Master of Arts with a concentration in English as a Second Language (ESL)

This concentration prepares students for careers in teaching English as a second language and/or foreign language and language arts instruction for K-12 (with additional certification and course work from the College of Education). Our MA programs also serve as an excellent foundation for doctoral studies in second language acquisition and the teaching of English as a second language.

Degree Requirements*
The MA in Linguistics degree is a 36-hour program.

Course requirements include:
12 hours of core courses
24 hours of foundation courses

Students who elect to write a thesis will take 6 hours of thesis LING 5950 in lieu of 6 elective hours.


Core Courses - 12 hours

*LING 5040 - Principles in Linguistics - Needed prerequisite if your degree does not have a background in Linguistics


Foundation Courses - 24 hours

Required Foundation Courses:

  • LING 5060 -  Second Language Acquisition
  • LING 5080 - Teaching English as a Second Language
  • LING 5090 - Pedagogical English Grammar
  • LING 5340 - Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language

The additional foundation courses should be decided in consultation with the graduate advisor. The selection of these courses will be individually tailored with the graduate advisor to support students' goals and interests in the program.

Application Information