Program Requirements

Program requirements   (33 - 36 hours)

In consultation with the program director and faculty advisors, all degree candidates complete the 15-hour Second Language Acquisition core and one of the three 15-hour language tracks, for a total of 30 hours of coursework.  The course associated with the research requirement brings the total hours for the program to 33.  Students writing just 1 degree paper complete an additional 3 hours of advisor-approved coursework (for a total of 36 hours).

Second Language Acquisition Core

All candidates must complete the following 18-hour core:

*Candidates pursuing the TESOL track are encouraged to enroll in the ENG-coded classes, whereas those pursuing tracks in French or Spanish should enroll in the MCL-coded classes.  However, with advisor approval, candidates may take either ENG- or MCL-coded classes in the core regardless of the track.  Students seeking the Missouri K-12 ELL endorsement must enroll in the ENG-coded core courses.  MCL-coded courses will not count toward ELL certification.

Language Track 

All candidates must complete one of the following 15-hours language tracks: 

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

 French

Spanish

Research Requirement

Candidates have the option of completing a thesis, 2 degree papers, or 1 degree paper and an additional 3 hours of advisor-approved electives.  In order to work with a faculty advisor to complete a thesis or degree paper(s), candidates must enroll in a thesis or degree paper supervision course.  Further details regarding the procedures for proposing and writing degree papers are available in the MASLA Student Handbook.

Examination Requirement/Comprehensive Examination

All candidates will take two written examinations, one focused on issues related to second language acquisition theory and practices and another relating to their chosen language track.  Further details regarding the content and format of the comprehensive are available in the MASLA Student Handbook.

Language Proficiency Requirement

TESOL Track Candidates.  TESOL track candidates must provide evidence of intermediate-level proficiency in a language other than English.  The language proficiency requirement may be met through one of the following options:  (a) completion of 12 hours of undergraduate coursework in a foreign language with at least a C average; (b) completion of the second intermediate foreign language college course with a grade of C or higher; or (c) passing a reading competency test equivalent to the level of the second intermediate foreign language college course administered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.  A TESOL track candidate whose native language is not English will be considered to have met the language requirement.

French and Spanish Track Candidates.  As noted in the Admission Requirements section above, French and Spanish track candidates must demonstrate speaking and writing proficiency consistent with the Advanced level on the ACTFL scale.  If such proficiency is not clearly evidenced, additional proficiency assessments may be administered at the discretion of program faculty.