Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Return to: Colleges and Departments

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

Master of Arts—Linguistics/Teaching English as a Second Language/Cross-Linguistics
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language/Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Root Hall, room A-137
Phone: 812-237 –2366
Fax: 812-237-2368
E-mail: lll@indstate.edu
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/lll

Department Chairperson: Dr. Ronald W. Dunbar

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors

Barratt, Leslie, Ph.D., University of Iowa
Professor of Linguistics
Specializations: Linguistics, Teaching English as a Second Language

Dunbar, Ronald W., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Chairperson and Professor of German
Specializations: German, Linguistics

Montañez, Carmen L., Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Professor of Spanish
Specialization: Spanish

Nelson, Cecil, L., Ph.D., University of Illinois
Professor of Linguistics
Specializations: Linguistics, Teaching English as a Second Language

Phillips, Betty, S., Ph.D., University of Georgia
Professor of Linguistics
Specialization: Linguistics

Associate Professors

Calvin, Lisa, Ph.D., Indiana University
Associate Professor of Spanish and Language Pedagogy
Specializations: Spanish, Language Pedagogy

Rider, N. Ann, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Associate Professor of German and Women’s Studies
Specialization: German

Assistant Professors

Berg, Keri, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Assistant Professor of French
Specialization: French

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics has existed under various names since the beginnings of the institution. After Indiana State Teachers College became Indiana State University in 1965, the department began to offer master’s degrees in French, Spanish, and Latin. In 2000 the teaching English as a second language/linguistics faculty joined the department and the program was totally revised as a single degree program, which has developed into the current master’s degree in linguistics/teaching English as a second language/cross-linguistics.

GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics offers a master of arts degree in linguistics/teaching English as a second language/cross-linguistics. Student’s completing sufficient course work in linguistics/TESL or Spanish may fulfill the course work part of Indiana’s English as a New Language or Spanish licensure requirements.

The department also offers a 12 credit hour graduate certificate in teaching English as a second language/teaching English as a foreign language. This is not a degree program, nor does it confer an initial Indiana teaching license on its recipients. Certificate (in TEFL or TESL) is an internationally recognized term, and many employers in other countries require a certificate of teachers who do not hold a master’s degree.

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics cooperates with the College of Education in the delivery of two programs:  The College of Education offers a Transition-to-Teaching Program, which gives language student’s the opportunity to obtain initial teacher licensure at the post-baccalaureate level.  In addition, the College of Education offers a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in language education for students specializing in the research and practice of second language teaching and teacher education. Applicants for admission to the Transition-to-Teaching Program or the Doctor of Philosophy Program in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in Language Education should see the College of Education section of the Catalog for a description of the admission requirements for the program.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

The curriculum in linguistics/teaching English as a second language/cross-linguistics is designed to allow students to create a program of course work with an applied linguistic focus such as teaching English as a second language or work in a combination of Spanish and applied linguistics. The program is designed to meet the needs of those expecting to terminate their graduate work with the master’s degree as well as those intending to pursue further advanced work.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to meeting all requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, a prospective master’s student in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics must submit the following to the department: a resume including academic and work experience; a statement of purpose explaining why he/she is interested in pursuing graduate work in the department; and three letters of recommendation from former professors, if possible, or employers who can comment on the likelihood of the student’s success in the proposed program of graduate study. Those seeking the graduate certification in TESL/TEFL must meet all of the requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

If the student’s preparation seems unsatisfactory his or her application may be rejected or he or she may be asked to take additional undergraduate courses or be given an examination to test his or her competence in the area.

Return to: Colleges and Departments