Overview
Introduction and General Information
This guide is intended to provide graduate students of the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, Fairbanks
(UAF) with an understanding of the structure of the existing Master of Arts Program
in Applied Linguistics. We intend it to assist students in completing their work as
expeditiously and meaningfully as possible, while still complying with general UAF
regulations. Students are to be guided by the rules in existence at the time they
enter the MA. When changes in program rules or requirements occur, the student has
the option of completing the program under the new set of rules rather than remaining
with the rules of entry. In this case, the student must obtain approval from 1) each
member of the Advisory Committee, 2) the Program chair, 3) the Dean of the college
of Liberal Arts. These approvals must be recorded with the Dean of the Graduate School.
Some of the information in this guide replicates information for graduate students
available in the most current General Catalog of the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥,
which sets forth the official Board of Regents' Policies and University Regulations
on admission procedures, completion of requirements, etc. Additional and specific
information relevant to the MA Program in Applied Linguistics is provided in this
manual.
Students themselves are ultimately responsible for ensuring that they meet the requirements
for their degree as set forth in this Graduate Student Manual, that the completion
of each formal requirement is properly recorded, and that their departmental and Graduate
School files are complete and up-to-date. Program faculty are ready to assist whenever
the student feels that there is some uncertainty or problem.
Introduction to the M.A. in Applied Linguistics
The UAF MA Program in Applied Linguistics provides students with training in applied linguistics, broadly defined to include second language teaching, curriculum and materials development, documentary linguistics, and language policy and planning. The Linguistics Program is highly interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on faculty expertise in the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native Language Program, the Department of Anthropology, the Department of English, the School of Education, and the Department of Foreign Languages. Students in the Linguistics Program work closely with faculty engaged in primary research to develop linguistic applications relevant to ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and beyond.
Degrees Offered
Graduate students in applied linguistics may pursue a general program or develop a concentration in either language documentation or second language acquisition and teacher education. Students are expected either to have or to develop proficiency in at least one language other than English, as demonstrated by a proficiency exam or a comparable measure determined by the student's graduate committee. Students pursuing certification in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education must demonstrate proficiency in the language they intend to teach.
The general program provides students with a practical foundation in linguistics but remains broad enough to allow exploration of a variety of possible thesis topics.
Language documentation is designed to provide practical foundations in linguistics, techniques of fieldwork and documentation, with special focus on ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native languages.
Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education is designed for students interested in teaching English as a second language, a foreign or ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Native language. It is designed to provide theoretical and practical foundations in second language acquisition, language teaching, materials development and language assessment.