Concurrent B.A. in Linguistics and M.A. in TESL/Applied Linguistics

Program Description

A concurrent B.A. in Linguistics and M.A. in TESL/Applied Linguistics offers well-qualified students the opportunity for accelerated study, achieving both degrees within a 5-year time frame. A student enrolled in this program pursues a graduate M.A. degree while simultaneously completing the requirements for the B.A. in Linguistics. Completing the concurrent degree program would enable students to enter the workforce one year earlier than through the traditional M.A. degree pathway. Up to six credits can be double-counted toward the requirements for both degrees. Students applying for the concurrent degree program should be motivated, focused, and able to handle a 16+ credit hour/semester schedule.

Eligibility (all qualifications must be met to apply)

• A minimum 45 credits in undergraduate program completed
• Two years of ISU foreign language study or bilingualism demonstrated by an approved language test (completed or in progress)
• At least 12 credits of Linguistics courses completed with a major GPA of 3.2 or higher
• A minimum cumulative ISU GPA of 3.0

Timeline

Students should know by the middle of their sophomore year if they are interested in pursuing the concurrent program. We recommend that students plan ahead and notify the Director of Linguistics, John Levis, as soon as they know of their intent to apply for the concurrent degree; if possible, the linguistics director should be notified of intent to pursue the concurrent degrees by the end of the 4th semester.

Students interested in concurrent enrollment should talk with the linguistics director about plans to apply for the concurrent program by no later than the end of the 6^th semester) by submitting the concurrent enrollment application materials (listed below).

If accepted into the concurrent enrollment program, students should begin taking graduate courses (by the onset of the fourth year of study). Students accepted into the concurrent enrollment program will continue to work with the undergraduate linguistics director until the BA degree requirements are met. By the onset of the fifth year of study, students should have identified an area for their thesis/creative component and establish a program of study committee (including a major professor).

Students become full-time graduate students upon acceptance into the concurrent degree program and are assessed graduate tuition and fees. Students are eligible for research assistantships upon entry into the concurrent degree program, although it should be noted that these opportunities are rare. Students are eligible to apply for a teaching assistantship early in the student’s 8^th semester once it is determined that all requirements for the BA degree will be met by the end of the spring semester. The TA application deadline for current students in English Department graduate programs is January 15^th. TA selection will follow the standard procedures for the department.

Admission Criteria

The admission criteria are generally the same as those required for all graduate students in the department. Application materials are reviewed by the linguistics director and/or graduate faculty in linguistics, the department’s Director of Graduate Education (DOGE), and the department chair. Their recommendations are forwarded to the ISU Graduate College.

Application deadline

As early as possible (no later than the end of the 6^th semester), talk with the linguistics director about your interests and plans.

How to Apply

The following components make up a student’s application and must be submitted by the end of their 6^th semester:

1. Complete the form called Concurrent Enrollment for Undergraduate Student Wishing to Pursue a Graduate Certificate or Degree found on the Graduate College Student Forms website.
2. The following documents should be prepared as one combined PDF document in the following order:
   • Write a statement of purpose, usually 1-2 pages, explaining why you want to pursue the M.A. TESL/Applied Linguistics degree
   • Provide at the end of the statement of purpose or as a separate page the names of three ISU Linguistics professors who agreed to serve as your referees (it is your responsibility to download and provide them with the Letter of Reference Form and ask them to send the completed form directly to the English Department Graduate Program Administrative Assistant.
   • A resume
   • Create a curriculum plan with the linguistics director, who works closely with members of the graduate faculty
   • A 10-page minimum doubled-spaced and word-processed writing sample (which can be a paper that demonstrates critical analysis and research skills, written for an undergraduate course at ISU).

Submit both of the above documents to the English Department Graduate Program Administrative Assistant.

Once an admissions decision is made by the program, the Concurrent Enrollment for Undergraduate Student Wishing to Pursue a Graduate Certificate or Degree form will be sent to the Graduate College for consideration and official ISU approval. If approved, the Admissions Office enters the student’s application for graduate study. The application fee of $60 will be charged to the domestic applicant’s u-bill; the application fee of $100 will be charged to the international applicant’s u-bill.

Upon admission, applicants will receive departmental admission letters and official ISU admissions letters the same as other graduate program applicants.

Curriculum plan BA in Linguistics

• 120 credits
• 45 credits at 300+
• 36 credits in major (6 graduate credits can double count with graduate degree requirements)
• 9 credits English communication
• 12-16 credits of foreign language
• 29 credits in general education: 9 in A&H, 9 in SS, 8 in NS, 3 in math

Possible electives:

• 305, 275, 286, 319, 320 (not computers and language), 422, 309, Spanish LING, ASL LING, 318, 322, 324, 325, 425

MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics

Concurrent degree MA requirements
Pre-requisites Engl 220 (taken for BA) Engl 219 (taken for BA) Engl 510 (counts as elective in BA)
Core / Applied Aspects (15 credits) Engl 512 Engl 514 Engl 519 Engl 524 Engl 525
Practicum (3 credits) Engl 500 or 588; or SpCm 513
Electives (open option specialization) (9 credits) Engl 510 can count as an elective
Thesis/Creative Component (3 credits) Engl 699 or 599

*6 credits (including 510) can count as an elective in the BA degree

5-Year Plan for Concurrent BA in Linguistics and MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics

The table below is just one example of how the courses can be laid out in this five-year concurrent degree program.

	Fall	Spring
First Year (Freshman)	ENGL 150 (3) LIB 160 (1) LING 119 (3) Psych 131 (1) World Language (3-4) Gen Ed (Natural Sci) (4) Total 15-16	ENGL 250 (3) Gen Ed (Statistics) (4) LING 219 (3) World Language (3-4) LING 101 (1) Gen Ed (A&H) (3) Total 17-18
Second Year (Sophomore)	LING 220 (3) LING 207 (3) World Language (3-4) Gen Ed (Social Sci) (3) Gen Ed (A&H) (3) Other for Undergrad (3) Total 18-19	LING Elec (319 or 422) (3) LING 413 (3) World Language (3-4) Gen Ed (Natural Sci) (4) Gen Ed (Social Sci) (3)   Total 16-17
STUDY ABROAD	A summer study abroad can add up to 9 credits. It is best if they can be transferred back as 300+ credits. This will ease the stress in one or more semesters if a student plans carefully.	A semester study abroad will add 12+ credits. Again, keeping those credits at the 300+ level is most helpful. To stay within the 5-year time frame, a student would need to take at least 15-18 credits.

 

	Fall	Spring
Third Year (Junior)	LING 420 (3) LING 300+ Elec (3) LING 437 (3) Gen Ed (A&H) (3) Other 300+ (3) Total 15	LING 371 (3) LING 300+ Elec (3) LING 320 (Comp Ling) (3) Gen Ed (Social Sci) (3) Other 300+ (3) Other for Undergrad (3) Total 18
Fourth Year (Senior)	Other 300+ (3) Other 300+ (3) LING 510 (3) LING 524 or 525 (3) LING 512, 514 or 500+ (3) Total 15	ENGL 314 (3) Other for Undergrad (3) Other for Undergrad (3) LING 519 (3) LING 512, 514 or 500+ (3) Total 15
Fifth Year (MA)	LING 524 or 525 (3) LING 588 (3) LING 512, 514, or 500+ (3) Total 9	LING 512, 514, or 500+ (3) ENGL 599/699 (3)   Total 6

**500+ refers to a graduate elective