Skip Navigation Menu		M.Ed. Frequently Asked Questions What languages are involved? French, Spanish, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Is this program just for teachers? Although the degree is of most interest to teachers, anyone who qualifies for admission can take the courses. We enroll people considering a return to teaching, and non-degree-seeking students who want graduate study in languages for reasons other than teaching. How many hours of study does it take to get the degree? The M.Ed. takes 36 hours, of which 15 are "core" courses in the area of language teaching and applied linguistics, 15 are language-specific courses, and 6 are electives. What specifically are the "core" courses? In general, the core courses in education and linguistics are as follows: EDFS 635 Educational Research EDFS 687 Technology Education for Teachers LALE 601 Applied Linguistics LALE 602 Advanced Methods of Second Language Teaching LALE 603 Second Language Acquisition What do you mean by "language-specific" courses? Can you give me some examples? The coursework in languages varies according to language, but here is an example in Spanish: SPAN 614 Topics in Spanish Culture and Civilization SPAN 615 Topics in Spanish-American Culture and Civilization SPAN 630 Seminar in Hispanic Studies SPAN 682 Oral Proficiency I'm really interested in the ESOL track. What does it consist of? Students qualify for the M.Ed. with a concentration in ESOL by completing the core courses, 6 hours of electives, and 15 credits of ESOL courses: EDFS 670 Principles and Strategies EDFS 671 Teaching Reading and Writing EDFS 672 Linguistic and Cultural Diversity EDFS 673 Assessement EDFS 680 Teaching English Through Content Areas For further information, contact Dr. Angela Cozart in the School of Education, cozarta@cofc.edu). Can I take courses part-time, or do I have to be a full-time student? The program is usually for part-time students (1-2 courses per semester). All courses will be offered in the late afternoon, evening, or summer, so people with full-time employment such as high school teachers can participate. I'd like to take graduate courses in language but don't really want to pursue a degree. Can I just take coursework? Yes. You don't have to be a degree-seeking student to take graduate courses at the College. Can I apply graduate credits that I have earned at another university? Yes, you can transfer up to 9 credits into the program. Transfer credit must be approved by the program director. Are there comprehensive exams and does the M.Ed. require a Master's thesis? At the end of the program, you must either pass a comprehensive exam or submit a professional portfolio for evaluation. There is no requirement for a Master's thesis, but you can choose to write a thesis to satisfy the requirement for 6 hours of electives. You say the degree requires 6 hours of electives. What do they consist of? You can satisfy the electives requirement in one of three ways: 1) write a traditional Master's thesis; 2) do an action research study (field research in a language class); or 3) take two courses beyond the basic 30 hours of study. Following is a sampling of courses that might qualify as electives: HIST 543 Twentieth Century Europe HIST 562 Colonial Latin America HIST 563 Modern Latin America HIST 541 Enlightenment and French Revolution EDFS 632 Educational Psychology ENGL 554 History of the English Language LALE 690 Special Topics in Language Education How long will it take me to complete the degree? That depends on how much time you can give to it. If you take 2 courses per semester, including 2 in the summer, you can be finished in three years or less. Can I get certified as a teacher by taking the M.Ed. program? No. The M.Ed. is not a certification program. What are requirements for admission? Language teachers with a valid teaching certificate from any state in the appropriate language are admitted as long as they have a bachelors degree or its equivalent and a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale. Other applicants will be considered (e.g. graduates of foreign universities, private school language teachers without certification) on a case-by-case basis by the program Admissions Committee, which will apply the following criteria: An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, with minimum GPA of 2.5 At least 30 hours of undergraduate course work, or an approved equivalent from a foreign university, in the relevant language area. Two letters of recommendation. If English is not the primary language of the applicant, evidence of command of English such as a TOEFL score of 550 or greater is required. I am a teacher of something other than a language. Can the M.Ed. lead to add-on certification both in foreign languages or ESOL? Yes.