Note: This is the 2023–2024 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The M.A. in Second Language Education consists of a 45-credit thesis or non-thesis program. It provides an overview of the state of the art in second language acquisition, assessment and evaluation, and research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. The program covers a wide range of current topics in applied linguistics and offers opportunities to specialize in educational sociolinguistics, curricular/methods and program planning areas (for example, content-based second language teaching or “immersion”), language testing, language policy and planning, and critical applied linguistics. Graduates may go on to doctoral work in applied linguistics. They may also seek employment at ministry, school board, or other sites of active research on second languages. Many graduates also continue active careers in school contexts as second language teaching practitioners, program administrators or evaluators.
Thesis Courses (24 credits)
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EDSL 666 Thesis Research 1 (6 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Submission of a thesis proposal.
Terms: Fall 2023, Summer 2024
Instructors: Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail; Galante, Angelica; Peters, Stephen (Fall) Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail (Summer)
Fall, Winter
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EDSL 667 Thesis Research 2 (6 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Presentation of thesis proposal.
Terms: Fall 2023, Summer 2024
Instructors: Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail; Galante, Angelica; Peters, Stephen (Fall) Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail (Summer)
Fall, Winter
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EDSL 668 Thesis Research 3 (6 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Master's thesis.
Terms: Winter 2024, Summer 2024
Instructors: Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail; Galante, Angelica; Peters, Stephen (Winter) Ballinger, Susan Gail (Summer)
Fall, Winter
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EDSL 669 Thesis Research 4 (6 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Master's thesis.
Terms: Winter 2024, Summer 2024
Instructors: Sarkar, Mela; Ballinger, Susan Gail; Galante, Angelica; Peters, Stephen (Winter) Ballinger, Susan Gail (Summer)
Fall, Winter
Required Courses (12 credits)
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EDEM 690 Research Methods: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Overview
Admin & Policy Studies in Ed : Overview of the epistemological foundations of a range of research methods, including but not limited to quantitative, philosophical, qualitative, arts-based, and mixed methods. Students will learn techniques to conduct research and to develop a research proposal.
Terms: Fall 2023, Summer 2024
Instructors: Zhao, Pengfei (Fall) Zhao, Pengfei (Summer)
Fall, Winter
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fifth lecture day.
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EDPE 575 Statistics for Practitioners (3 credits)
Overview
Ed Psych & Couns (Psychology) : Understanding and interpreting basic statistical procedures used in basic and applied research, including graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, hypothesis testing, and correlations, t-tests, and basic ANOVA designs.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Robinson, Kristy (Winter)
Prerequisite EDPE 602
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EDSL 623 Second Language Learning (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Seminar in second language acquisition theory and research and their relevance to teaching a second language.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Galante, Angelica (Fall)
Fall
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EDSL 627 Instructed Second Language Acquisition Research (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Seminar in second language classroom-centred research focusing on instructional procedures and practices in relationship to learning outcomes.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Ballinger, Susan Gail (Fall)
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits selected from the following courses:
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EDEC 630 Ethnographic Approaches to Research
(3 credits)
Overview
Curriculum and Instruction : Ethnography as a qualitative research approach that allows researchers to conduct in-depth studies of complex social and cultural practices. Hands-on experience in ethnographic field work and practice ethnographic research methods are offered. Focus on history and application of a range of ethnographic approaches including traditional, critical, visual, activist, institutional, and collaborative ethnography.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: McPherson, Heather (Winter)
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EDSL 630.
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EDEM 609 Critical Perspectives in Educational Theory and Research (3 credits)
Overview
Admin & Policy Studies in Ed : Critical exploration of contemporary issues in educational theory and research, in terms of current scholarship in the field, current educational contexts, and various research paradigms. Educational issues as expressions of social, ethical, political, economic, epistemological and cultural reconfigurations. Students will learn to be critical consumers of educational theories and research.
Terms: Fall 2023, Summer 2024
Instructors: Howard, Philip S S (Fall) Tabi, Emmanuel; Boyle, Dale (Summer)
Fall, Winter
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fifth lecture day.
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EDSL 617 Special Topics in Second Language Education (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : In-depth study of current topics in Second Language Education. (Content varies from year to year.)
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Chestnutt, Hannah (Winter)
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EDSL 620 Social Justice Issues in Second Language Education (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : An examination of social identity, non-dominant languages, and power relations among speakers, and their impact on the nature of second/additional language teaching, learning and use, from the perspective of critical applied linguistics. Topics range from the micro level of the individual to the macro level of language planning and policy-making.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Sarkar, Mela (Winter)
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EDSL 624 Educational Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Seminar in the social, cultural and political dimensions of English second language learning and teaching.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Fall
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EDSL 631 Second Language Curriculum (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Research, theory and practice in curriculum development and teaching in second language education within contemporary frameworks.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Galante, Angelica (Fall)
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EDSL 632 Second Language Literacy Development (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Theory and research related to the teaching and learning of second language literacy. The orientation is on reading and writing as a socio-cognitive activity.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Mueller, Caroline (Fall)
Fall
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EDSL 640 Language Awareness: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Explores the concept of language awareness-learners’ and teachers’ explicit knowledge about and conscious perception of language in relation to its learning, teaching, and use. Will further outline possibilities for promoting learners’ language awareness in the L2 classroom.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Ballinger, Susan Gail (Winter)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EDSL 617 when topic was "Language Awareness: Theory and Practice".
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EDSL 651 Content-Based L2 Learning (3 credits)
Overview
Education in Second Languages : Theoretical research underpinnings of learning a second language through content-based approaches and analysis of empirical studies undertaken in a wide range of immersion and other content-based L2 classrooms.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Winter
Elective Course (3 credits)
3 credits at the 500, 600, or 700 level chosen in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.