Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
The Master of Arts in Language Teaching prepares students for diverse careers in second and foreign language education, including teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). The program emphasizes meaning-oriented language instruction with a focus on intercultural communicative competence, technology in language learning, teaching second language writing, and teaching heritage speakers. Students gain a broad and multifaceted understanding of second language learning processes in their cognitive and social contexts and learn how theories and research in second language acquisition (SLA) inform current approaches to language teaching and the design of pedagogical materials and innovative curricula.
The program prepares students for careers in language education in varied instructional and cultural settings in the United States or abroad or for further graduate study or research in related fields.
Completion of all requirements established by the program's Advisory Board, the student's graduate advisory committee, and Graduate Studies, to include:
Taking a beginning-level course in a foreign language is strongly recommended for all students in EDSL 610 .
EDSL 689 is required for the Graduate TESOL Certificate.
Must be taken for three units.
Students entering the program without teaching experience must demonstrate experience prior to graduation through one or more of several options: internship courses offered by the Languages and Cultures Department (e.g., SPAN 689 ); as an instructor in University departments (e.g., English or Languages and Cultures) or at the community college level (e.g., Butte College, Shasta College, Yuba College); teaching experience overseas; or by other appropriate means.
The language studies component of the program consists of nine units of electives within one of two areas of emphasis: English as a Second/Foreign Language or Foreign Language. In consultation with a graduate advisor, students will choose an area of emphasis consistent with the target language they teach.
ENGL 375 , a foundation course, is strongly recommended for all students in this emphasis.
For the Foreign Language emphasis, students select nine units of 400/500/600-level coursework in linguistics, language, literature and/or culture taught in the target language. Selections should consist primarily of courses taught in the target language (e.g., French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish). Candidates are expected to hold an appropriate degree or credential, or to possess comparable proficiency in the target language as assessed by the Languages and Cultures Department. In consultation with the graduate advisor, candidates may also select one course from the English Department offerings in linguistics, as appropriate.
The culminating activity consists of a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination. Students enroll in Master's Project or Master's Thesis units from the home department of their graduate advisory committee chair (e.g., ENGL 699P or ENGL 699T , SPAN 699P or SPAN 699T ). Any 699 course normally must be taken for three units. Students who choose the comprehensive examination enroll in EDSL 696 for three units.
Prior to admission to the option, students will need to have completed:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| POLS 155 | American Government: National, State, and Local | 3 |
| CMST 131 | Speech Communication Fundamentals | 3 |
| or CMST 132 | Small Group Communication | |
| To be completed before Semester lll | ||
| EDTE 255 | Introduction to Democratic Perspectives in K-12 Teaching | 3 |
| EDTE 302 | Access and Equity in Education | 3 |
| EDTE 451 | Health Education for Secondary School Teachers | 3 |
| EDTE 580 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Semester I | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSL 610 | Second/Foreign Language Teaching Methodology for Beginning Learners | 3 |
| EDSL 630 | Teaching Second Language Writing | 3 |
| EDSL 633 | Foreign/Second Language Teaching: The Cultural Dimension | 3 |
| EDTE 534 | Teaching Special Populations | 2 |
| Units | 11 | |
| Semester II | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSL 605 | Technology in Second/Foreign Language Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDSL 635 | Current Research and Developments in Foreign/Second Language Education | 3 |
| ENGL 470 | ||
The culminating activity consists of a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination. Students enroll in Master's Project or Master's Thesis units from the home department of their graduate advisory committee chair (e.g., ENGL 699P or ENGL 699T , SPAN 699P or SPAN 699T ). Any 699 course normally must be taken for three units. Students who choose the comprehensive examination enroll in EDSL 696 for three units.
All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 697, Comprehensive Examination - 696, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 697, 696, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all coursework taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all coursework taken at California State University, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.
Continuous enrollment is required. At the discretion of the academic program, a maximum of 30 percent of the units counted toward the degree requirements may be special session credit earned in non-matriculated status combined with all transfer coursework. This applies to special session credit earned through Open University, or in courses offered for academic credit through Professional & Continuing Education. Correspondence courses and UC Extension coursework are not acceptable for transfer.
All requirements for the degree are to be completed within seven years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Master's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements.
All students must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation. Students in the program will demonstrate their writing proficiency by submitting an acceptable Justification Statement with the application to the program. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for further information.
In addition to any requirements listed above:
We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that since time immemorial have sustained the Mechoopda people and continue to do so today.
