To obtain the degree, the candidate must complete a minimum of 30 credits. To satisfy the course requirements, the candidate must successfully complete ten graduate courses, eight of which should be from the offerings below. Two of the ten courses can be taken in allied fields approved by the department. All candidates must take (SPAN 901 Bibliography and Methods of Research), a 3-­credit course dealing with bibliography and methods of research. Preparation of a bibliographical essay in this course is the final requirement for graduation. Graduate assistants teaching in the department must take (SPAN 903 Applied Linguistics). Both SPAN 901 and SPAN 903 count toward the ten courses required to complete the degree. Graduate students are also expected to take (SPAN 997 Graduate Seminar) each semester they are enrolled in the program.