Academic Programs Catalog

This program is designed to help meet the national and international need for teachers of English as a second language.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university, of the College of Arts and Letters, and of the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Applied Linguistics, each applicant must:

1. include in the application a 500-700 word statement providing the applicants academic background and reasons for pursuing the advanced degree for which application has been made.
2. have three persons who are qualified to comment on the applicants ability to pursue graduate study forward letters of recommendation to the department.
3. take one of the tests of English language proficiency described below if the applicants first language is not English.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. a baccalaureate degree in English or another language–oriented field.
2. a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.25 for the baccalaureate  degree program.

In addition, an international applicant whose first language is not English is required to have fulfilled the university's English language proficiency requirement. For international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English, submit English language test scores, with the test being an approved one from the Michigan State University Graduate School’s list of English language tests for international students.

Students are generally admitted for fall semester only. Spring semester admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Most students complete the program under Plan B (without thesis), although Plan A (with thesis) is also available.  A total of 37 credits is required for the degree under Plan A, and a total of 36 credits is required for the degree under Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student’s advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

The master's degree program in German studies is an integrated program that introduces students to a range of approaches including cultural studies, literary studies, global studies, film studies, language studies and teaching German as a foreign language. The master’s program is an ideal foundation for advanced graduate studies. The degree is also well suited for those teaching in the K-12 system as part of their continuing education. Outreach and co-curricular aspects of the program may also open opportunities for positions in academic or professional contexts.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in German studies, an applicant must:

1. Submit a 500-word personal statement that addresses the applicant's goals for pursuing a Master of Arts degree in German Studies at MSU. 
2. Submit a portfolio of representative work in German.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. Completed at least 27 credits in approved second-, third-, and fourth-year courses in German language, literature, and culture at the college level.
2. Achieved a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in the last two years of the undergraduate program.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in German Studies

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  A total of 31 credits is required for the degree under Plan A, and a total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

Additional Requirements for Plan A

1. Complete 4 credits of GRM 899  Master's Thesis Research.
2. Pass a final oral examination that covers the student's program of study, thesis, and reading list.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

Complete one of the following:

1. Complete 3 additional credits in courses at the graduate level, and pass final written and oral examinations that cover the student’s program of study and reading list.
2. Complete 3 credits of German 898 Master’s Research Project, and pass a final oral examination that covers the student’s program of study, master’s research project, and reading list.

The Doctor of Philosophy in German Studies seeks to provide students with a critical understanding of the field of German studies in the digital age. The curriculum comprises the study of literature, culture, language and pedagogy within the context of the production and dissemination of knowledge via media and technology. The program emphasizes an integration of curricular and co-curricular activities in the comprehensive training of students in research, teaching, service, and outreach.  It is expected that at least two years of study will be devoted to course work. The program is designed to be completed in four years.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in German Studies an applicant must:

1. Have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field.
2. Submit a 500-word personal statement that addresses the applicant's goals for pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in German Studies at MSU and the applicant's research interests.
3. Submit a 500-word statement of purpose and research interest.
4. Submit a writing sample, either a significant paper or a master's project, written in German and illustrative of the applicant's scholarly abilities.
5. Provide contact information for an interview.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, the applicant must demonstrate German language proficiency sufficient to pursue graduate work in German, as determined by program faculty. If an applicant appears to have inadequate language proficiency, admission to the program may be granted provisionally.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in German Studies

The student must:

1. Complete at least 24 credits but no more than 39 credits in courses approved by the guidance committee, including at least 18 credits in German studies and at least 6 credits outside of German studies according to the student’s research interests.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in German and English and document proficiency in a third language at a level appropriate to the student’s program of study, as determined by the guidance committee. 
3. Pass written and oral doctoral comprehensive examinations.  The examinations will be administered by the student's guidance committee.
   1. Written comprehensive examination:
      The written comprehensive examination will consist of the following parts:
      1. portfolio consisting of a current curriculum vitae, an annotated list of relevant course work, one original research paper suitable for publication, and a reflective statement on one’s research activities, teaching philosophy, and participation in co-curricular pre-professional activities.
      2. four-hour examination on an area or areas coordinated by the guidance committee that is based on courses taken and a reading list approved by the student’s guidance committee.
         To assure breadth, the portfolio paper should be in a different area from the focus area examined in the written examination.
   2. Oral examination: The oral examination will consist of the following parts:
      1. A public presentation, based on the paper referenced in item (1) of the written examination, followed by a question and answer session. 
      2. A two-hour examination based on item (2) of the written examination.
4. Submit a dissertation prospectus to the guidance committee no later than the end of the semester following the one in which the student passes the comprehensive examinations. Approval of the prospectus is required before the student may enroll for additional German 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research credits in subsequent semesters.
5. Successfully defend the dissertation.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree program in linguistics, an applicant must:

1. Have the results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test forwarded to the department.
2. Include in the letter required by the college a 500–700 word statement of purpose and summary of academic background.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A grade–point average of at least 3.20 in courses completed in the last two years of the baccalaureate degree program.
2. Completed an introductory survey course in linguistics.

Provisional Admission

Persons who have not met the requirements for admission on regular status as specified above may be admitted to the program on provisional status and be required to complete collateral courses.  A student who has not completed an introductory survey course in linguistics must enroll in Linguistics 401 during the first semester of enrollment in the program.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Linguistics

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A or Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

Additional Requirements for Plan A

1. Complete 4 credits of LIN 899  Master's Thesis Research. No more than 4 credits of Linguistics 899 may be counted toward the degree.
2. Complete 5 additional credits in courses approved by the student's academic advisor.
3. Pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

1. Complete 9 additional credits in Linguistics courses approved by the student's academic advisor.
2. Pass a written final certifying examination in an area of linguistics. Ph.D. students who have successfully defended their first comprehensive examination paper can use it in lieu of the M.A. Plan B examination and file for M.A. in passing.

Academic Standards

The student must maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.20.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in linguistics, an applicant must:

1. Have the results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test forwarded to the department.
2. Submit to the department a master's thesis or other sample of written work as evidence of the applicant's ability to conduct doctoral–level research.
3. Include in the letter required by the college a 700–1000 word statement of purpose and summary of academic background.

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor’s or master's degree in linguistics or related field.
2. A grade–point average of at least 3.50 in courses completed in all previous undergraduate or graduate work.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Linguistics

The student must:

Academic Standards

The student must:

1. Maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.50.
2. Not accumulate more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in LIN courses.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Second Language Studies seeks to provide students with a deep understanding of how second, multiple, and additional languages are learned and ways of thinking about the application of this knowledge in a pedagogical context. The program is designed to prepare students for university-level faculty and administrative positions, as well as private and public sector positions, in the fields of language learning and/or teaching. Students will be prepared to conduct research and contribute to the future development of these fields.

Because teaching and research are integral to this program, every effort will be made to provide students with research and teaching experience in the form of graduate assistantships. Teaching experience may include classroom teaching or related activities, such as program and curriculum development.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Preference for admission will be given to those with a Master of Arts degree in a related field. All admission decisions will be made by the Advisory Committee in consultation with other relevant faculty.

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Second Language Studies, an applicant must submit the following along with an application.

1. An Academic Statement of Purpose (ASOP).
2. A writing sample, preferably a research paper or other product that reflects the degree of the applicant’s familiarity with applied linguistics.
3. Three academic references from faculty who are able to address the applicant’s academic background and/or professional experiences.
4. For international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English, English language test scores, with the test being an approved one from the Michigan State University Graduate School’s list of English language tests for international students.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Second Language Studies

Complete 24 to 44 credits of course work. The student’s program of study must be developed in cooperation with and approved by the student’s guidance committee and must include the requirements specified below.

Guidance Committee

The Program Director will serve as the initial advisor. By the midpoint of the second semester, the student will select a guidance committee with a chair. This committee will be comprised of four members, including two core second language studies faculty members.

Academic Standards

In order for the student to be considered in good standing, the student must:

1. Maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 in all courses.
2. Receive a grade of at least 3.0 in courses to be considered as  satisfying any requirement.
3. Not obtain more than 3 credits with a grade below 3.0.
4. Submit the first qualifying research paper by the final submission date within the fourth semester in the program.

Any required examination, pre-dissertation or dissertation defenses, can be repeated only once and must be completed the semester following initial failure. No more than one required examination, pre-dissertation or dissertation defenses, can be failed.

The Graduate Certificate in Second Language Studies, administered by the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures, is designed to provide working professionals in applied linguistics or a related field or current graduate students at Michigan State University with materials and methodologies for researching their own practices, their program’s practices, or external language-teaching programs’ practices in second, additional, or multilingual language-teaching methods. The foci of the program is on applied linguistics and second language acquisition, exploration of the cognitive and social mechanisms underpinning second, additional, and multilingual language development, and how identities and ideologies, and educational language policies, practices, and assessment, affect teaching and learning. The program aids in the understanding of second language acquisition theory and places emphasis on including marginalized and underrepresented language learners and teachers in research on second, additional, and multilingual language learning and teaching.

Admission

Applicants must complete the Intent to Enroll form on the Second Language Studies Program’s Web site at https://sls.msu.edu/admissions/.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Second Language Studies

Students must complete 9 credits from the courses below with a minimum grade of 3.0 minimum in each course for it to count toward the certificate.