Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________

Bulletin: 2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin Program: Master of Arts in Second Language Acquisition, Policy and Culture (MA) Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Master of Arts in Second Language Acquisition, Policy and Culture (MA)

Graduate Study at USI >> College of Liberal Arts

812-465-1292

30 Credit hours

Program Objectives

The Master of Arts degree in Second Language Acquisition, Policy and Culture offers methodological knowledge and skills to teach foreign languages to English speakers and non-English speakers.
It provides professional knowledge that helps to shape public policy on multilingualism and multiculturalism.
It offers an embedded Cultural Awareness Training Certificate.
- Cultural awareness training provides the necessary skills to build an effective work force in an increasingly global and diverse business setting. It draws on the fact that a global and multi-faceted workforce offers new perspectives, creative problem solving skills, and innovation in the workplace and the community at large. It gives rising leaders new perspectives on how they view the world in order to create an inclusive and productive work environment. The program accommodates alternative modes of delivery based on company needs, time frames, and the number of participants. Certification programs may be offered on location, on campus, via Skype. Meeting times can be arranged to include weekends and/or evening sessions.
It offers an embedded Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate.
- TESOL certification offers educational skills in teaching English to speakers of other languages at home and abroad. The duration of the certification program is one month, to be offered in the summer. Participants will receive methodological and theoretical training on second language acquisition and teaching methodologies as well as hand on experiences in the classroom.

Graduate Studies Admission Criteria and Application Process

Refer to the Admission section of the bulletin for information about Graduate Studies admission criteria and the online application process.

Program Admission Requirements

Unconditional admission into the Master of Arts degree in Second Language Acquisition, Policy and Culture will be contingent on the following factors:

The program requires applicants hold a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution. Although applicants do not need to hold an undergraduate degree in an area of languages, preference will be given to applicants with an educational background in languages or related academic or professional disciplines.
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A well-written letter of intent. The letter of intent will serve as the student’s application letter and writing sample. In this writing sample, the admissions committee will evaluate the student’s potential and ability for graduate-level writing.
Contact information for three professional or academic references.

Applicants not meeting the criteria for unconditional admittance may be conditionally admitted if space is available. These applicants will receive preference on the basis of GPA and the quality of the letter of intent.

Conditionally admitted individuals can achieve unconditional status following 12 hours of coursework if they hold a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. All students admitted to the program failing to attain a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher after 12 credit hours will be academically dismissed from the program.

Curriculum

Students will be required to complete thirty (30) credit hours in order to earn the Master of Arts degree.

Required Courses (6-9 Hours)

Course Name

Credits:

Term Taken

Grade

Gen Ed

WLC 611 - Second Language Acquisition
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

WLC 698 - Comprehensive Oral and Written Exams or
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring

Credits: 3

WLC 699 - Comprehensive Oral Exam and Thesis (may be taken twice)
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

Elective Courses (21-24 Hours)

WLC 699 may be taken twice. If completing 6 hours in WLC 699, only 21 hours of electives are required.

Course Name

Credits:

Term Taken

Grade

Gen Ed

COMM 615 - Communication and Popular Culture
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered

Credits: 3

COMM 616 - Seminar in Personal and Cultural Identity
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered

Credits: 3

COMM 620 - Special Topics in Organizational Communication
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered

Credits: 3

ENG 672 - World Literature
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

EDUC 590 - Special Topics in Education repeatable with topics change and approval of program director
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 1-3

PA 644 - Policies and Processes in the Public Sector
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

WLC 522 - Cultural Awareness Training
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

WLC 523 - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 6

WLC 612 - Language Learning Technology
Term(s) Offered: Spring

Credits: 3

WLC 613 - Language Assessment
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

WLC 660 - Practicum, Internship, Instructional Support in Second Language Acquisition, Policy, and Culture
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 1-6

WLC 690 - Special Topics
Term(s) Offered:

Credits: 3

Notes: