Master’s Program in Applied Linguistics

Admission

  1. A completed Graduate Application form. Please visit www.umb.edu/admissions/graduate/ to obtain an application or to apply online.
  2. Official transcripts from each institution (undergraduate and graduate) attended
  3. Candidates must have at least a 3.0 GPA, preferably in a relevant field of study such as foreign language, linguistics, sociology, anthropology, English, history, political science or psychology. Candidates must supply all academic transcripts, graduate and undergraduate, from schools previously attended.
  4. Candidates must supply three references, which indicate strong language skills and an ability to do academic work at the graduate level. If possible, referees should address directly the applicant’s suitability for graduate work in Applied Linguistics. At least two letters should be from academic sources (previous professors); one of the three can be from an employer, a teaching supervisor, or principal. References should state clearly how long the referee has known the applicant and in what capacity.
  5. Candidates must submit a written statement of at least 1,200 words indicating the reasons for their interest in pursuing a degree in Applied Linguistics. This statement is an important part of the application and is evaluated as evidence of the applicant’s writing ability and familiarity with issues in the field. A discussion of the applicant’s experiences in language study, language teaching/tutoring, travel, or living in other cultural settings is appropriate, as is the discussion of the candidate’s career goals. The applicant may also use the statement to directly address any areas of weakness in their application. The statement should specify the applicant’s intended concentration, whether English as a second language or Foreign language pedagogy.
  6. Non-native speakers of English must submit an official TOEFL score report with a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based test (PBT), 230 on the computer-based test (CBT), or 89 on the internet-based test (iBT).
  7. Candidates for the Foreign Language Concentration must indicate native or near-native proficiency in the language they expect to teach.
  8. Candidates for the ESL Concentration must indicate proficiency in a language other than English at a level equivalent to two years of successful college study.
  9. The Graduate Record Exam is not required but may be submitted to bolster an applicant’s academic record.