Second Language Teaching

About This Degree

Utah State University is currently the only place where students can earn the professional master of second language teaching degree.

Originated at USU, the MSLT degree prepares students for a second-language-teaching career anywhere from the pre-school to the college level. A number of graduates from USU’s MSLT program have been hired as language instructors at the prestigious Monterey Institute of International Studies, in addition to many various education institutions.

What You Will Learn

Students in the program learn to be effective second-language teachers, no matter what languages they choose to teach. Many students are fluent in more than one language or are not native English speakers. This rich diversity contributes to the uniqueness of the program.

The full-time program can be completed in just 16 months, and classes are offered in a convenient late afternoon and evening schedule that coordinates with the schedules of working educators. The program is also offered in a part-time format.

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At a Glance

College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department: World Languages and Cultures Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Because the MSLT degree exposes students to multiple disciplinary perspectives and integrates three fields of second language teaching (Foreign Language Education, Bilingual Education, and ESL/EFL Education), it will enhance opportunities for employment by providing more versatility. For example, a graduate could serve a school full time as an ESL specialist and as a foreign language teacher. Additionally, all MSLT graduates who have sought admission to PhD programs have been successful.

Other job opportunities available to MSLT graduates include:

ESL/EFL and/or foreign language teaching positions in public and private schools throughout the USA and abroad
Faculty positions at the college level
Teaching ESL to adult immigrants
Working in family literacy programs at the community level

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Sarah Gordon

Associate Professor of French
Email: sarah.gordon@usu.edu
Office: MAIN 341 B
Phone: 435-797-8213

Joshua Thoms

Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics & Spanish
Email: joshua.thoms@usu.edu
Office: MAIN 002
Phone: (435) 797-9065

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

Applicants from various undergraduate backgrounds may be considered. Proficiency in a foregin language in not required if the student is planning to teach their native language, not excluding English. However, the department does look for applicants who have spent at least two years studying a second language.

Application Requirements:

Complete the online application
Pay the $55 application fee
Score at or above the 40th percentile on the GRE or MAT
Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

There is no official deadline for the program; students may submit applications throughout the year and may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semester. However, students must have their applications submitted by February 1 to be considered for financial aid.

Program Requirements

All students in the MSLT program are required to defend a master’s teaching portfolio. The portfolio provides a way to tie together major themes, issues, and perspectives the student has encountered and reflected upon over the course of the program. It is a capstone project, and the writing is a process of making connections and making explicit the knowledge the student has gained during the program.

Plan Options

MSLT students must complete the following plan option:

The Plan B option, which requires the production of a paper or creative work of art and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis. Students in the MSLT program will complete coursework and their master’s teaching portfolio as their Plan B project.

Financial Aid

Teaching assistantships in ESL, French, German, Spanish, and occasionally other languages are available each year. Assistantships come with annual stipends and a tuition award covering out-of-state tuition and fees. Full scholarships, including a stipend and a complete tuition waiver, are available on a competitive basis.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.