University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver

M.A. Degree: Applied Linguistics Program

If you want a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of teaching English to non-native adult users of English with a special focus on the discourses of the classroom and on teaching second-language writers, this program is a good choice.

General Requirements

Students must demonstrate fourth semester proficiency in a foreign language prior to graduation; assessment of proficiency depends on the language to be demonstrated.

Those students who are not teaching adult ESL students at the time of their course work will be required to take a 3 - 6 credit internship in an area language school, workplace, or high school/college ESL program, either through Cooperative Education or by arrangement with the Plan Coordinator.

 

Course Requirements (30 semester hours minimum)

All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.

I. Required Core Courses (18 hours)

  • ENGL 5150 Critical Inquiry and Classroom Research
  • ENGL 5093 Rhetoric and the Teaching of Writing
  • ENGL 5171 Language Theory
  • ENGL 5601 Principles and Practice of Adult Second Language Acquisition
  • ENGL 5913 Practicum in Language and Rhetoric
    -or- ENGL Elective Approved by the Student's Advisor
  • ENGL 6220 (3) Teaching Second Language and Second Dialect Writers

II. Elective courses: Language or Rhetoric Courses (6 hours)

Choose two of the following:

  • ENGL 5080 History of the English Language
  • ENGL 6002 Rhetorical Theory: Teaching Writing
  • ENGL 6100 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Language

III. Synthesis Option

Students may choose from the following three options.

Comprehensive Exam or Portfolio Exam:

Students will take a comprehensive exam or portfolio exam in their last semester. Students selecting this option must take 2 elective courses approved by their advisor.

Thesis:

  • ENGL 5840 Independent Study (3 hours)
  • ENGL 6950 Master's Thesis Project (4-6 hours)

For information on writing, submitting, and defending a thesis, see "Thesis Guidelines" on the CLAS Graduate Student Advising web site.

Project:

  • ENGL 5840 Independent Study (3 hours) or ENGL 5939 Internship (3 hours) (With advisor's approval)
  • ENGL 6960 Master's Project (3-6)

IV. Additional Information

Candidate for Degree: Graduate students must be registered for at least one credit hour during the semester that they graduate. Those who have completed all required courses and requirements may register for Candidate for Degree: CAND 5940 section 900.

V. Internships

Those students who are not teaching adult ESL students at the time of their coursework will be required to take a 3-6 credit internship in a local area language school, workplace, or high school/college ESL program, either through Cooperative Education or by arrangement with the Plan Coordinator.