The program is intended for working professionals who wish to further their understanding of language acquisition by pursuing a graduate degree. All classes are offered online and students may take courses on a full-time or part-time basis.
The core curriculum focuses on cross-cultural competencies, the linguistic, psychological and social influences that affect the acquisition of a second language, as well as advanced teaching approaches, educational research, and educational technology. There are two emphases: Spanish and Multilingual Learners/ESOL. Students in the Spanish emphasis also explore the varied literary, cultural, and linguistic dimensions of relevance to Spanish speakers throughout the world, while students in Multilingual Learners emphasis examine the cultural and linguistic aspects of language acquisition to prepare them to work more effectively with English language learners in the US and abroad.
Student also complete 6 credit hours of approved electives and a minimum of 50 hours of field experience. All master's degree candidates complete a capstone teaching portfolio in the final semester that is aligned with the national standards for the preparation of language teachers put forth by the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The degree must be completed within six years of the entrance date.
Although the M.Ed. in Languages is a degree in Education, it does not lead to initial teacher certification in South Carolina. However, it can lead to add-on certification in Spanish or PK12 Multilingual Learner Education.