Second Language Acquisition (SLMA)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Arts and Humanities
Abstract
The M.A. is intended primarily as a two-year program for full-time students. A very limited number of part-time students would also be admitted. It will provide students with rigorous, comprehensive training in the theory and research of second (including foreign) language learning, teaching and testing, and related areas. A major program focus includes preparation for those working, or intending to work, in programs for tertiary students and adults studying less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), e.g., East-Asian and Middle-Eastern languages, and such modern European languages as Spanish, French, Italian and German. Areas of particular faculty expertise include cognitive processes in SLA; language teaching methodology and pedagogy; psycholinguistics; language processing; individual differences in such factors as age, aptitude, and working memory; second language analysis; interlanguage studies; heritage learners; needs analysis; syllabus design; materials writing; learner training; language assessment; program evaluation; second language research methods; task-based language teaching; and uses of technology in language learning and testing.
Financial Assistance
Masters Degree and Certificate students in the College of Arts and Humanities are rarely offered funding. It is expected that students admitted to the SLA M.A. or Certificate Program will come with outside sponsorship.
Contact
Kira Gor, Ph.D.
Director of SLA Program
School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
2106E Jimenez Hall
4125 North Library Lane
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.0185
Email: kiragor@umd.edu
Website: http://www.sllc.umd.edu
Courses: SLAA
General Requirements
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
Program-Specific Requirements
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
- CV/Resume
- Writing Sample (one required, up to one more optional)
Students may enter the program in the Fall semester only. Prior to admission to the program, applicants must have successfully completed a Bachelors degree from an accredited university in a relevant field, e.g., linguistics, applied linguistics, psychology, foreign languages, applied linguistics, cognitive science, anthropology or education.
For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website.
Application Deadlines
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline | Spring Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | ||
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 17, 2025 | September 27, 2024 |
| International Applicants | ||
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | January 17, 2025 | September 27, 2024 |
Other Deadlines: Please visit the program website at http://www.sllc.umd.edu
In addition to the University graduate library, the SLA program offers research facilities and resources to facilitate research and materials development, including a multimedia SLA Lab, the Language House, The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, the Office of Information Technology, and the Center for Teaching Excellence.
Students completing coursework with affiliate faculty in the Departments of Psychology, Communication, Linguistics, and Education as well as the Center for Advanced Study of Languages may have access to their respective resources.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doughty | Catherine J. | Associate | B.A., Ursinus College, 1978; M.S., University of Pennsylvania, 1982; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1988. | Professor, Second Language Acquisition Research Scientist, Second Language Acquisition |
| Gor | Kira | Full Member | M.A., Leningrad State University, 1977; Ph.D., 1983; Ph.D., Bryn Mawr College, 1993. | Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Jiang | Nan | Full Member | B.A., Nanjiang Normal University, China, 1984; M.A. East China Normal University, 1987; Ph.D. University of Arizona, 1998. | Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition Associate Professor, Second Language Acquisition |
| Kuchinsky | Stefanie E. | Associate | B.A., Brandeis University, 2003; M.A., University of Illinois, 2006; Ph.D., University of Illinois, 2009. | Associate Research Scientist, Second Language Acquisition Research Scientist, Second Language Acquisition |
| Ross | Steven J. | Full Member | B.A. Whittier College 1974; M.A. University of New Mexico 1981; Ph.D. University of Hawai'i 1995. | Director, Second Language Acquisition Professor, Second Language Acquisition |