Curriculum
The curriculum is 30/31 credit hours
and consists of:
- A Linguistics core (4 courses, 12
credit hours): The Linguistics core
courses have no prerequisites, so there
is no required background to enter
the program
- A TESOL core of 4 courses (4 courses,
12 credit hours)
- A TESOL Practicum (3-6 credit hours)
- An additional elective
- A one-credit seminar on being a professional
| Linguistics
Core Courses |
Dept |
Credit Hours |
Notes |
| Linguistic
Phonetics |
LING
5030 |
3 |
Students
typically complete the four Linguistics
core courses in the first year. |
| Morphology
and syntax |
LING
5420 |
3 |
| Phonology |
LING
5410 |
3 |
| Semantics
and Pragmatics |
LING
5430 |
3 |
| Professional TESOL Core
Courses |
Dept |
Credit Hours |
Notes |
| English
Structure - TESOL |
LING
5610 |
3 |
Offered in spring |
| Teaching ESL Pronunciation |
LING
5620 |
3 |
Offered in fall |
| Methods/Materials for Teaching English
as an Additional
Language
|
LING 5630 |
3 |
Offered in fall |
| Course in L2 acquisition |
LLC 5030 or EDUC 5615 |
3 |
These are two options for meeting the L2 acquisition course requirement. |
| TESOL Practicum |
LING 5910 |
3-6 |
Offered most semesters
|
| Elective |
|
3 |
Can be taken any semester. |
TESOL Practicum

Practicum teachers gain valuable field-based teaching experiences with local ESL providers. Here Dr. Thomas-Ruzic talks with students at the International English Center, an intensive English located on the Boulder campus and serving international students. |
All students are required to complete successfully LING 5910, TESOL Practicum. This course involves 48-60 hours of student/teaching contact time, regular peer and instructor class observations and coaching sessions, and weekly seminar-style meetings during the semester. Practicum students’ responsibilities and structured experiences in classroom observations, lesson planning, assisting/facilitating, and teaching will vary, depending on their teaching context and their prior experiences and readiness.
The Practicum is based on guided observations and centers on the practicum teacher’s inquiry question linked to teaching and learning. Students engage in solo teaching as appropriate and as worked out with the host institution. site supervisor, and the practicum instructor. With an Advisor’s consent, interested students may take a second TESOL Practicum for credit (see
Elective)
Weekly seminars linked to the Practicum include debriefings of observed classes and discussions on variety of topics that may include:
- Defining professionals and professionalism
- The job search
- Issues of race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation and equity
- Language and gender
- Professional/ technical writing and oral communication
- Working with evolving technology and media
- The role of professional associations
- Social responsibility and social change
The department is pleased to offer the following two new courses starting in Fall 2008:
Linguistics 5620: Teaching ESL Pronunciation
This course examines the phonetics and phonology of American English (including prosody) and explores techniques for teaching pronunciation skills to non-native speakers. Both general issues and specific problems for students from particular language backgrounds are treated.
Linguistics 5630: Methods and Materials for Teaching English as an Additional Language
This course provides an overview of methods and materials for teaching English, along with opportunities for students to observe, discuss and analyze these in relation to language teaching principles, linguistic considerations, and global and local contexts. Aimed primarily at the teaching English to nonnative speaking adults, the course also addresses second and foreign language teaching generally.
Working with international partners
Advisory Board member Fátima
Encinas directs a new MA program in English
Language Teaching in Puebla, Mexico.Yongquan
Bai is dean of the School of Foreign
Languages in Xi’an Jiaotong University.
Both these institutions are sites for
potential exchanges and practical experiences
for Linguistics students in the proposed
program.
Elective
Elective offerings include courses in multi-cultural education, assessment, second-language writing, and instructional technology. Please see Electives.
Students may take a second TESOL Practicum as their elective with the Advisor’s consent. This option is designed for those students who are new to teaching and who would benefit from additional supported field-based, classroom teaching experiences.
| Electives |
Dept |
Credit Hours |
Notes |
| An additional TESOL
Practicum |
LING 5910 |
1-3 |
Course credit allowed with advisor’s
consent. |
| Adult Literacy |
Under Development |
3 |
|
| Multicultural
Education OR Culture of the Classroom |
LLC
5140 or LLC 5150 |
3 |
Additional
LLC (Language, Literacy and Culture)
courses are offered at University
of Colorado at Denver’s downtown
campus. Students may request that any other relevant course numbered 5000 or above be counted as their elective. |
| Linking
Assessment and Instruction |
LLC
5050 |
3 |
| Language
Teaching Lab |
LLC
5826 |
3 |
| Language
and Cultural Study in Mexico |
LLC
5835 |
3 |
| Integrating Technology
in the Curriculum |
IT 5510 |
3 |
IT (Instructional
Technology) courses are offered at
University of Colorado at Denver
School of Education’s downtown
campus. |
|