Advanced Low (or equivalent) level per ACTFL guidelines.
Japanese (MALP)
The MALP in Japanese allows students to choose coursework which focuses on a specific area - secondary teaching, pedagogy, or dual language immersion - while providing a solid foundation in Japanese culture and literature.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate Japanese proficiency at the Intermediate High level per ACTFL guidelines.
Portuguese (MALP)
The MALP in Portuguese allows students to choose coursework which focuses on a specific area - secondary teaching, pedagogy, or dual language immersion - while providing a solid foundation in Portuguese/Brazilian culture and literature.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate Portuguese proficiency at the Advanced Low level per ACTFL guidelines.
PTGSE 6050 Topics in Literature & Culture
PTGSE 6580 Contemporary Issues
PTGSE 6630 Brazilian Literature
PTGSE 6710 Luzo-Brazilian Cinema
PTGSE 6900 Special Topics
Russian (MALP)
The MALP in Russian allows students to choose coursework which focuses on a specific area - secondary teaching, pedagogy, or dual language immersion - while providing a solid foundation in Russian culture and literature.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate Russian proficiency at the Intermediate High level per ACTFL guidelines.
Spanish (MALP)

The Master of Arts in Spanish Language Pedagogy (MALP) exposes the student of Spanish to three main areas of study: language pedagogy, second language acquisition, and the literature and culture of the target area. The course of study focuses on developing professional skills and enabling students to critically evaluate and apply literature and research in the discipline. The MALP prepares students to teach adult learners at post-secondary institutions and private secondary institutions, or to continue graduate work in second language acquisition, research and pedagogy. The program does not offer public school certification.
Students who participate in the MALP program have the option to study in Oviedo, Spain for one year.
TESOL Certification Option
To obtain the TESOL Certificate, students will complete Linguistics 6233: Pedagogical Structure of English and Linguistics 6813: Practicum. Students who wish to obtain the TESOL Certificate must go through advising in the Linguistics department and set up a separate file.
Spanish Program Coordinator
Professor Fernando Rubio
1415 LNCO, 581-4610
fernando.rubio@utah.edu
*Course of Study linked here effective as of Fall 2020
