The SLaT MA program uniquely prepares students with second language teaching skills that are based on sound teaching theories that build on and go beyond the scientific study of language. This master's program assists second- and foreign-language teachers in improving their professional qualifications in second language pedagogy, research and assessment. The focus is on teacher preparation providing a skill set suitable for a variety of careers within higher education and second language teaching. There is an industry need for teachers who are prepared to teach less commonly taught languages; this program helps to satisfy that need. The SLaT program also prepares a foundation for continued study in Ph.D. programs in foreign language education and eventual entry into academia.

Please note that this program serves students who's language of focus is not Spanish, Portuguese or English. Please see the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Linguistics Department for graduate programs tailored to those languages.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours (33): Master's Thesis Option (699R) - minimum 27 course work hours and 6 thesis hours or Master's Project Option (698R) minimum 30 course work hours and 3 project hours.
• Required Core Courses: SLaT 601, 602, 603, and 604 (12 credits) plus 3 additional courses from the following: SLaT 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, or 615 (9 credits). 
• Elective courses (6 credits):
  
  • 3 credits of a graduate-level language, linguistics, or literature course of the language of emphasis.
  • 3 credits of a graduate-level language-specific course or an additional graduate-level pedagogy course from the required core courses listed above.
• Examinations: (A) Written comprehensive exam covering student's coursework and reading list. (Students are required to take this exam during the fourth semester of study.) (B) Oral defense of thesis or project.

Optional 3rd Year Teaching Licensure Track

Application Criteria:

Students should apply and be accepted to the 3d year licensure track. The following requirements should be met.

• Prospective students should apply to be admitted to the third-year licensure program before the fourth semester of the second year. This acceptance will be contingent upon the completion of the M.A. requirements, including the thesis.
• Students had to pass stringent test requirements (ACTFL OPI, GRE, TOEFL, etc.) to be admitted into the M.A. programs. In addition, students who are accepted into the 3^rd year licensure program must pass a Praxis content exam in the language of specialization.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and may not have any C grades (classes can be repeated).
• Students should submit 1 letter of recommendation.

Proposed Third Year Licensure Track Classes Offered through the McKay School of Education (11 credits):

SLaT/Spanish/Portuguese MA students who choose to do the third-year licensure track will join with BYU education students to take the following classes.

• CPSE 402 - Educating Students with Disabilities in Secondary Classrooms (2 credits)
• SC ED 353 - Multicultural Education for Secondary Education (3 credits)
• SC ED 375 - Adolescent Development and Classroom Management (3 credits)
• IPT 371, 372 - Integrating K-12 Educational Technology 1, 2 (2 credits)
• IPT 373 - Teaching in K-12 Online and Blended Learning Contexts (1 credit)

Additional Field Experience Classes (17 credits):

The 3^rd-year licensure track students will join the Spanish/French/German teaching practicums and student teaching courses (below). These students will have a cohort and meet weekly to develop lesson plans, discuss teaching experiences, refine teaching skills, and engage in professional development and reflection. A BYU professor skilled in target language pedagogy will serve as the university supervisor that completes the observations and evaluations required for licensure. All students will be expected to pass the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), which is an online portfolio that measures teacher candidates’ abilities and readiness to teach.

• Exploration of Foreign Language Teaching: FLANG 276 (4 credits)
• Practicum in Language Teaching: SLaT 380, cross-listed with SPAN 380 (1credit)
• Student teaching: SLaT 476 (cross-listed with FREN 476, GERM 476 and SPAN 476) (12 credits)

See all Language Studies courses