Applied Linguistics EdM

The Applied Linguistics and TESOL Program offers a Master of Education degree with three  areas of specialization in Applied Linguistics or TESOL: language use, second language acquisition, and second language assessment. The EdM is an articulated Master’s degree, 30 points beyond the M.A. level. Please refer to the Area of Specialization descriptions below for detailed curriculum information. Note that students' official major will be Applied Linguistics orTESOL (i.e., their areas of specialization will not appear on the student academic record). Students can expect to complete the Ed.M. in Applied Linguistics orTESOL in one to three years depending on their full-time or part-time status. Students receiving an M.A. in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at Teachers College can usually finish earlier.

The Ed.M. program typically attracts two kinds of students: a) those who have already received an M.A. in a related field of study and who wish to further their professional development  in order to augment their practice in the field; and b) those who have already received an M.A. in a  related field of study and who wish to ultimately pursue a doctorate. 

The Ed.M. curriculum has six types of requirements: (1) prerequisites and/or transfer courses, (2) specialization-specific courses, (3) elective courses, (4) research methods and statistics/measurement courses, (5) breadth courses, and (6) an Ed.M. exit project. All course decisions must be made in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. 

Students across all areas of specialization are required to complete a minimum of 9 credits of elective courses in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. Students must also complete an exit project outside of their coursework. 

Students with an M.A. in Applied Linguistics  or TESOL from Teachers College may use up to 36 credits of their M.A. course work toward their Ed.M. program, provided these courses are approved by their faculty advisor. Students with an M.A. from other accredited institutions or who completed their M.A. at TC but outside of the Applied Linguistics and TESOL Program may transfer up to 30 credits, subject to the approval of the faculty advisor.

Prerequisite and/or Transfer Courses for All areas of Specialization (15 points):

• A&HL 4000: Educational linguistics (3)

• A&HL 4085:  Pedagogical English grammar (3)

• A&HL 4087:  Introduction to second language acquisition (3)

• A&HL 4088:  Second language assessment (3)

• One course from the following:

• A&HL 4001:  Sociolinguistics and education (3)

• A&HL 4104:  Discourse analysis (3)

• A&HL 4105:  Conversation analysis (3)

• A&HL 4106:  Text and textuality (3)

Detailed requirements for specialization-specific courses, elective courses, research methods and statistics courses, and breadth courses are given below. 

Master of Education in Applied Linguistics or TESOL (60 pts; Second Language Acquisition Area of Specialization)

The second language acquisition area of specialization requires 60 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of 30 credits earned under the auspices of Teachers College. 

Prerequisite or Transfer Courses (15 points; see above). 

Specialization-Specific Courses (15 points):

• A&HL 5008: Learner language analysis (3)

• A&HL 5087: Second language acquisition in the classroom (3)

• A&HL 6087: Advanced second language acquisition (3)

• A&HL 6097: Task-based language teaching (3)

• Various topics courses (3)

Research Methods and Statistics (6 points):

• A&HL 5575: Research literacy in applied linguistics and TESOL (3)

• One course from the following:

• • A&HL 5199.001 Issues in Statistics for Applied Linguistics Research (3) 

  • C&T 5502: Introduction to qualitative research (3)

  • HUDM 4050: Introduction to measurement (3)

  • HUDM 4122: Probability and statistical inference (3)

Elective (9 points)

• A&HL 4101: Phonetics and phonology (3)

• A&HL 5085: Advanced syntax (3)

• A&HL 4001: Sociolinguistics and education (3)

• A&HL 4104: Discourse analysis (3)

• A&HL 4105: Conversation analysis (3)

• A&HL 4106: Text and textuality (3)

• A&HL 5020: Interactional sociolinguistics (3)

• A&HL 5105: Classroom discourse (3)

• A&HL 5106: Language socialization (3)

• A&HL 6031: Advanced conversation analysis (3)

• A&HL 4089: Teaching writing to ESL students (3)

• A&HL 5011: Technology-based language teaching and material design (3)

• A&HL 5199: Topics in language assessment (3)

• A&HL 5512: Historical perspectives on language testing research (3)

• A&HL 5519: Instructed second language acquisition and assessment (3)

• A&HL 6000: Second language test validation (3)

• A&HL 6040: Classroom-based language assessment (3)

• A&HL 6060: Generalizability theory for second language assessment research (3)

• A&HL 6089: Second language performance assessment (3)

(Courses can be taken at an affiliate campus in the Columbia community with advisor’s approval.)

Out-of-Program Breadth Courses (6 points):.

• BBS 5068: Brain and behavior I (2)

• BBS 5069: Brain and behavior II (2)

• HBSK 4074: Development of reading comprehension strategies and study skills (2-3)

• HBSK 5096: Psychology of memory (2-3)

• HUDK 4015: Psychology of thinking (2-3)

• HUDK 4029: Cognition and learning (2-3)

• HUDK 4080: Educational psychology (2-3)

• HUDK 5023: Cognitive development (2-3)

• HUDK 5024: Language development (2-3)

• HUDK 5025: Spatial thinking (2-3)

• HUDK 5029:Personality development and socialization across the lifespan (2-3)

• HUDK 5030: Visual explanations (2-3)

• HUDK 5090: Psychology of language and reading (2-3)

• MSTU 4133: Cognition and computers (2-3)

Exit Project: 

In addition to fulfilling the above course requirements, students must complete an Ed.M project on a research topic arising from course-related interests and with advisor’s approval.This project can be a 25-page review of literature on a scholarly topic or it can be an empirical paper, normally completed during the last semester of study. 

