Languages, M.Ed.

Syliva Rodríguez, Interim Program Director
843.953.5882
rodriguezsabaters@cofc.edu

http://lcwa.cofc.edu/grad-progs/

Mission Statement

The mission of the M.Ed. in Languages Program is to satisfy the professional development needs of practicing language teachers (ESOL and Spanish) by deepening their content area knowledge in second language acquisition, linguistics, and language instruction.

Program Description

The program is intended for practicing teachers who wish to further their education by pursuing a graduate degree. It is designed for part-time students to meet the demands of working professionals with classes offered in the late afternoon, evening, summer, online and/or hybrid formats Class size is small to maximize the educational experience.

The core curriculum covers linguistic, psychological and social influences that affect the acquisition of a second language, applied linguistics, advanced teaching approaches, educational research, and educational technology. There are two emphases:  Spanish and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Students in the Spanish emphasis also explore the varied literatures, cultures, and linguistic issues of the Spanish-speaking world, while students in TESOL explore the tools to teach and assess a diverse cultural and linguistic population.

Students will also complete various capstone experiences. Students are asked to consult with the Director early in their course of study. The degree must be completed within six years of the entrance date.

Although the M.Ed. in Languages is a degree in Education, it does not lead to initial teacher certification in South Carolina. However, it can lead to add-on certification in Spanish or ESOL.

Admission Requirements

Institutional Requirements

• A completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee of $50.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• International applicants should refer to the International Students area within the “Admissions Information”  section of the catalog for information on providing appropriate documentation with the application.

Program Requirements

Applicants holding a valid teaching certificate/license from any state will be admitted as long as they have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.500 or better on a 4.000 scale. Note that for the Spanish emphasis, a bachelor’s degree in Spanish or an equivalent is required. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.

Please provide:

• A copy of the applicant’s valid teaching certificate
• Two letters of recommendation
• Statement of goals
• Evidence of command of English (if English is not the primary language). A TOEFL score of 79 or greater is required.

Applicants without a valid teaching certificate/license will be considered on a case-by-base basis. The program steering committee will consider a bachelor’s degree form an accredited institution, a GPA of 2.500 or better on a 4.000 scale, at least 30 credit hours of undergraduate coursework or an equivalent in Spanish (for the Spanish emphasis only), and other teaching experience non K-12 public schools (private settings, teaching abroad, or adult education among others).

Please provide:

• Two letters of recommendation
• Statement of goals
• Evidence of command of English (if English is not the primary language). A TOEFL score of 79 or greater is required.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: March 1, Priority; July 1, Final
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: March 1

Provisional Admission

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission may be admitted provisionally until the deficiencies are corrected. Conditions of provisional acceptances that lead to regular degree status will be clearly outlined for such applicants by the steering committee.

Non-Degree Status

Teachers seeking re-certification credit or other qualified individuals wishing to take coursework may be admitted as non-degree-seeking students. Advanced undergraduates may, under certain conditions, request permission to enroll in M.Ed. classes (6-hour limit). Non-degree-seeking students who later wish to be admitted to the degree program may apply up to six semester hours of credit taken in non-degree status.

Transfer Credit Policy

An applicant or student of the M.Ed. in Languages program can seek approval from the Program Director to accept up to nine transfer credit hours. These courses must have a grade of B or higher, and can count toward the M. Ed. in Languages degree requirements. Courses with a grade of “Pass” or “Satisfactory” will not be accepted. These courses must be catalog courses and not professional development courses to count in this program.

Program Requirements

• Languages, M.Ed.  

Student Learning Outcomes

• Languages M.Ed. (PDF)