Second Language Teaching - MS

College of Arts & Sciences

About This Degree

The Master of Science in Second Language Teaching degree prepares students for a second-language-teaching career in higher education and supports professional development for educators seeking to deepen their expertise or advance in their careers.

Graduates from the program have continued on to doctoral programs, university teaching, Utah’s Bridge program, K-12 language instruction, and dual language immersion classrooms.

What You Will Learn

In this program, you'll gain the skills to become an effective second-language teacher—regardless of the language you choose to teach. Our curriculum bridges theory and practice, offering hands-on experience in designing instructional materials and applying diverse language-teaching methodologies.

The full-time program can be completed in just 16 months, with flexible, online asynchronous courses that fit the schedules of working educators. A part-time option is also available. Throughout the program, you'll work one-on-one with a faculty mentor to develop original research or build a personalized teaching portfolio that showcases your expertise.

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ADVISING

At a Glance

College: College of Arts & Sciences

Department: World Languages and Cultures Department

USU Locations:

Program Requirements

Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Because the 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 graduates who have sought admission to PhD programs have been successful.

Other job opportunities available to 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

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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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I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

STATEWIDE CAMPUSES*

USU ONLINE**

*This degree is available at various USU locations.

**This degree is 100% available online. USU is a SARA-approved institution offering fully online programs nationwide; please visit USU's state authorizations for details.

Admission

Admission Requirements

Applicants from various undergraduate backgrounds may be considered. Proficiency in a foreign language is 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
  • 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.

Program Requirements

All students in the program are required to defend a master’s teaching portfolio or a thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. 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. Alternatively, students may choose to conduct independent research and complete a thesis.

Plan Options

MSLT students must complete one of the following plan options:

  • The Plan A option, which requires the production of original, independent research that contributes to the field.
  • 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.

Financial Aid

Our cost per credit is $518 (average cost per credit for a master’s program is $659). Newly admitted students will receive a $500 tuition scholarship per semester in their first year.

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How to Apply

View our step-by-step guide on how to become an Aggie.

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Contact the School of Graduate Studies to ask questions or receive more information.

Cost and Funding

Calculate the cost of graduate school and learn about funding opportunities.