Master of Education in Applied Linguistics or TESOL (60 pts; 2nd Lang. Assessment Area of Specialization)

The second language assessment area of focus requires 60 graduate credits  beyond the bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of 30 credits completed under the auspices of Teachers College.

Prerequisite or Transfer Courses (15 points): 

Specialization-Specific Courses (15 points):

• A&HL 5512: Historical changes in  language testing research (3)

• A&HL 6040: Classroom-based language assessment (3)

• A&HL 6089: Second language performance assessment (3)

• Two courses from the following:

• • A&HL 5199: Topics in language assessment (3)

  • A&HL 6089 : Second language performance assessment (3)

  • A&HL 6000 : Second language test validation (3)

  • A&HL 6060: Generalizability theory for L2 testing research (3)

  • A&HL 6407: Internship in applied linguistics and TESOL: Assessment lab (3)

Research Methods and Statistics Courses: 

• A&HL 5575: Research literacy in applied linguistics and TESOL (3) and

• One course from the following:

  • A&HL 5199:  Issues in Statistics for Applied Linguistics Research

  • HUDM 4050: Introduction to measurement (3)

  • HUDM 4122: Probability and statistical inference (3)

  • HUDM 5122: Applied regression analysis (3)

The HUDM courses may also fulfill the Breadth requirement. 

Out-of-Program Breadth Courses (6 points):

• HUDM 4050: Introduction to measurement (3)

• HUDM 4122: Probability and statistical inference (3)

• HUDM 5122: Applied regression analysis (3)

• HUDK 5024: Language development (2-3)

• HUDK 4029: Cognition and learning (2-3)

• HUDK 4035: Technology and human development (2-3)

• HBSK 4074: Reading comprehension strategies and study skills (2-3)

• HUDK 4080:Educational psychology (2-3)

• HUDK 5023: Cognitive development (2-3)

• MSTU 4036: Hypermedia and education (2-3)

• MSTU 4133: Cognition and computers (2-3)

Exit Project (39 points; see above)

In addition to course requirements, students must complete an Ed.M project on a research topic arising from course-related interests and with advisor’s approval. This project can be a 25-page review of literature on a scholarly topic or it can be an empirically-based paper. It is normally completed during the last semester of study. 

Master of Education in Applied Linguistics or TESOL (60 pts; Language Use Area of Specialization)

The degree requires 60 graduate points beyond the bachelor’s degree, with a minimum of 30 points taken under the auspices of Teachers College. The Ed.M. may serve as continued professional development or as groundwork for future doctoral studies in Applied Linguistics or TESOL. For the focus on language use, students will complete the following requirements:

Prerequisite and/or Transfer Courses for All areas of Specialization (15 points): See above.

Area of Specialization-Specific Courses in Language Use (9 points):

• A&HL 4104: Discourse analysis (3)

• A&HL 4105: Conversation analysis (3)

• A&HL 4106: Text and textuality (3)

• A&HL 5020: Interactional sociolinguistics (3)

• A&HL 5105: Classroom discourse (3)

• A&HL 5106: Language Socialization (3)

• A&HL 6031: Advanced conversation analysis (3)

• Various topics courses in discourse (3)

Research Methods and Statistics for Language Use (6 points) (Must have advisor’s written approval):

• A&HL 5575: Research literacy in applied linguistics and TESOL (3) and

• One course from the following:

• A&HL 5199.001 Issues in Statistics for Applied Linguistics Research

  OR 

    (HUDM courses)

• HUDM 4050: Introduction to measurement (3)

• HUDM 4122: Probability and statistical inference (3)

• ITSF 5000: Methods of inquiry: Ethnography and participant observation (3)

• Additional courses chosen with advisor's approval

Recommended Elective Courses for the Language Use Area of Specialization (Must have advisor’s written approval)

• A&HL 4101: Phonetics and phonology (3)

• A&HL 5085: Advanced syntax (3)

• A&HL 5008: Interlanguage analysis (3)

• A&HL 5087: Second language acquisition in the classroom (3)

• A&HL 6087: Advanced second language acquisition (3)

• A&HL 6097: Task-based language teaching (3)

• A&HL 4089: Teaching writing to ESL students (3)

• A&HL 5011: Technology-based language teaching and material design (3)

• A&HL 5199: Topics in language assessment (3)

• A&HL 5512: Historical perspectives on language testing research (3)

• A&HL 5519: Instructed second language acquisition and assessment (3)

• A&HL 6000: Second language test validation (3)

• A&HL 6040: Classroom-based language assessment (3)

• A&HL 6060: Generalizability theory for second language assessment research (3)

• A&HL 6089: Second language performance assessment (3)

• Various topic courses (3)

Required Out-of-Program Breadth Courses (6 points total, chosen with advisor's approval). Below is just a sample: 

• ITSF 5003: Communication and Culture (2-3)

• ITSF 5016: Ethnography of education (2-3)

Exit Project 

In addition to course requirements, students must complete an Ed.M project on a research topic arising from course-related interests and subject to approval by their assigned advisor. This project can be a 25-page review of literature on a scholarly topic or it can be an empirically-based paper. It is normally completed during the last semester of study. 

Students can normally expect to complete an EdM. in Applied Linguistics or TESOL in four semesters (i.e., two years) depending on transfer credits.