College of Arts and Letters
University of the Philippines Diliman
Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura
Master of Arts Programs
The graduate degree programs of the CAL promote and uphold the highest standards of excellence, integrity, and academic freedom through a roster of mentors who are specialists in their respective fields.
The college offers 20 master's programs. Graduate students are expected to complete a program of study that involves both coursework and the production of scholarly research which will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their chosen discipline.
Programs are offered by the various departments of the college, with the Graduate Studies Office (GSO) acting as Secretariat. The GSO implements the policies, rules, and guidelines of graduate programs as approved by the appropriate bodies. It is headed by a Graduate Studies Coordinator working in consultation with the office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the College.
Department of Art Studies
MA Art Studies (Art History)
This track provides graduate level knowledge and competence in research in Philippine art history from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
MA Art Studies
(Art Theory and Criticism)
This track provides graduate level knowledge and competence in the development of theoretical frameworks and methodologies for the study of art, particularly in the Philippine context.
MA Art Studies (Curatorial Studies)
This track provides graduate level knowledge and competence in curatorial studies that can be useful for individuals seeking work or are already working in the museum sector, as well as those engaged in curatorial practices that operate beyond traditional platforms.
Department of English and Comparative Literature
MA Comparative Literature
Foregrounds multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of European, Asian, African, Latin-American, and Philippine literatures in English or in English translation.
MA Creative Writing
Promotes the activities of creative writing as explicit curricular challenges to English studies, situates the practice in concrete settings, both past and present, and encourages practicing and established creative writers to join the English studies faculty while they strengthen their backgrounds in literature, theory, and criticism.
MA English Studies: Language
Deepens one’s critical understanding of the history, structure, theories of development, and principles of use of the English language.
MA English Studies:
Anglo-American Literature
Provides expertise in the area of Anglo-American literature
MA English Studies: Anglo-American Literature (Comprehensive Examination Plan)
MA English Studies: Anglo-American Literature (Thesis Plan)
Department of European Languages
MA French Language
MA French Translation
The University of the Philippines is the only institution in the country which offers a degree program in the French language through its Bachelor of Arts (European Languages), implemented in 1978.
As early as 1990, the Department has already been considering the institution of an MA Program in French. Cognizant of the interest of Filipino students in the French language, the French government, through its Embassy’s cultural section, initiated contacts between the University of the Philippines and the Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), culminating in an inter-university agreement between the two universities.
The Master’s degree program aims to democratize access to graduate studies in French, providing students with advanced education in the French language, specifically in the teaching French as a foreign language or in translation. Students may choose to any of the two plans: A. With Thesis (complete 24 units of course work and successfully defend a master’s thesis); B. Without Thesis (complete 33 units of course work and pass a comprehensive examination).
The Master of Arts (French Language) Program of the Department of European Languages was approved during the
42nd UPD University Council on March 15, 1995.
Currently, the MA programs in French are undergoing curriculum revisions. As such, admissions are temporarily suspended.
MA German
As early as 1980, the Department of European Languages had already shown interest in establishing an MA Program in German. For this purpose, a linkage was established between the DEL and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Services). Through this linkage, several faculty members have gone to Germany for graduate studies and training programs. The DAAD has also regularly provided the department with visiting professors.
The MA German program aims to provide further training for practicing and future teachers of the German language. At the same time, it also provides formal training for those interested in pursuing translation studies. The MA degree in German may be obtained upon completion of 24 units of formal graduate course work and a master’s thesis.
The Master of Arts (German) Program of the Department of European Languages was approved during the 57th UPD University Council on December 17, 1997.
Currently, MA (German) is undergoing curriculum revisions. As such, admissions are temporarily suspended.
MA Spanish (Language)
MA Spanish (Translation)
MA Spanish (Literature)
MA Spanish (Rizal Studies)
The MA Spanish Program was revised and institutionalized to include four areas of concentration: Language, Translation, Literature, and Rizal Studies. These areas of concentration aim to ensure quality training in language, literature, or translation in Spanish. The fourth area of concentration aims to adequately prepare teachers, who are mostly graduates of other degree programs, of an important legislated course on Rizal. By simultaneously providing them with advanced training on the Spanish language, Rizal Studies also intends to further encourage translation of Rizaliana materials and actively promote research on Rizal studies based on original documents. Students may obtain an MA (Spanish) degree upon completion of 33 units of formal graduate coursework including a master’s thesis.
