The Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages

The MA in Teaching International Languages promotes the study of languages and cultures as an integral part of a world class education in a golbal society. Course work focuses on linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical knowledge and its applications in teaching foreign languages and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The program prepares professionals for a broad spectrum of cultural contexts and instructional settings in the United States and abroad.

This degree is offered by the School of Graduate, International, and Sponsored Programs as a 36-unit interdisciplinary program for graduate students interested in the effective teaching and learning of international languages. By integrating course work from the Departments of Education, English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, and Professional Studies in Education with offerings from international studies and other related areas, this interdisciplinary degree encompasses studies in linguistics, language, culture, and foreign/second language education. The program promotes the development of knowledgeable, reflective, inquiry-oriented professionals prepared to teach foreign languages (including English as a foreign language), and English as a second language to adult learners so that students from all nations can fully participate in the multilingual, interdependent communities of the twenty-first century. Required courses and electives provide the theoretical and practical foundations essential for foreign language teachers, foreign/second language college and univeristy instructors, and other professionals teaching world languages. It is also ideal for educators interested in National Board Certification specific to English as a New Language and World Languages.

Foundation Courses

ENGL 121, Principles of Language, is a prerequisite for all students. ENGL 124, Introduction to English Grammar, is a prerequisite for some of the courses listed in Language Studies Pattern A, and is strongly recommended for all students within that pattern.

Course Requirements for the Master’s Degree: 36 units

Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree.
Graduate Time Limit: All requirements for the degree are to be completed within seven years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See “Graduate Education” in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:

1. An acceptable baccalaureate from an accredited institution, or an equivalent approved by the Office of Graduate Programs. Candidates with a foreign language emphasis are expected to hold an appropriate degree or credential, or to demonstrate comparable proficiency in the target language as assessed by the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.

2. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in “Admission to Master’s Degree Programs.”

3. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in the last 30 units, and 2.75 in the last 60 units.

4. Approval by the Teaching International Languages Program and the Office of Graduate and International Programs. Students admitted to conditionally classified status must also file an approved, preliminary program plan with the Graduate Coordinator and request advancement to classified status upon completion of 6 units of the proposed program.

5. A TOEFL score of at least 550 (213 on the computer-based TOEFL) is required of speakers of other languages with less than three years of successful, full-time study in an English-speaking country.

6. Course prerequisites.

Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:

1. In place of the third requirement above: an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 units. Students admitted to classified status must also file an approved, preliminary program plan with the Graduate Coordinator.

2. All other conditions listed under Admission to Conditionally Classified Status.

Advancement to Candidacy:

In addition to the requirements listed above:
1. Classified graduate standing.
2. Completion of 9 units of the proposed program at the university.
3. An approved master’s degree program plan developed in consultation with the graduate advisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
4. Request for advancement to candidacy.

Requirements for the MA in Teaching International Languages:

Completion of all requirements established by the program’s Advisory Board, the student’s graduate advisory committee, and the Office of Graduate Programs, to include:

1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 36 units of 200/300-level courses.
(a) The common core of course work (12 units), language studies (12 units), cultural studies (6 units), research (3 units), and master’s study (3 units).
(b) At least 60 percent of the units required for the degree in 300-level courses.
(c) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and UC extension course work are not acceptable).
(d) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status.
(e) Not more than a total of 10 units of Independent Study (398) and Master’s Study (399); not more than 6 units of Master’s Study (399).
(f) Completion of required course work and approved electives.

2. Core requirements:

ENGL    232    Second Language Acquisition    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 121.

EDSL    335T    Foreign/Second Lang Test/Assess    3.0    SP

EDSL    337F    Curric Dev Foreign Language/ESL    3.0    FA

EDSL    371    Foreign/Second Lang Tch Methods    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

BLMC    372    Meth/Strat Sec Lang Acq & Devlop    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Possess a single or multiple subjects credential, or faculty permission.

In addition to the practicum experiences required in ENGL 232 and EDSL 371, students entering the program without teaching experience must demonstrate experience prior to graduation through one or more of several options: a professional field experience (EDCI 389); internship courses offered by different departments (e.g., SPAN 389); teaching experience as a tutor or instructor with the American Language and Culture Institute on campus; as an instructor in other university programs (e.g., Foreign Languages and Literatures) or at the community college level (e.g., Butte College, Shasta College, Yuba College); teaching experience overseas; or by other appropriate means.

3. The language studies component consists of 12 units of electives within one of two patterns. Pattern A is a TESOL: English as a Second Language to adult learners/English as a Foreign Language emphasis and Pattern B is a Foreign Language emphasis. In consultation with a graduate adviser, students will choose an area of emphasis consistent with the target language they teach.

Pattern A
For the TESOL: English as a Second Language for adult learners/English as a Foreign Language Emphasis, students select 12 units from the following courses:

ENGL    222    Pedagogical Grammar    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 121.

ENGL    224    Syntactic/Morphological Analysis    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 121, ENGL 124.

ENGL    226    Phonological Analysis    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, ENGL 121, ENGL 124.

