UTS course code: C04181
Testamur title: Master of Arts in Language and Literacy
Abbreviation: MA
Course fee: HECS/$200 per cp (local); $6,900 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 48

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Advanced standing
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Assessment
Articulation and progression
Other information

Overview

This course is designed for trained experienced teachers and consultants who wish to gain a higher degree that focuses on language learning and teaching as well as language planning and policy issues. You may focus on language or literacy in one or more of the following areas: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); Teaching Languages Other Than English (LOTE) and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

Course aims

The course aims to:

• enable you to achieve or consolidate specialist, professional competence as practitioners in teaching and programming for spoken and written language development in your field of practice
• develop your understanding of the linguistic demands of teaching and learning and of issues in language development
• develop your critical understanding of the sociopolitical context of work and its impact on your practice
• develop or strengthen your capacity to undertake a range of leadership roles in your field(s) of practice whether as curriculum developers, researchers, program managers, advisers or exemplary teachers
• provide a relevant theoretical underpinning to these roles, including an in-depth understanding of the role of language in educational practices and current issues in social policy, and
• equip you with skills, knowledge and critical perspectives to undertake theoretically informed research and curriculum development in your field(s) of practice.

Admission requirements

Entry requirements are:

• an undergraduate degree or equivalent (essential)
• a teaching qualification (essential)
• at least three years' relevant teaching experience (essential)
• concurrent relevant teaching experience (desirable)
• evidence of strong academic and professional record (essential). You will be required to show evidence of strong academic record. This may consist of previous academic transcripts, copies of previously completed assignments, any previous publications, etc.

Advanced standing

If you have completed the Graduate Diploma in TESOL (C06071), you may be eligible for advanced standing for a maximum of 30 credit points in the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy.

If you have completed the Graduate Diploma in Language Teaching in TESOL (C07092) or Graduate Diploma in Literacy and Numeracy Education (C07090), you may be eligible for advanced standing for a maximum of 24 credit points in the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy.

If you have completed the Graduate Diploma in Languages Teaching (C07091), you may be eligible for a maximum of 18 credit points in the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy.

Advanced standing may also be granted on the basis of equivalent postgraduate study undertaken at other universities. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance

Days and times depend on your choice of electives and timetabling.

TESOL and ABE strands of the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy are also available in distance mode. A non-refundable administration fee applies to all subjects where students choose distance mode (to apply from 2004). This fee is $50 per distance subject (pending final UTS approval).

Course duration

The Master of Arts in Language and Literacy is normally completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. You must complete subjects totalling 48 credit points to be eligible for the award of Master of Arts in Language and Literacy.

Course structure

In order to complete the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy you need to complete five compulsory core subjects and three electives.

Compulsory core subjects

015152 Language in Social Context¹ 6cp
015120 Theory and Practice in TESOL (Adults)¹ 6cp
or
011012 Theory and Practice in TESOL (Schools)¹ 6cp
or
015157 Theory and Practice in TLOTE 6cp
or
015121 Theory and Practice in ABE 6cp
015153 Teaching and Learning Literacy¹ 6cp
015128 Sociopolitical Contexts of Language, Literacy and Numeracy Education¹ 6cp
015126 Research Approaches¹ 6cp

Possible electives

015116 Independent Research Project¹ (recommended) 6cp
010157 Teaching and Learning in Numeracy¹ 6cp
015120 Theory and Practice in TESOL (Adults)¹ 6cp
or
011012 Theory and Practice in TESOL (Schools)¹ 6cp
015121 Theory and Practice in ABE 6cp
015122 Programming, Assessment and Evaluation (Adults)¹ 6cp
or
011122 Programming, Assessment and Evaluation (Schools)¹ 6cp
015125 Phonology and Pronunciation¹ 6cp
015127 Grammar and the Construction of Meaning¹ 6cp
013369 Language, Power and Critical Literacies 6cp
015130 Global Englishes¹ 6cp
015157 Theory and Practice in TLOTE 6cp
015158 Language Development¹ 6cp
015277 Grammar, Semantics and Text Analysis² 6cp
015420 Language Education Management 6cp

Footnote:
1: These subjects are also offered in distance mode.

Your program for each semester depends on the availability of subjects in that semester. The full range of electives may not be available each year.

Course program

Typical full-time program

Typical part-time program

Spring semester
015153 Teaching and Learning Literacy 6cp
015128 Sociopolitical Contexts of Language, Literacy and Numeracy Education 6cp

Spring semester
015116 Independent Research Project 6cp
xxxxxx Elective 6cp

Footnote:
1: These subjects are also offered in distance mode.
2. Prerequisite subject is 015127 Grammar and the Construction of Meaning.

Assessment

Assessment tasks for subjects in this course may include essays, journals, units of work as well as take-home or in-class examinations. Assessment is criterion-referenced. This means that you are assessed on whether you meet certain criteria. Most subjects are graded according to the range of grades adopted by the University, others are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Articulation and progression

The Graduate Diploma in TESOL (C06071) articulates with the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy. If you have graduated from this Diploma, you may be eligible for a maximum of 30 credit points towards the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy. To take out the award of Master of Arts in Language and Literacy requires the satisfactory completion of a further three subjects.

The Graduate Diploma in Language Teaching in TESOL (C07092) and Graduate Diploma in Literacy and Numeracy Education (C07090) also articulate with the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy. If you have completed these Diplomas, you may be eligible for a maximum of 24 credit points. To take out the award of Master of Arts in Language and Literacy requires the satisfactory completion of a further four subjects.

If you have completed the Graduate Diploma in Languages Teaching (C07091) you may be eligible for a maximum of 18 credit points in the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy.

Other information

For further information about this course, contact:

telephone (02) 9514 3900
email education@uts.edu.au