M.A. – Applied Linguistics
Resource
Objectives
Although language teaching is a prominent area within the field of applied linguistics, there are many other areas of importance which also address language-related human problems both in the United States and elsewhere. These include bilingual and multilingual education, language planning, lexicography, literacy, second language acquisition, translation, and the development or modification of writing systems.
The M.A. in Applied Linguistics at Biola goes beyond the certificate courses by providing Christian professionals with advanced training in various areas of language analysis and by developing a multidisciplinary approach within which to seek appropriate solutions to real-world problems. Students may pursue either a generalist track or a specialized one by concentrating their electives in language surveys, linguistics, literacy, TESOL or translation. Students satisfactorily completing the TESOL concentration will also receive the Biola University graduate Certificate in TESOL.
Program Requirements
The M.A. Applied Linguistics program consists of 33 credits of graduate work beyond the foundational credits. Students entering the M.A. Applied Linguistics program without the stated foundational work will be required to take three credits each of Introduction to Linguistics, Phonetics, Syntax or Phonology, and Bible, or their equivalents, in addition to the regular program. A comprehensive exam is required. Students, in consultation with their advisor, may apply to write a thesis instead of taking comprehensive exams. For specific details, refer to the ALT Handbook.
The TESOL concentration in the M.A. in Applied Linguistics program requires practice teaching.
The M.A. program requirements may be reduced for students with a background in TESOL, linguistics, or English, but the minimum number of graduate units required is either 32 or 33, depending on the program, of which 24 must be taken through Biola. A minimum of 12 graduate credits must be taken on campus with no more than 9 graduate credits transferred from other institutions.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the qualifications specified in the Admission to the Cook School of Intercultural Studies section, including a profession of Christian faith. In addition to these, foreign applicants who are non-native English speakers must demonstrate both spoken and written proficiency in English through an oral interview and by submitting their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results. The TOEFL must have been taken within the past five years. A TOEFL score of 600 PBT / 250 CBT / 100 iBT is normally required. The essay score should be at least 5.5. Alternatively an IELTS score of 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element) is required. Non-native speakers are also expected to demonstrate oral English proficiency by means of an interview with a faculty member.
Because teachers and applied linguists are expected to have a high degree of competence in written English, all new graduate students, both native and non-native English speakers, are required to take the department’s Writing Proficiency Exam during orientation at the beginning of the fall semester. If the results of the exam indicate that additional work in written grammar and composition is needed to enable a student to perform at the level expected for this field, he or she will be expected to do independent supplementary work on writing or to take and pass one or more writing courses available on campus, including special studies courses, SS 500 or SS 501, described below.
All graduate programs in the department require as a prerequisite a minimum of three semester credits of acceptable Bible or theology coursework at the upper division or graduate level in addition to the specified foundational credits. Foundational credits may be taken concurrently with regular program courses but should normally be completed by the end of the first year.
Students normally begin their program in the fall semester.
Graduation Requirements
Students in the M.A. Applied Linguistics program must successfully complete all required coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to qualify for graduation. No ALT course with a grade less than a B (3.0) will be counted for the Certificate or M.A.
The M.A. degrees are usually completed within two years by full-time students, but part-time students may have up to seven years, taking 1-2 courses per semester.
Curriculum
Foundational Credits
(May be taken concurrently with program courses.)
| Bible / Theology | 3 | |
| Introduction to Linguistics | 3 | |
| Phonetics | 3 | |
| Syntax or Phonology | 3 | |
| Total | 12 |
Regular Program
| ISAL 511 | Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 668 | Seminar in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 679 | Planning, Evaluation & Research in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 652 | Field Methods in Second Language & Culture Learning | |
| OR ISAL 654 | Field Methods in Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL or ISTE Electives | 18 | |
| Bible or World Perspective Elective | 3 | |
| ISAL 697 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total | 33 |
Applied Linguistics Concentrations
Concentrations of 18 or 19 credits each are possible in the areas of language surveys, linguistics, literacy, TESOL, and translation. Note that the electives can be any ISAL courses beyond the foundational courses and core courses listed above.
Concentration in Language Surveys
| ISAL 641 | Language Surveys | 3 |
| ISAL 646 | Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 654 | Field Methods in Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 683 | Topics in Linguistics | 1–3 |
| ISAL 684 | Topics in Linguistics | 1–3 |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Total | 18 |
Concentration in Literacy
| ISAL 523 | Introduction to Phonology | |
| OR ISAL 622 | Phonological Theory | 3 |
| ISAL 543 | Literacy in Social Contexts | 3 |
| ISAL 544 | Literacy Methods & Materials | 3 |
| ISAL 546 | Reading & Literacy Theory | 3 |
| ISAL 652 | Field Methods in Second Language& Culture Learning | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 18 |
Concentration in Scripture in Use (18 Credits)
| ISAL 523 | Introduction to Phonology | 3 |
| ISAL 537 | Introduction to Literacy | 3 |
| ISAL 652 | Field Methods in Second LAnguage & Culture Learning | 3 |
| ISCL 614 | Topics in Oral Ministries: Scripture in Use | 3 |
| ISCL 614 | Topics in Oral Ministries: Oral Literature | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 18 |
Concentration in TESOL
| ISTE 509 | Structure of English | 3 |
| ISTE 525 | Introduction to TESOL — Adult | 3 |
| ISTE 527 | Materials Evaluation & Preparation | 3 |
| ISTE 541 | Intercultural Communication for Teachers | 3 |
| ISTE 560 | Communicating Values Through TESOL | 1 |
| ISTE 614 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ISTE 692 | Practicum in TESOL II | 3 |
| Total | 19 |
Concentration in Translation
| ISAL 529 | Introduction to Semantics & Pragmatics | 3 |
| ISAL 535 | Introduction to Bible Translation | 3 |
| ISAL 624 | Syntactic Theory | 3 |
| ISAL 626 | Approaches to Translation | 3 |
| ISAL 648 | Discourse & Text Analysis | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 18 |
Special SIL Scholarship
The SIL-at-Biola program offers a special scholarship that reduces tuition by 70% to students who seriously consider working with SIL/Wycliffe Bible Translators after graduation. Students can contact Dr. Steve Barer, Direct of SIL-at-Biola, for details after they are accepted into the MA LBL or MA AL program.