The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Linguistics combines the best of both fields into three concentration areas, allowing students to consider language development at its most basic and complex levels.
What You Will Learn
Learning outcomes include:
- a deep understanding of languages as an organized, interrelated system with multiple subsystems
- the ability to apply linguistic methodologies to analyze language (English and other languages)
- the skills to recognize and interpret differences across speech communities in language use
- awareness of cross-cultural difference and respect for diversity
- the ability to conduct a scientific research project and produce a quality research paper
- language teaching methods
- how to plan a lesson and create teaching materials
Why Linguistics?
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. In this field, your main focus will be to understand how languages work, and how they are acquired by both native speakers and second language learners. Like in other scientific fields, you will collect and examine data, identify patterns, and create and test different hypotheses. In doing so, you will develop crucial analytical and technical skills, which are directly or indirectly relevant to a wide range of career paths. Here are some examples.
Career Options Involving Linguistics
- Business
- Education
- Technology
- Publishing Industry
- Acting Training
Program Benefits
- Work Closely with Faculty in Small Classes
- Practical Experiences
Requirements
Coursework includes a core TESOL and linguistic topics (including methods and materials for TESOL, phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, and sociolinguistics), plus directed electives. Three concentration options are available to select from.
- The TESOL concentration of the master of arts in TESOL and linguistics prepares students to teach English to speakers of other languages, both in English speaking and non-English speaking environments.
- The linguistics concentration of the MA in TESOL and linguistics includes core graduate-level linguistics coursework, directed electives, and a research or creative project.
- The TESOL and Linguistics concentration includes coursework in core topics for TESOL, phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, and sociolinguistics, plus directed electives. This concentration culminates in a capstone research paper or creative project.