The Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages

About the Program

Welcome and Mission Statement

The Master of Arts degree in Teaching International Languages fosters the study of languages as an integral part of a world-class education in a global society. It is designed to promote the development of knowledgeable, reflective, inquiry-oriented professionals prepared to teach foreign languages and English to speakers of other languages. The primary goal is to enable students from all nations to fully participate in the multicultural, interdependent communities of the 21st century. This program is a 36-unit interdisciplinary program for graduate students interested in the effective teaching and learning of international languages.

Hilda Hernandez, Ph.D.
Graduate Coordinator
Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages
California State University, Chico

Degree and Options Offered

There are two patterns offered within the Master of Arts in Teaching International Languages:

Pattern A: TESOL: English as a Second Language (Adult Learners)/English as a Foreign Language Emphasis
A variety of 400/500/600 level courses such as syntactic and linguistic analysis, language acquisition, semantics, and linguistic approaches to reading provide opportunities for intensive study in linguistics. (Students have the option of completing a linguistics minor.)

Pattern B: Foreign Language Emphasis
A variety of 400/500/600 level courses in language, literature, and culture provides for intensive study of the target culture and language. Selections should consist primarily of courses taught in the target language, (e.g., French, German, Italian, Spanish.)

• Within the Teaching Foreign Languages pattern, students may choose between the following offered foreign languages: German, French, Spanish, and Italian. For others please discuss with the Graduate Coordinator.

Program Requirements

University Catalogue: Program Description

Admission Requirements

• Holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent approved by the School of Graduate, International, and Sponsored Programs.
• Having a baccalaureate grade point average of over 3.0 (on a scale of A = 4.0) in the last 30 semester units attempted and 2.75 in the last 60 semester units attempted.

• Hold a baccalaureate in English or a foreign language or in another discipline that has the prior approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
• Meet with the Graduate Coordinator to determine a plan of study.

Student Services

Careers in the field

Alumni Development
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Program FAQ

• Is the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) required?

  No, it is not required. However, if you have taken it, submit the score with your application.

• Where do I send official transcripts?

  Directions are listed on the Program Admission Checklist.

• If my GPA is slightly below the required 3.0, can I still get into the program?

  Yes, but only if your application file excels in all other categories.

• What are the grading requirements that apply to course work in the M.A. Program?

  All courses included on the M.A. degree program must be taken for a letter grade. The only exceptions are as follows:

  EDCI 689 Professional Field Experience

  EDMA 597/697 Independent Study

  EDMA 699T/699P Master’s Thesis/Master's Project

  FLNG 597/697 Independent Study: Lab Internship

  Courses specified as ABC/No Credit (400-level courses), AB/No Credit (500/600 level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only

  Approved course work taken in other departments

  Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all course work included on the approved master’s degree program as well as in postbaccalaureate course work overall.

• What courses may be included on my program plan?

  Graduate students may enroll in courses at any level. However, only courses at the 400/500/600 levels taken after receipt of the bachelor’s degree and within seven years of completion of the M.A. degree may be counted in the master’s program. Course work taken as part of the basic credential programs (Multiple Subjects and Single Subject) is excluded, as are 800-level extension courses. Courses already counted toward the requirements of another degree program may not be included in the M.A. program.

• Will I receive transfer credit for course work taken at other institutions?

  A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree. To allow the transfer credit, the course work must be postbaccalaureate, within the program time limit, and completed at an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association. Additionally, it must be acceptable in a master’s degree program at the school where it was taken. Correspondence courses and University of California extension course work are not acceptable for transfer. Any CSU, Chico course work completed through Open University and included in the program will count against this 9-unit limit.

• Will I be able to include specialist and services credential course work in the program?

  A limited amount of specialist and services credential course work completed prior to admission to the program may be counted toward the M.A. program requirements. The number of courses that can be counted is dependent on other factors such as the amount of transfer course work in the program and the type of credential. The Graduate Coordinator should be contacted for information specific to each individual situation.

• Will the courses I need be offered during summer session?

  The availability of courses during summer session depends in part on the student’s area of specialization. Some courses have been offered periodically, others only during the academic year. Check with the Graduate Coordinator or a faculty adviser regarding the scheduling of courses you are interested in taking.

• How many units should I take each semester?

  Defining what is an appropriate course load for a graduate student is an individual matter determined by a number of factors (e.g., work demands, financial aid requirements, family obligations, health considerations, time constraints). University policy dictates that a graduate student may not register for more than 16 units of work in any semester without written permission from the Graduate Coordinator. (Students working concurrently toward a basic credential may also need written permission from their Program Coordinator.) Whenever possible, students are encouraged to work on their M.A. degree on a full-time basis. Experience shows that students who do so are more likely to receive their degrees.

• Can I take courses as an undergraduate?

  Although prerequisite courses may be taken as an undergraduate, all M.A. program course work must be taken after receipt of the baccalaureate degree with only one exception. Under certain conditions, students completing their bachelor’s degree at CSU, Chico may request the award of graduate credit for excess units taken in their final undergraduate semester. Students can obtain a petition for this purpose at the Office of Graduate Programs, and must complete and submit the petition during the first 4 weeks of their final undergraduate semester. If all criteria are met and the units are not needed for the bachelor’s degree, up to 9 units of 400/500/600 level courses may be allowed for graduate credit in the master’s degree program.

  Generally speaking, you need to be very careful taking 400/500/600 level courses at the undergraduate level. Although they may satisfy program requirements, the units can be applied to only one degree. Except as noted above, taking courses from the M.A. program while you are an undergraduate degree will mean that additional substitute course work will have to be taken to meet graduate program requirements.

• What is the University‘s continuous enrollment policy?

  University policy requires that all students maintain continuous enrollment after admission into a master’s degree program. When this requirement is not satisfied by regular enrollment in course work, a fee must be paid through the Center for Regional and Continuing Education for enrollment in GRST 899. Students are advised that they will be charged a late fee if they fail to follow this policy in a timely manner. (For additional information, contact the Office of Graduate Programs.)

• When should I enroll in units for the culminating activity?

  Students should not enroll in Master’s Thesis/Master's Project 699T/699P or comprehensive examination (EDSL 696) units prior to the semester in which the culminating activity work is in progress.

• May I write my Master’s study in a language other than English?

  Master’s thesis and projects submitted by graduate students in the Teaching International Languages M.A. degree program may be written in a language other than English when the area of specialization is Language Studies (Pattern B). This applies specifically and exclusively to graduate students in the Foreign Language Emphasis whose Master’s Thesis/Master's Project 699T/699P units are through Foreign Languages and Literatures. Students submitting thesis and projects in a language other than English are required to include a précis (an extended abstract of 1000-1500 words) of their work in English as part of the Master’s Study.

• How many years do I have to complete my M.A. Degree?

  All requirements for the M.A. degree in Teaching International Languages must be completed within seven years. Calculation of the seven-year time limit begins with the oldest course applied toward the degree. This is calculated from course work taken prior to admission if it is included on the program plan.

• What is required to graduate with distinction?

  M.A. degree candidates who maintain a 3.9 grade point average on all approved program course work and attain high standards of quality on a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination are eligible to graduate with distinction. Recommendation for graduation with distinction is made by the candidate's graduate advisory committee on the Final Progress Sheet that is submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs.