General Information

The UMass website states that in order to do a concentration in ESL, I need to show that I have successfully completed 2 years of language study.

Satisfying the language requirement aspect of your application will be considered according to the information provided in your transcripts, essay, and letters of recommendation.  The essay is where you should be specific about you language ability.  While having at least two years of language study is important, it is not the only factor considered.  Things such as teaching, studying, and living abroad also provide evidence of language learning.

Is the online degree program a full-time or part-time program?

The online degree program requires students to take nine credits per semester, a typical full-time student course load.

I have to work full-time while taking courses online.  Isn’t nine credits per semester a bit much to require of students who are also working full time?  Is your program designed with the needs and practicalities of working professionals in mind?

We try to offer more challenging courses with a less demanding workload to create manageable homework for those students who work full time. In fact, in addition to their studies, the majority of both our on-campus and online students in the Applied Linguistics Department work full time, many of them as teachers.  In our experience, it is possible to negotiate having a full-time job and taking nine graduate credits but not without having to make some sacrifices!  This program cannot simply be done in one’s free time.  It is a full-fledged graduate program and students must plan to give the courses the concomitant amount of time required for any graduate program.

Is it possible to complete the program over a more extended period of time, say by taking one or two courses per semester instead of three? This would be more practical and feasible for working professionals, given the expected time commitment needed to properly review, comprehend and assess the course information presented.

Unfortunately not.  We work with cohorts of students who all begin their degree program at the same time and take more or less the same courses per semester.  In order to preserve the quality of the program we have chosen to

What is a cohort and how do cohorts work?

A cohort is a group of students who all enter a degree program at the same time (in our case, each Fall semester), take roughly the same courses, and all finish at roughly the same time.  In our program we work with cohorts and therefore students are required to follow the same coursework as every other student in their cohort and take three courses per semester.

We use cohorts for many reasons.  First, we do not want to compromise the quality of our program by having to hire people outside our faculty group to teach online courses.  We want our online students to have access to the same highly experienced faculty as our on-campus students and to go through the same high quality program.  Although it may seem that the internet would allow for unlimited class sizes, each student in a class still needs the personal attention of a professor (to answer questions, evaluate assignments, etc.) and our department only has so many faculty who are able to do this.  With cohorts it is easier to monitor students' progress and ensure quality.  In addition, cohorts work better to create a sense of community between students who will be taking the same courses for two years.  Without the face-to-face interaction, we need to be intentional about creating an environment conducive to community in our program and having students go through the program together with the same “classmates” allows us to do that.

What kind of time commitment is roughly expected for each course? 

You should expect to spend the same time per course that you would if you were taking a normal on-campus course in terms of class preparation.  Your course work will include a lot of reading, doing regular assignments, writing papers, and participating in discussions through our online message boards.  What actually takes more time is the participation in these discussions since, unlike in traditional on-campus classes, you will be spending time typing your input and reading other students' postings.  However, these discussions have the advantage of allowing everyone to participate as much as they like and have time to form and express their thoughts.

Are the on-line courses different from the courses taught on campus?

Courses are taught by the Applied Linguistics full-time faculty and invited specialists. Their courses use the same readings and other course materials as face-to-face courses with the advantage that audio-visual materials are available on demand and (for linguistics courses) computer modeling and analysis software will operate online. Faculty require the same work from students (seminar reports, papers, problem sets and examinations) and use the same standards in evaluating student work whether a course is taught on line or in the classroom. Only the seminar discussions are different, given the asynchronous nature of distance learning. There are some advantages to on-line courses in that student participation can be more extensive and thorough than what might happen in three hour class periods, and comments can be more carefully thought through when in writing.

What is the schedule for classes?

Students must complete weekly readings and participate in threaded discussions each week. You can do so at any point during the week, but there is always a cutoff day (usually it is Saturday, but different professors structure their weeks differently). Our courses do not have any required synchronous components (i.e. you don’t have to be at your computer at a certain time of the day and week taking part in any course-related activities).  If there are synchronous elements of a course and you are unable to take part, you can always have access to an archive of discussions.

In addition to the readings and discussions, you will also have some assignments to complete during the semester: a mid-term paper or exam, a final paper or exam and possibly smaller assignments. Remember that although our courses are online and you may access them anytime you like, many online courses still have several due dates throughout the semester for smaller assignments such as doing a problem set or participating in a discussion board.  Therefore close adherence to the syllabus for each course is a must.

Will my courses include interaction with real teachers?

Yes, your teachers are real and they currently teach in the program now, both in the classroom and through our online courses.  Professors frequently participate in the online discussions and so are very accessible.

Can I complete the program while residing outside the United States?

This is not a problem at all. Most of our online students are located outside of the United States. There are not many synchronous features in the courses and there are archives for everything that happens instantaneously in the event that you cannot take part in some real-time class event due to a time difference.  In fact, a large number of our students are actually Americans residing outside the United States who want to further their teaching skills and academic studies.

Is this a real master’s degree from a real university?

Our online program is the online counterpart of the traditional on-campus master's program in Applied Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, a fully accredited public university. Our on-campus program is a highly successful, very challenging & demanding graduate program, and admittedly, one of the best programs of its kind in the United States. Unlike other enterprises, we are not a for-profit distance learning program.  Our online curriculum is very rigorous and designed to meet the same very high standards of any University of Massachusetts degree program.  Our online program is taught by the same highly-qualified faculty that teach our on-campus students. You can check out our on-campus program at the Applied Linguistics website at http://www.umb.edu/academics/departments/apling/.

In addition, the online program is highly competitive since we only accept two cohorts of 20 students each per year every Fall.

Is my diploma going to say that it is an online degree?  Does an online master’s degree carry the same academic recognition as a master’s degree done on campus?

Nowhere on your transcript or degree does it state that the courses were taken through an online program.  All courses and syllabi used in the online program are the same those used for the on-campus degree.  You will graduate with a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, a fully accredited university degree.

How long has the University of Massachusetts had this program?

The Online Master's Program started in the Fall of 2006 and this June we had our first cohort graduating. Before 2006 we have offered 3-4 courses online per semester but not as part of an online degree program.  The department of Applied Linguistics, which is offering this program, has been a long-standing part of the University of Massachusetts in Boston and boasts one of the best Applied Linguistics faculties in the world.

I’m not sure that I am ready to make the commitment to a full online degree program.  Is it is possible to just “try it out” and see how it goes?

One excellent option for those students who are unsure if the program or online courses in general are right for them would be to take a course or two as a non-matriculated (i.e. non-degree seeking) student before officially enrolling in the full online program.  Please see the “Admissions” section of this FAQ for more information.

What are the concentrations? Will you have a concentration in Bilingual Studies?

For now, the two concentrations are English as a second language (ESL) and foreign language pedagogy. There is a bilingual education component in the ESL concentration and students in the foreign language pedagogy concentration can take it as an elective. See “Courses” for more information on the two concentrations.

What career tracks have previous graduates from the Applied Linguistics department followed?

Most of our students go on to teaching careers in both public and private education, K-12 and adult education, in all kinds of language settings including ESL, EFL, foreign language pedagogy, and bilingual education, both inside the United States and abroad.  Others work as directors in language institutes all over the world; a considerable number of students go on to pursue doctoral studies as well.

Could you kindly mail me appropriate information about your online MA program and the appropriate application forms for 2007 enrollment?

Please email aplingonline@umb.edu if you wish to receive information in hardcopies. If you are interested in applying for the program, please visit http://ccde.umb.edu/degree/apling/admission/.  You may also want to check out the department’s website at http://www.umb.edu/academics/departments/apling/.

What is the practicum/field experience?

The practicum for the master’s in Applied Linguistics consists of a closely supervised, on-site experience teaching a foreign language or English as a second language and is required of all students who have not had appropriate prior teaching experience. Online students may complete the practicum close to their residence and should consult with their academic advisors to discuss available options. Students who are currently teaching may also enroll in the practicum/field experience if they want to do some reflective work on their teaching and address a particular issue. The practicum for the Massachusetts Educator’s License in ELL is entirely different. Students need to consult with a licensure coordinator if they are interested in completing a supervised practicum required by the Massachusetts Department of Education.

After I finish this program, will I be licensed to teach at a public school in the United States?

Licensure is a very involved process that varies greatly from state to state.  Having a master’s degree is a great help towards becoming a licensed teacher but does not guarantee you a teaching license.  For more specific licensure information in your state, please contact the Department of Education.

Can I become licensed to teach through the State of Massachusetts through this program?

Licensure is a very personal, complicated process.  Because of this, we are unable to offer assistance in this area to online students.  If you are interested in becoming a licensed teacher in the State of Massachusetts, please consider our on-campus program.

Do I need to write a thesis in order to graduate from this program?

Online students are not eligible to write a thesis. You are required to take the Comprehensive Exam, that is our capstone requirement.

What is the comprehensive exam?

The comprehensive exam is a four-hour written exam at the end of your program that assesses your understanding of and ability to use all of the content of the coursework of this program.  It is given at the end of your studies and after you have completed all required coursework.

I don’t live anywhere near Boston, Massachusetts.  How then would I be able to take the comprehensive exam?

If you become a student in our program, we will work with testing centers and universities in your area (be it in the United States or another country) to arrange for the administration of your comprehensive exam.  You do not need to come to Boston to take your comprehensive exam.

I am an international student. I don’t understand how credits and semesters work. Can you explain? How long is one semester in the United States?

In the Applied Linguistics program, each course is worth three credits, which means that you will need ten courses - or 30 credits - to complete the program. The school year is comprised of two semesters, the Fall semester, which extends from the beginning of the September to mid December, and the Spring semester, which extends from the last week of January to mid-May (approximately 15 weeks each). For the exact dates, please check the academic calendar for CCDE classes.

Admissions

When is the next possible admissions date?  When are applications due?

We have two new cohorts starting in the Fall of 2008. We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2009 semester.  Applications are due February 15, 2009.

Am I required to submit GRE scores to be accepted to this program?

Scores from the Graduate Record Exam are not required but may be submitted to bolster an applicant’s academic record.

It has been many years since I’ve been in the classroom and I am not sure if I can get any references from faculty for my application.  What can I do?

The purpose of the letters of recommendation is to verify your ability to do graduate-level studies.  We believe that this can best be attested to by your own former or current university professors.  Although it may be difficult, we highly recommend doing everything in your power to get at least one recommendation from an academic source that can attest to your ability to pursue graduate studies.  However, not having one will not automatically disqualify you from applying to the program.  We take into consideration each applicant's individual abilities and talents and do not limit ourselves to the academic recommendation.  If you have no other choice, we accept whatever you submit.  That said, academic recommendations strengthen considerably an individual’s application, especially when it comes to a competitive program like ours.

Must my letters of reference be from professors? I have been teaching ESL/EFL for several years both in the U.S. and abroad. May I use references from employers and colleagues?

It would be beneficial to get letters of recommendation from professors who can verify your ability to do graduate work.

What if I don’t have a cumulative 3.0 GPA from by bachelor’s studies?

While we require a 3.0 minimum GPA, we understand that there are always special circumstances and life experiences that prevent people from meeting this specific requirement. We consider your application as a whole and value life experience, previous background in the field, teaching experience and so forth.  If you have less than a 3.0 GPA, you will have to address this issue in your statement of purpose.

Can students be accepted provisionally in the on-line program?

No, there is no provisional acceptance.

What is the minimum acceptable score for the new Internet based TOEFL?

We require a 575 score on the paper-based test (PBT), a 230 on the computer-based test (CBT), and a 90 in the internet-based test (iBT).

Can I take courses before I am officially accepted into the program? What are the course offerings for Spring 2007? When can I register?

You can always take courses as a non-degree student before you get officially accepted to the program and then transfer them towards your degree.  Once our matriculated students have had a chance to register, the remaining spaces in the courses will be open to non-matriculated students.  If you are interested in taking a course in Fall 2008, please contact the Applied Linguistics Department at aplingonline@umb.edu in mid-August to find out which courses have space available.

Here are the courses being offered in theFall 08 semester:

APLING 601 Linguistics
APLING 603 Cross Cultural Perspectives
APLING 614 Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education
APLING 612 Integrating Culture into the Language Classroom
APLING 621 Psycholinguistics
APLING 623 Sociolinguistics

If you’d like a further description of any of these courses, please visit http://ccde.umb.edu/degree/apling/courses/.

It is not necessary to be an officially enrolled student at UMASS Boston to take a course as a non-matriculated student.  You simply need to contact the department of Continuing, Corporate, and Distance Education (CCDE) to register.  The entire process takes only a short phone call.

Administration

What is the transfer credit policy?

Please see http://www.umb.edu/students/student_rights/grad_academic_regulations.html and scroll down to “Transfer Credit”.  All transfer credit is subject to the final approval of the graduate program director and the Dean of Graduate Studies; no decision will be made regarding transfer credit until and individual has applied and been accepted into the program.

Is it possible for a student who is in the online program to attend any of the courses at the university itself during the course of the program?

No. Once you are accepted to the online program you must complete all of your courses online.

Are online students eligible for the university health care plan?

Yes.  All full-time on-campus and online students are eligible for student health insurance.  Full-time online students must contact One Stop in the Campus Center if they would like to enroll in the university’s health care plan.

Do your program advisors have experience assisting online international students?  Do the instructors have experience dealing with EFL issues that international students might have?

As there are several on-campus international students at any given time, our program advisors and faculty all have experience with international students and can advise them on all issues pertaining to their program of study.  Our faculty are aware of the linguistic differences between languages and, in fact, a number of the courses in the online master’s program, including Linguistics, sociolinguistics, and psycholinguistics, deal at least in part with EFL issues.

Can program participants request or choose a certain academic advisor?

We typically match students with advisors based on each student’s concentration, but students may pick their advisors based on their research interests as well.  There is no guarantee, however, that you will be able to choose a particular faculty member as your advisor as their advising list may be closed.
Finances

What is the total cost of the entire degree program, including tuition and fees?

The total cost of the program at present online tuition rates is approximately $11,000. Please visit http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/MALinguistics.html for more detailed information

Is financial aid available for students in this program?

Because this is a non-traditional program, financial aid from the university is unfortunately not available.  However, students who are U.S. citizens are welcome to file a FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and possibly receive grants and/or loans from the U.S. government.

Will the textbooks for the courses in this program be available in my country?

Different courses require different textbooks and professors update their syllabi every semester.  Most textbooks for our courses can be ordered from major online booksellers such as www.amazon.com.  If you are in a country where timely delivery of mail is an issue, though, we recommend that you be very proactive about getting your reading lists and ordering your books well before your courses begin.

Will it be possible to receive DVD or CD recordings of the lectures by mail, or to download them from a secure website if I am unable to view them at the pre-designated times?

All the course material will be available to you online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The courses are delivered in an asynchronous way so that anyone can access the course material at any time.  If there does happen to be an event at a pre-designated time, such as a real-time discussion, and you are unable to take part, you will always be able to download it later from the course website.

Will online students have research and library privileges?

Each of the courses provides a gateway to the university’s Healey Library. The major journals in our field are available online to students via the library’s subscription to Academic Search Premier or similar services. The library also subscribes to the important electronic bibliographies and databases in the field. The federally funded ERIC and NCELA clearinghouses are readily accessed on the internet. Materials that are not ordinarily available on line are digitized and stored on the University’s Learning Management System or made available via the library’s E-reserve service.

If a personal or family emergency should arise, may a participant postpone coursework for one semester? That is, how flexible would your program be under such circumstances?

It goes without saying that in the event of a serious emergency a student can get an incomplete.  Such instances, however, may seriously lengthen the time required for you to complete the program as most of our courses are only offered once a year.