The Master of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT) Program
The Master of Arts in Language Teaching program is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to take courses in a wide range subjects from literature, culture and linguistics in the target language to second language acquisition theory and teaching methodology. We also offer Graduate Certificate programs in Spanish, French, and Teaching Spanish to Heritage/Bilingual Learners.
This 36 credit-hour graduate degree is offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature in conjunction with faculty members from the Department of English and the College of Education.
Our faculty specialize in French, Spanish, English, linguistics, literature, culture, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), language teaching methods, teacher education, and instructional technology.
Concentrations are available in French, Spanish and TESOL. Visit the online UNO Graduate catalog for course requirements.
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literature also offer a Graduate Certificate in Spanish, Graduate Certificate in French, and Graduate Certificate in Teaching Spanish to Heritage/Bilingual Learners.
Why should you get a Master of Arts in Language Teaching?
The Master of Arts in Language Teaching program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is the only graduate program in the region that provides practicing and future teachers of French, Spanish, and English as a second/foreign language with a rigorous, practically oriented education founded on scholarship specifically in the pedagogy of language teaching.
The program strives to strengthen language education in the region by equipping its students with the knowledge and skills to apply best pedagogical practices in world language and TESOL classrooms and by connecting area teachers in a community of language educators.
Completion of the MALT program does not certify a graduate to teach in Nebraska public schools. Instead, it is an academic credential meant for teachers who are already certified or are in the process of being certified, for people who plan to teach in venues other than public schools such as community colleges or universities, and for anyone who works in some capacity where language competence is desired.
Program Admission Requirements |
Program Application Process |
Program Expectations & Completion |
Graduate Student Funding & Awards |
Graduate Course Listings |
Graduate Minors |
See MALT Events |
Program Admission Requirements
To be admitted to graduate study in the MALT program, students should have completed a bachelor’s degree with an average grade of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or above. If an applicant’s major was in the language of concentration, only the GPA for language courses is calculated.
In addition to the GPA, international applicants must score at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL in order to be eligible for unconditional admission.
Program Application Process
Application Deadline:
Summer and Fall Admission: April 15
Spring Admission: November 15
Submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Studies:
- UNO Graduate Studies Application (found through the UNO Graduate Studies website)
- Official transcripts from all institutions you previously attended (except UNO)
- Two letters of recommendation. Recommenders may be former professors, principals, colleagues, or any other professional who can speak to your preparedness for graduate study.
- Be prepared to attach a written sample to the online application.
- If your language of concentration (including English in the case of TESOL track) is not your native language, it is necessary to schedule an oral entrance interview with a MALT faculty member.
Please note that the Office of Graduate Studies will not forward any application to the MALT Graduate Program Committee until all documents, including letters of recommendation, are submitted online.
International students must complete an International Graduate Application and submit all supporting documentation to the Office of International Studies and Programs.
All applicants are required to have completed an Introduction to Linguistics course at the undergraduate level to be admitted to the MALT program under the Unconditional category status. Applicants who lack this requirement but fulfill all others, may be admitted under the Provisional category.
Program Expectations & Completion
To earn the MALT degree, students must successfully complete 36 credit hours in coursework, including at least 18 hours of seminar-level courses. In addition, students complete a portfolio where they demonstrate their growth and learning in the areas of language competence, second language acquisition theory & research and pedagogy, and a poster presentation where they showcase a research project. In their final semester, students complete a written comprehensive examination and oral defense over a designated body of knowledge prepared and judged by faculty members, a portfolio where students.
The MALT degree must be completed within ten consecutive calendar years. Coursework older than 10 years (30 consecutive terms) cannot be applied to a Master's degree at UNO.
At the time of admission to a degree program, an individual plan of study will be sent to the student with their official letter of admission from the Dean for Graduate Studies. This individual plan of study will list all requirements for the completion of the degree program. These requirements may include deficiency courses and other provisions of admission, specific courses to be completed to graduate, and comprehensive examinations.
Graduate Student Funding & Awards
Learn more about financing your degree through scholarships, fellowships, awards and waivers:
https://www.unomaha.edu/graduate-studies/financing-your-degree/scholarships.php
Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) grants support faculty-mentored graduate student research and creative activity. Learn more: https://www.unomaha.edu/office-of-research-and-creative-activity/students/graca.php
Graduate Course Listings
Required courses can be found in the UNO catalog: https://catalog.unomaha.edu/graduate/degree-programs-certificates-minors/language-teaching/#requirementstext
Graduate Minors
With approval from the MALT Graduate Program Chair, students in the MALT program may opt to complete a graduate minor in a language outside of their language of concentration as a way to expand their field of expertise.
Graduate Minors in French or Spanish
To add a graduate minor in Spanish or French, the student must both submit a written sample and schedule an entrance oral interview in the target language to the MALT Graduate Program Committee for consideration. Only those students deemed proficient enough in the language to succeed in graduate coursework will be allowed to add a minor. Successful completion (with a B average) of nine hours of graduate coursework in French or Spanish is sufficient to earn the minor, and there are no specific required courses for the minor.
Graduate Minor in English
Students currently enrolled in the MALT program are eligible to pursue a graduate minor in English after securing permission from the Graduate Program Chair in English. Successful completion (with a B average) of nine hours of graduate coursework in English is sufficient to earn the minor.
NOTE that completion of the MALT program does not certify you to teach in the Nebraska public school system.
If you are interested in pursuing teacher certification along with your MALT degree, please first reach out to the MALT Graduate Program Advisor:
Dr. Jose Sequeros-Valle
Phone: 402.554.4841
Email: jsequeros-valle@unomaha.edu