Master of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT)

 


The Master of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT) is a multidisciplinary 36 credit-hour graduate program offered by the Department of Foreign Languages in conjunction with faculty members from the Department of English and the College of Education. It draws from current faculty who teach French, German, Spanish, English, linguistics, literature, culture, TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), foreign languages methods, education, and instructional technology. Completion of this degree will greatly enhance the knowledge and preparation of those interested in teaching foreign languages and/or English as a second or other language.

The MALT involves a sequence of graduate courses in language, language acquisition, and pedagogy designed to reinforce and build upon the language skills and knowledge of target language culture(s) of educators.

Student select one of four possible concentrations: TESOL, French, German, or Spanish.

Admission Requirements

Basic admission requirements for students in all four concentrations include:

  • an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 two letters of recommendation.
  • There is no special form or format required for these letters.
    • applicant must have taken Introduction to Linguistics (ENGL 4610 or equivalent).
  • Those who do not meet this requirement will be admitted provisionally.

Additional admission requirements for students in any of the Foreign Languages Concentrations (French, German, or Spanish):

  • an oral target language sample via a standard-sized audiocassette tape. The target oral sample should be a simple description 3-5 minutes in length, i.e., a description of one's family, job, an important event, etc.
  • a written target language sample of five to seven pages in length. Students may submit a paper prepared for undergraduate language language class, or may compose a new paper on any topic.

Additional admission requirements for students in TESOL Concentration:

  • A five to seven page writing sample in English. Students may submit a paper prepared for an undergraduate English class, or may compose a new paper on any topic.

Nonnative speakers of English:

All nonnative speakers of English will be required to submit:

  • a minimum TOEFL score of 600 or (250 if computer-based; 100 if internet-based).
    •
  • an oral English language sample via a standard-sized audiocassette tape. The target oral sample should be a simple description 3-5 minutes in length, i.e., a description of one's family, job, an important event, etc.

Course Requirements

The degree is composed of 36 credit hours of graduate work distributed as follows:

Foreign Languages (French, German, or Spanish):
  • FREN/GERM/SPAN 8226: Structure of FREN/GERM/SPAN Language (3 credit hours)
  • Literature Course / Literary Criticism (3 credit hours)
  • TED 8006: Special Methods in Teaching Foreign Languages (3 hours)
  • FLNG 8960: Seminar - Special Topics (3 credit hours)
  • FREN/GERM/SPAN 8440: Seminar FREN/GERM/SPAN Composition (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8020: Seminar - FL/TESOL Research (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8030: Seminar - SLA Theory (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8040: Seminar Assessment and Material Design (3 credit hours) ; or equivalent course
  • FREN/GERM/SPAN 8960 and 8966: *Study Abroad (6 credit hours)
  • TED 8540, 8550, 8560, 8570, 8580, 8590: Instructional Technology (3 credit hours)
  • Approved Elective in the target language (3 credit hours)

    • TOTAL: 36 credit hours.

TESOL:
  • ENGL 8656: Structure of English (3 credit hours)
  • Writing Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • Literature Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • ENGL 8740: Seminar Discourse Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • TED 8006: Special Methods in TESOL (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8960: Special Topics (3 credit hours)
  • ENGL 8780: Pedagogic Field Experience in TESOL (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8020: Seminar - FL/TESOL Research
  • FLNG 8030: SLA Theory (3 credit hours)
  • FLNG 8040: Seminar - Assessment and Materials Design (3 credit hours); or equivalent course
  • TED 8540, 8550, 8560, 8570, 8580, or 8590: Instructional Technology (3 credit hours)
  • Approved Elective (3 credit hours)

    • TOTAL: 36 credit hours

The final requirements of the degree for all four concentrations is the successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examination in which linguistic and pedagogical knowledge is applied to the student's target language area.

General Notes:
  • Study abroad may be replaced by 6 hours of coursework pending department approval.
  • Assessment and Material Design may be replaced by an equivalent course in the College of Education, pending department approval.
  • A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work taken as part of the degree program.
  • A maximum of 12 hours of approved graduate credit can be transferred from other graduate program and counted towards the MALT degree. Additional graduate courses completed within the NU system may be transferred pending department approval.
    •
  • 18 of the 36 hours must be completed at the 8000 level only (at UNO these courses typically end in a 0, i.e., 8--0). Six (18 hours) other courses may be completed at the split 4000/8000 level (ie, 4--0/8--6).
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  • Coursework for the MALT must be completed within a period of ten years.
  • A student may complete a graduate minor (9 additional graduate hours)with department permission.

To apply for admission, please contact the UNO Office of Graduate Studies at (402)-554-2341, visit 203 Eppley Administration, or visit the website at: http://www.unomaha.edu/graduate/