The revised MA Spanish Program was formally approved during the 57th UPD University Council on December 17, 1997.
Currently, all MA programs in Spanish are undergoing curriculum revisions. As such, admissions are temporarily suspended.
Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature
M.A. Panitikan ng Pilipinas
Layon ng programa na mapalawak ang kaalaman ng mga estudyante sa mga tradisyong pampanitikan sa Pilipinas. Nakatuon ang programa sa iba’t ibang anyong pampanitikan ng mga etnolingguwistikong grupo sa Pilipinas at sa produksiyong pampanitikan ng mga kilusang panlipunan at iba pang umuusbong na grupo. Sa kabuuan, hangad ng programa na makatulong sa pagbabalangkas ng mga saligang kaisipan sa pambansang panitikan at sa pagtukoy ng mga manunulat at akdang maisasama sa kanon ng pambansang panitikan
M.A. Filipino: Wika
Layon ng programa na higit pang mapaunlad ang kaalaman ng mga estudyante sa mga kahalagahan ng wikang pambansa, gayundin ang kalagayan, tungkulin at papel nito sa lipunang Pilipino. Sinasanay ang mga estudyante sa kritikal na pagsusuri para mapalawak ang kanilang pananaw sa katangian ng wikang pambansa at iba pang mga wika sa Pilipinas.
M.A. Filipino: Pagsasalin
Binibigyang diin ng programa ang kahalagahan ng pagsasalin sa pag-unlad ng pambansang wika at kultura at sa pagpapayabong ng interaksiyon ng mga kultura. Layon ng programa na mapalawak ang kasanayan at kaalaman ng mga estudyante sa mga prinsipyo sa pagsasalin, gumawa ng mga batayang pananaliksik sa larangan ng pagsasalin, magsuri ng mga salin sa Filipino mula sa iba’t ibang wika.
M.A. Araling Pilipino
(Philippine Studies)
Layunin ng programa ang pagpapalawak ng kaalaman at perspektiba ng mga estudyante sa lipunan at kulturang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanay sa kanila sa metodong interdisiplinari.
Nakaangkla ang unang disiplina sa wika at panitikan ng Pilipinas. Ang pangalawang disiplina naman ay maaaring piliin ng mga estudyante mula sa alinman sa mga sumusunod: Anthropology, Architecture, Art Studies, Comparative Literature, Economics, Fine Arts, Geography, Islamic Studies, Kasaysayan, Linguistics, Mass Communications, Music, Philippine Spanish Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Speech Communication, Theater Arts, Women and Development, at iba pa.
Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts
MA (Speech Communication)
The MA (Speech Communication) program aims to advance the field of speech communication, particularly in knowledge building and critical research. It is designed to provide graduate students and professionals a deeper understanding of the fields of Rhetoric, Performance, Interpersonal Communication, and Instructional Communication. It was approved by the Board of Regents on November 5, 1990.
Graduate students enrolled in the MA (Speech Communication) program are required to take three core courses– Speech 201 (Speech Communication Process Analysis), Speech 210 (Quantitative Research in Speech Communication), and Speech 211 (Qualitative Research in Speech Communication)– as well as three MA Speech Communication electives, two cognates from other disciplines, and a master’s thesis.
MA (Theatre Arts)
Students of the MA in Theatre Arts program are expected to understand the self, Philippine society and culture through theatre, cultural performance, and live events; conceptualise and design live performance events; reflect on the role of theatre and performance in world histories; and produce theoretically-informed research and creative projects in theatre and performance.
The curriculum of the MA Theatre Arts (Theatre Studies) is designed for scholars, researchers, teachers and critics of Philippine theatre.The program requires 39 units of course work and a creative project approved and evaluated by the theatre faculty members and invited theatre artists as panel members
On the other hand, the curriculum of MA Theatre Arts (Theatre Practice) is designed for performance practitioners who are interested to back-up their skills with performance theories. Students in the Theatre Practice track must take 18 units of Theatre Electives to focus on technical and skills-based theatre courses in preparation for the program’s creative project requirements.