Applied Linguistics MA

The Applied Linguistics track offers a 36-point Master of Arts degree for students wishing to pursue research and other non-teaching pathways in applied linguistics. Through comprehensive and innovative coursework, hands-on experiences in our on-campus language school, and research projects, students will explore the theoretical and practical applications of applied linguistics. Students earning the Master of Arts degree have five types of requirements: (1) general courses, (2) track-specific courses, (3) elective courses within AL and TESOL, and (4) out-of-program breadth courses, and (5) an exit project. 

All course decisions must be made in consultation with the student's assigned faculty advisor. Students should choose elective and breadth courses that align with their career. Below are the track descriptions for the MA in Applied Linguistics. 

General Courses (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 language use course from the list below (for AL and TESOL General only):

• 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)

Track-Specific Courses for the MA in AL (9 points): 

• A&HL 4077: TESOL classroom practices (3)

• A&HL 5301: Practicum I: Integrated skills (3)

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

Elective Courses (6 points): 

• Elective courses in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (6 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 4090: Introduction to Corpus Linguistics (3)

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

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

• A&HL 5008: Interlanguage analysis (3)

• A&HL 5087: SLA in the classroom (3)

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

• A&HL 5090: Computational Linguistics for Applied Linguists (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.

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

• Breadth courses are classes offered outside of the AL/TESOL Program. Note that all breadth courses must be approved by your advisor. 

• Exit Project:

• In addition to course requirements, students must complete a master’s degree project written on a research topic arising from course-related interests and subject to approval by an advisor (The advisor can be different from or the same as your assigned academic advisor). This project can be a review of literature on a scholarly topic or a practice motivated review of literature. It is normally completed at the beginning of the last semester of study. For more information, click here. 

Students can normally expect to complete the M.A. in Applied Linguistics or TESOL in four semesters (i.e., two years).