ENGL    227    Semantics: Language and Meaning    3.0    FA

ENGL    228    Linguistic Approaches to Reading    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: ENGL 121.

ENGL    297D    Contemporary Linguistic Topics    3.0    S1

Prerequisites: ENGL 121; ENGL 124.

ENGL    326    Topics Contemporary Linguistics    3.0    FS

ENGL    332    Adv Theory 2nd Lang Acquisition    3.0    Inq

Prerequisites: ENGL 232.

NOTE: ENGL 124, a foundation course, is strongly recommended for all students in in Pattern A.

Pattern B
For the Foreign Language Emphasis, students select 12 units of 200/300-level course work in linguistics, language, literature and/or culture taught in the target language. Selections should consist primarily of courses taught in the target language (e.g., French, German, Italian, Spanish). Candidates are expected to hold an appropriate degree or credential, or to possess comparable proficiency in the target language as assessed by the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department. Candidates may also select from English Department offerings in linguistics, as appropriate.

4. The cultural studies component consists of 6 units of 200/300-level courses selected from the humanities and social sciences, from education and marketing, and from offerings in international studies. In consultation with a graduate adviser, students will choose course work consistent with the target language and culture they teach. Examples of possible choices include:

ANTH    251    Ethnolinguistics    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: ANTH 103.

This is a required course for students in Language Studies Pattern A.

AMST    240    American Thought and Character    3.0    Inq

This course is the same as HIST 240 which may be substituted.

ANTH    303    Seminar in Cultural Anthro    3.0    SP

BLMC    236    Intro to Multicultural Education    3.0    FS

CMST    311    Seminar in Intercultural Comm    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: CMST 125 or equivalent; CMST graduate standing or faculty permission.

FREN    210    French Cinema    3.0    Inq

Prerequisites: FREN 004 or equivalent.

GERM    200B    New German Cinema    3.0    Inq

HIST    262    Islamic Civilization    3.0    FA

This course is the same as MEST 262 which may be substituted.

HIST    278    Modern Japan    3.0    SP NW

HIST    320    Grad Seminar: European History    3.0    FA

INST    300    Project Study Abroad    1.0-8.0    FS

ITAL    200A    Italian Cinema    3.0    Inq

LAST    200    Seminar in Selected Topics    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, LAST 050.

MKTG    277    International Marketing    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: MKTG 170, MKTG 171, MKTG 180.

POLS    341    Sem: International Relations    3.0    FA

This course is the same as POLS 249 which may be substituted.

SPAN    260    Film & Lit in Spain/Latin Amer    3.0    Inq

Prerequisites: SPAN 104A; SPAN 105A or SPAN 105B; or faculty permission.

5. The research and master’s study component consists of a foreign/second language research course and 3 units of master’s study or independent study/comprehensive examination. Other graduate research courses consistent with special student interests may be substituted with approval. The culminating activity will consist of a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination.

Research Course

EDSL    335F    Res/Dev Foreign/Second Lang Ed    3.0    SP

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

Other approved research methods course.

Culminating Activity

INST    399    Master’s Study    1.0-3.0    FS

NOTE: Students may substitute Master’s Study units from the home department of their graduate advisory committee chair (e.g., SPAN 399, EDMA 399, ANTH 399). Any 399 course normally must be taken for 3 units.

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

EDMA    398    Independent Study    1.0-3.0    FS

Select EDMA 398 if the culminating activity is a comprehensive examination. EDMA 398 normally must be taken for 3 units.

(a) Thesis or Project Plan. Requires completion and final approval of a thesis or project for 3 units (399C or 399I), plus at least 33 units of approved course work.
—A proposal for the thesis or project must be submitted to and approved by the graduate advisory committee before the student may enroll in the thesis or project units. When human subjects approval is required, clearance must be secured before the proposal is filed.
—An oral defense shall be conducted by the candidate’s graduate advisory committee.
—Approval by the graduate advisory committee, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Office of Graduate Programs are required.

(b) Comprehensive Examination Plan. Requires completion of 3 units of Independent Study (EDMA 398C) in preparation for a six-hour written comprehensive examination, with oral review, covering each of the program areas, plus at least 33 units of approved course work.
—The graduate advisory committee will prepare, administer, and evaluate the comprehensive examination.
—Each examination shall be graded as honors, pass, or fail.
—All parts of the comprehensive examination must receive a grade of pass. The candidate may repeat each part of the examination once.

Graduate Literacy Requirement:

Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.

Students in the program will demonstrate their writing proficiency by submitting an acceptable Justification Statement with the application to the program. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for further information.

Graduate Grading Requirements:

All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study-398 and Master’s Study-399) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (200-level courses), AB/No Credit (300-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 398, 399, and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the university that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all course work on the approved master’s degree program as well as in all course work taken subsequent to admission to conditionally classified status.

Graduate Advising Requirement:

Once the master’s degree program plan has been developed and approved, advising is recommended but not mandatory each semester. For further information, consult the Graduate Coordinator.