- Is the online degree program a full-time or part-time program? Can I take less than nine credits per semester?
The online degree program requires students to take nine credits per semester, a typical full-time student course load. We work with cohorts of students who all begin their degree program at the same time and take more or less the same courses each semester.
- What is a cohort and how do cohorts work?
A cohort is a group of students who all enter a degree program at the same time (in our case, only each Fall), take the same courses, and finish the program at the same time. Our program works with cohorts and therefore students are all required to follow the same coursework and take three courses per semester.
The cohort model is used for many reasons. First, we do not want to compromise the quality of our program. We want our online students to have access to the same highly qualified and experienced faculty as our on-campus students and to go through the same high quality program. Although it may seem that the internet would allow for unlimited class sizes, each student in a class still needs the personal attention of a professor (to answer questions, evaluate assignments, etc.). With cohorts it is easier to monitor students’ progress and ensure quality. In addition, cohorts work better to create a sense of community between students who will be taking the same courses for two years. Without the face-to-face interaction, we need to be intentional about creating an environment conducive to community in our program and having students go through the program together with the same "classmates" allows us to do that.
- I have to work full-time while taking courses online. Aren’t nine credits per semester a bit much to require of students who are also working full time? Is your program designed with the needs and practicalities of working professionals in mind?
We try to offer a combination of courses that create a manageable workload for those students who work full time. In fact, the majority of both our on-campus and online students in the Applied Linguistics Department work full time, many of them as teachers. In our experience, it is possible to negotiate having a full-time job and taking nine graduate credits but not without having to make some sacrifices! This program cannot simply be done in one’s free time. It is a full-fledged graduate program and students must plan to give their studies the time required for any graduate program.
- What kind of time commitment is roughly expected for each course?
You should expect to spend the same time per course that you would if you were taking a normal on-campus graduate course in terms of class preparation. Your course work will include readings, regular assignments, writing papers, and participating in discussions through the online course discussion boards. What actually takes more time is the participation in these discussions since, unlike in traditional on-campus classes, you will be spending time typing your input and reading other students' postings. However, these discussions have the advantage of allowing everyone to participate as much as they like and have time to form and express their thoughts.
- Are the online courses different from the courses taught on campus?
Courses are taught by the full-time faculty of the Applied Linguistics Department and invited specialists. Their courses use the same readings and other course materials as on-campus courses with the advantage that audio-visual materials are available on demand and (for linguistics courses) computer modeling and analysis software will operate online. Faculty require similar work from students (seminar reports, papers, problem sets and examinations) and use similar standards in evaluating student work whether a course is taught online or in the classroom. All of this, of course, is adapted to the online learning environment. There are many advantages to online courses in that student participation can be more extensive and thorough than what might happen in three-hour class periods, and comments can be more carefully thought through and sophisticated when in writing.
- What is the schedule for classes?
Students must complete weekly readings and participate in threaded discussions each week. You can do so at any point during the week, but there is always a cutoff day (usually it is Saturday, but different professors structure their weeks differently). There are some required synchronous components but these are worked out between the professor and the students so people in different time zones and with different schedules can be accommodated.
In addition to the readings and discussions, you will also have some assignments to complete during the semester: a mid-term paper or exam, a final paper or exam and possibly smaller assignments. Remember that although our courses are online and you may access them anytime you like.
- Will my courses include interaction with real teachers?
Yes, your teachers are real and they currently teach in the program now, both in the classroom and through our online courses. Professors frequently participate in the online discussions, provide feedback and are very accessible. Furthermore, there is a synchronous communication tool (Horizon Wimba Virtual Classroom) that enables the class to communicate via audio in real time.
- Can I complete the program while residing outside the United States?
This is not a problem at all. Most of our online students are located outside of the United States. There are not many synchronous features in the courses and there are archives for everything that happens instantaneously in the event that you cannot take part in some real-time class event due to a time difference.
- Is this a real master’s degree from a real university?
Our program is the online counterpart of the traditional on-campus master’s program in Applied Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts Boston, a fully accredited public university. Our on-campus master’s program is a highly successful, very challenging and demanding graduate program and is admittedly among the best programs of its kind in the United States. Our online curriculum is very rigorous and designed to meet the same very high standards of any University of Massachusetts degree program. Please review our on-campus program at
http://www.umb.edu/academics/departments/apling/.
- Is my diploma going to say that it is an online degree? Does an online master’s degree carry the same academic recognition as a master’s degree done on campus?
Nowhere on your transcript or diploma does it state that you completed your course work through an online program. All courses and syllabi used in the online program are the same as those used for the on-campus degree. You will graduate with a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a fully accredited university degree.
- How long has the University of Massachusetts had this program?
Fall 2006 marks the initiation of our first online cohort of degree-seeking students. However, we have offered 2-3 courses online per semester for the past four years.
- I’m not sure that I am ready to make the commitment to a full online degree program. Is it is possible to just "try it out" and see how it goes?
Yes, students have the option to take a course or two as non-matriculated (i.e. non-degree seeking) before officially enrolling in the full online program. Please see the
Admissions section of this FAQ for more information.
- What are the concentrations? Will you have a concentration in Bilingual Studies?
At this time we are only offering two concentrations, English as a second language (ESL) and foreign language pedagogy. There is a bilingual education component in the ESL concentration and students in the foreign language pedagogy concentration can take it as an elective. See
Courses for more information on the two concentrations.
- What career tracks have previous graduates from the Applied Linguistics Department followed?
Most of our students go on to teaching careers in both public and private K-12 and adult education in all kinds of language settings including ESL, EFL, foreign language pedagogy, and bilingual education, both inside the United States and abroad. Others work as directors in language institutes all over the world; a considerable number of our students go on to pursue doctoral studies as well.
- I am an international student. I don’t understand how credits and semesters work. Can you explain? How long is one semester in the United States?
In the Applied Linguistics program, each course is worth three credits, which means that you will need ten courses - or 30 credits - to complete the program. The school year is comprised of two semesters, the Fall semester, which extends from the beginning of the September to mid December, and the Spring semester, which extends from the last week of January to mid-May (approximately 15 weeks each). For the exact semester dates, please check the academic calendar for CCDE classes. IF you'd like more information on how credits are issued, please go to the university graduate admissions website at
http://www.umb.edu/students/student_rights/grad_academic_regulations.html.
