Linguistics, BA / Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), EdM
Study the function and structure of language and how it is concerned with communication as a general aspect of human knowledge and behavior. Then, turn it into a career teaching English to others.
The Secrets of Communication
The UB Teach linguistics and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) education program is an accelerated, combined degree program where you can earn a linguistics bachelor's and an ESOL master's in five years. It provides content expertise in linguistics and prepares you to teach English to speakers of other languages from PreK to 12. You'll study in both the Linguistics Department and the Department of Learning and Instruction.
Enrolled students will:
- Understand core concepts of linguistics and key literature in the field.
- Develop awareness of linguistic diversity and variability within cognitive and social contexts.
- Participate in intensive clinical education experiences with Western New York schools, learning the nuances of the teaching profession.
- Gain skills, expertise and confidence to implement evidence-based practices and co-teach with an expert teacher in a one-year residency.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Education (EdM) |
|---|---|
| Certification option | Successful completion of program leads to an institutional recommendation for New York State initial and professional certification in ESOL |
| Grade levels | PreK to 12 |
| Credits required for completion | 144 |
| Time to completion | 5 years |
| Course delivery | On campus, some online coursework |
| Experiential contact hours |
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| Application deadline | Early action: Nov. 15 Scholarship consideration: Dec. 8 Regular decision: Feb. 1 Students can continue to submit an application for fall consideration until capacity is reached. |
Coursework Note
This is a sample course schedule. These courses are subject to change. As a student in the UB Teach program, you must work closely with your advisor before registering for classes.
Required Undergraduate Education Courses
- CEP 400 Educational Psychology
- LAI 350 Introduction to Education
- LAI 474 Teaching the Exceptional Learner
Linguistics BA Courses
- LIN 205 Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
- LIN 301 Structure of English: The Sound System
- LIN 302 Structure of English: Grammar and Lexicon
One 300/400-Level Course in Culture and Meaning
- LIN 311 Variation in English
- LIN 315 Language in its Social Setting
- LIN 333 Introduction to Linguistic Meaning
- LIN 356 Introduction to Contemporary Theories of Metaphor
- LIN 405 Bilingualism and Language Contact
- LIN 413 Language and Cognition
- LIN 417 Psycholinguistics
- LIN 421 Linguistic Anthropology
- LIN 438 Semantics
- LIN 455 Language Acquisition
One 300/400-Level Course in the Structure of Language
- ASL 411 Introduction to American Sign Language Linguistics
- CHI 410 Introduction to Chinese Linguistics
- GER 408 Structure of Modern German Grammar
- JPN 411 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
- KOR 411 Introduction to Korean
- LIN 427 Undergraduate Field Methods
- LIN 460 Structure of a Particular Language
Linguistics Electives
Select seven additional electives from the list below. At least four elective courses (12 credits) must be 300/400 level. LIN 496 Internship may only count once for 3 credits.
- LIN 104 Writing Systems
- LIN 106 Languages of the Word
- LIN 108 The Roots of English
- LIN 200 Language in Pluralistic America
- LIN 207 Language, Society and the Individual
- LIN 215 Language and Identity at Work
- LIN 275 Languages and Cultures of Native North America
- LIN 311 Variation in English
- LIN 313 Linguistics Topics
- LIN 315 Language in its Social Setting
- LIN 320 Language and the Brain
- LIN 342 Introduction to Cognitive Science
- LIN 345 Natural Language and the Computer
- LIN 355 Child Language Development
- LIN 356 An Introduction to Contemporary Theories of Metaphor
- LIN 404 Discourse-Pragmatics
- LIN 405 Bilingualism and Language Contact
- LIN 410 Morphology
- LIN 413 Language and Cognition
- LIN 414 History of the English Language
- LIN 415 Syntax I
- LIN 417 Psycholinguistics
- LIN 421 Linguistic Anthropology
- LIN 424 Corpus Linguistics
- LIN 425 Typology and Universals
- LIN 426 Comparative Syntactic Theories
- LIN 427 Undergraduate Field Methods
- LIN 431 Phonetics
- LIN 432 Phonology I
- LIN 434 Syntax 2
- LIN 437 The Syntax of Romance
- LIN 438 Semantics
- LIN 439 Historical Linguistics
- LIN 443 Semantics II
- LIN 452 Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar
- LIN 455 Language Acquisition
- LIN 460 Structure of a Particular Language
- LIN 465 Introduction to Dialectology
- LIN 467 Computational Linguistics
- LIN 468 Advanced Computational Linguistics
- LIN 493 Sociolinguistics
- LIN 494 Senior Seminar
- LIN 496 Internship
- LIN 497 Honors Thesis
- LIN 499 Independent Study
Progression to Graduate Coursework
You will not apply separately to graduate study; instead, there are a series of progression points that you must meet.
Advancement to the graduate portion of the program requires that you:
- maintain a 3.0 GPA
- earn a “C” grade or higher in content courses (courses in the major)
- earn a “B-” or better in all education and graduate level coursework
ESOL EdM Courses
- LAI 550 Literacy Acquisition and Instruction, Pre-K to Primary
- LAI 579 ESL Literacy/Focus Reading
- LAI 581 Linguistics For L2 Education
- LAI 582 Principles Language Acquisition 1st & 2nd
- LAI 585 L2 Literacy/Focus Writing
- LAI 587 Methods ESL Content Areas
- LAI 592 Foundations of Bilingual Education: Theory, Policies, & Practices
- LAI 594 Pedagogical Grammar/English
- LAI 595 Supervised Teaching 2
- LAI 667 Field Experience
- LAI 668 Supervised Teaching 1
- LAI 674 Seminar in Teaching
- LAI 681 Understanding/Teaching Second Language Culture
- LAI 682 Assessing Second Language Proficiency
- LAI 694 Instruct Strategies For Special Needs/Gifted
- LAI 700 Capstone or Comprehensive Exam or LAI 701 Individual Thesis
- LIN 515 Syntax 1 or LIN 531 Phonetics or LIN 538 Semantics
- LIN 532 Phonology 1 or LIN 543 Semantics 2
- English as a Second Language instruction
- Language teaching
- Educational policy
- Multicultural services