Applied Linguistics, MA

Applied Linguistics, MA

Central to Bridging Gaps in Understanding.

With a Central MA in Applied Linguistics, use your theory-informed linguistics skills to teach English as a second language, or study and guide governmental and institutional policies in language use. This program offers rigorous and well-rounded training in a high-demand profession.

Our graduates teach across the state of Connecticut and around the world. They work in elementary and secondary schools, adult education programs, intensive language institutes, and community colleges, as well as in publishing, government, and institutional management.

Program Features

  • Starts every January and August
  • Attend full- or part-time, with some flexibility in modality
  • Taught by outstanding faculty in small classes
  • Research in Bilingualism & English Language Learning Research Lab (BELL-RL)
  • Learn the unique balance of theoretical and practical skills for teaching and policymaking
  • One of only two programs in Connecticut offering a path for initial K-12 Teacher Certification in TESOL
  • Financial aid is available
  • No GRE required
 

Program Options

This program combines language, teaching skills, linguistic inquiry, and enthusiasm for cultural diversity. Learn practical skills and methods of language teaching to help students develop communication competence and appropriate academic skills in English. Gain the ability to design, implement, and assess lessons and curricula in TESOL using current methods and best practices. (36 credits)

This program builds a thorough foundation in generative and social language aspects to inform in guiding educational and institutional policies on language use, teaching, linguistic diversity, and multiculturalism. Develop skills to tailor and critique language policies to be implemented in a broad range of contexts. Gain the ability to design, implement and assess institutional language policies based on current research and theory. (30 credits)

The program prepared me to be an ESOL teacher by teaching me how to work with a diverse community and how to apply linguistic and educational strategies in my classroom.

Keyra Colon Rodriguez
ESOL Teacher, Meriden Public School

Did You Know?

Central offers a graduatelevel TESOL Official Certificate Program (OCP), which is only half of the master’s requirements. This is a great option for teaching abroad or for experienced teachers wanting a cross endorsement in TESOL.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze and interpret linguistic phenomena using current linguistic theory (what language is). 
  2. Analyze and interpret linguistic phenomena using current theories of second language acquisition (how language is learned). 
  3. Produce effective materials relevant to the practice of applied linguistics, including lesson plans for language learning and clearly articulated policy position papers. 
  4. In addition, students in the TESOL track of the MA and the Teacher Certification programs will be able to design, implement, and assess lessons and curricula in TESOL using current methods and best practices in the profession (how language is taught). 
  5. Students in the LPP track of the MA will be able to design, implement, and assess institutional language policies based on current research and theory (how to guide language use).