2008 Linguistics & TESOL graduates

Department of Linguistics & TESOL | The University of Texas at Arlington

Degree Requirements:

M.A. in TESOL

NOTE: Effective in the Spring Semester 2007, the M.A. Comprehensive Exam will be based on these Revised Degree Requirements, regardless of the student's catalog year.

These degree requirements are effective for students entering Fall 2006 or later. Students who entered the program prior to Fall 2006 can download the old M.A. TESOL program requirements (PDF) here.

M.A. TESOL Program Objective

The M.A. TESOL is a professional degree designed for those who wish to work with learners of English. The educational objective is to prepare teachers of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) for work outside the American public school setting. The successful student will have theoretical and practical knowledge about those factors that constitute a sound ESOL program, for example, human language learning, language in its socio-cultural settings and uses, language program structures, and support for achievement of learner objectives.

If you would like to enroll in this program, see the Prospective Students page.

Admissions Requirements for Applicants

Be sure to read the Admissions Requirements (PDF) for Linguistics & TESOL graduate programs.

Additional Information about TESOL

If you are considering a career in TESOL – or are simply curious – you can find additional information at our TESOL as a Discipline page.

Degree Plan

All M.A. TESOL students must demonstrate knowledge of a foreign language prior to unconditional admission to the degree program. Those without such background may pursue study of a foreign language at U.T. Arlington concurrent with probationary enrollment in the M.A. TESOL program.

The program includes course study and a comprehensive examination, for a total of 36 credits.

  1. The course study constitutes 12 courses (36 credits):
    1. 8 required core courses (24 credits); and
    2. 4 elective courses (12 credits).
  2. The comprehensive examination is written, and is offered twice a year: November and April.

Coursework

The coursework component of the degree includes both core courses and elective courses.

Core Courses: There are 8 required courses (24 credits) in Linguistics and TESOL.

  1. In the area of Linguistics, there are 3 courses (9 credits).
    1. LING 5300: Linguistic Analysis
    2. LING 5305: Second Language Acquisition
    3. LING 5310: Sociolinguistics
      » alternate courses to LING 5310:
      • LING 5311: Sociolinguistics of Society, or
      • LING 5351: Spoken Discourse
  2. In the area of TESOL, there are 5 courses (15 credits).
    1. There are 4 required courses (12 credits).
      • LING 5301: TESOL
      • LING 5302: TESOL Reading and Composition
      • LING 5393: TESOL Teaching
      • LING 5304: TESOL Pedagogical Grammar
    2. One advanced courses (3 credits) in TESOL is required. Students must choose from the following list:
      • LING 5303: Contrastive and Error Analysis
      • LING 5306: TESOL Curriculum Design
      • LING 5307: TESOL Pedagogical Phonology

An Important Note about Course Sequencing

Students in the M.A. TESOL program are required to take courses in the appropriate sequence; doing so helps to ensure that they will have the necessary background to master the materials in more advanced classes. Key sequencings:

  • LING 5300 (or equivalent linguistics foundation) is prerequisite for LING 5310/-11/-51, and LING 5305.
  • LING 5301 or 5302 is prerequisite for LING 5303, LING 5304 and LING 5307.
  • LING 5301, 5302, and 5305 are prerequisite for LING 5393.

For course descriptions, go to the on-line Graduate Course List for Linguistics.

Elective Courses: There are 4 elective courses (12 credits), to be selected in consultation with the M.A. Advisor.

  1. At least one elective course must be either:
    • LING 3330: Phonetics and Phonology, or
    • LING 3340: Grammar and Morphology.
  2. Remaining elective courses may be any other LING course or an appropriate course offered by another department. Examples include (but are not limited to):
    • ANTH 3340: Anthropology and Education
    • COMM 4335: International-Intercultural Communication
    • EDAD 5309: Advanced Instructional Strategies
    • EDUC 5301: Current Applications of Technology in Education
    • ENGL 4339: Rhetoric and Composition
    • ENGL 5355: Studies in English Discourse
    • ENGL 5358: Principles and Methods of Evaluation
    • LING 5347: Pragmatics
    • LING 5311: Sociolinguistics of Society
    • LING 5351: Spoken Discourse
    • MANA 4323: Organization Analysis & Design: Culture, Process, & Structure
    • MANA 4324 or 5312: Organizational Behavior
    • MODL 5305: Methods of MLT
    • MODL 5307: Topics in Second Language Acquisition
    • MODL 5308: Technology and Language Instruction
    • READ 5357: Comparative Literacy Programs
    • READ 5362: Literacy Instruction in ESL/Bilingual Settings
    • SOCI 3327: Intercultural Interaction
    • SPAN 5302: Spanish Dialectology
    • SPAN 5303: Applied Spanish Linguistics

(Program requirements on your MyMav registration program will supersede the requirements posted on this page.)

M.A. Comprehensive Examination

The M.A. Comprehensive Examination should be taken during the final semester of study; exceptions to this policy must be approved by the M.A. Advisor. The examination covers material that is typically covered in the degree's core courses (see above):

Note that the questions on the comprehensive exam do not specifically coincide with any one course in the curriculum. For example, a student answering one of the questions in the "Linguistic Analysis" section of the exam may opt to refer to materials covered not only in LING 5300, but also in other courses that focus on linguistic structure (e.g., LING 3330, LING 3340, LING 5303, LING 5304, and LING 5307).

The Comprehensive Examination is given twice each year, in the fall semester (early November) and the spring semester (early April); a specific exam date will be announced at the beginning of each semester.

A student who fails the exam and is granted permission to be re-examined must sit for the entire exam again; no "partial exams" will be administered. After receiving the results of their Comprehensive Exam, students must file a "Master's Examination Report" with the Graduate School.

See the Exams section of our website to get information that will help you prepare for the Comprehensive Exam.

Admissions Requirements

If you're interested in pursuing this program of study, consulte the Prospective Students page, and be sure to read the Admissions Requirements (PDF) for Linguistics & TESOL graduate programs.

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