Admission and degree requirements

Admission requirements and procedures

Applicants for the MA in English as a Second Language (ESL) complete two parts. The applicant first files an application with the Toulouse Graduate School (available on the UNT Graduate School web site). The applicant then submits the following documents to the Department of Linguistics:

• a 300–500 word personal statement describing the applicant’s interests, career plans and purpose in working toward an MA;
• a sample research paper;
• three letters of recommendation; and
• a current vita or resume.

To be eligible for admission to the MA with a major in ESL, applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate semester credit hours prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree or a 2.8 GPA on all undergraduate work. The applicant must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants accepted into the MA with a major in ESL have presented verbal scores ranging from the 50th to the 99th percentile and analytical writing scores ranging from 4.0 to 6.0. Applicants whose native language is not English must also submit a score on the TOEFL or IELTS examination. Competitive scores on the Internet-based TOEFL examination are in the range of 88 and above and on the IELTS 6.5 and above. The department conducts a holistic review of all application materials and does not decline students based solely on a single low test score.

Financial support

Beginning full-time students who meet all qualifications may apply for financial assistance from the UNT office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. In addition, beginning and continuing students may apply for financial assistance from the Department of Linguistics. This assistance can be in the form of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, or research assistantships. The positions are competitive and awarded through an application process. Information regarding departmental assistantships may be requested from the Department of Linguistics chair.

Foreign language requirement

All candidates pursuing a master’s degree in ESL must have a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language. As evidence of such foreign language, a student may present the results of a standardized examination or have completed the sophomore year of a foreign language, or the equivalent, provided that the grade point average on all language courses is 2.75 or higher. Students must meet the foreign language requirement before completing their last semester.

Degree plan requirement

Students are required to file a degree plan during the second semester of graduate work toward the master’s degree. Students should meet with an advisor to file their degree plan as soon as possible after the registration period during their second semester’s work.

Application checklist

The applicant then submits the following documents to the Department of Linguistics:

1. A completed graduate application form with the intended major indicated in the appropriate blank.
2. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores sent from the Educational Testing Service. Candidates applying for all MA programs in linguistics must take the GRE verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections.
3. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination or IELTS for students whose native language is not English.
4. Official transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate academic work.

Applicants for the MA with a major in ESL should send the following materials directly to the Department of Linguistics:

1. a 300–500 word personal statement describing the applicant’s interests, career plans and purpose in working toward an MA;
2. a writing sample (e.g., a research paper, manual or proposal);
3. three letters of recommendation; and
4. a current vita or resume.

Degree requirements

The MA with a major in English as a second language is a 36-hour program. Course requirements include 24 hours of core courses, 6 hours of foundation courses, 3 hours of electives, and a 3-hour research seminar taken during the last 9 hours of course work. Students who elect to write a thesis will take 3 hours of thesis, LING 5950 , in lieu of 3 elective hours.