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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Applied Linguistics Minor

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section in this catalog.

Applied Linguistics Minor

The applied linguistics minor is designed for students interested in pursuing the systematic study of language and applied issues in the use, learning, and teaching of language. Students with a minor in applied linguistics will be well prepared to teach English internationally as well as to work in such settings as adult literacy, refugee services, nonprofit/NGO services, and publishing. The minor is an excellent disciplinary complement to majors such as anthropology, classics, communications, computer science, English, education, modern languages, philosophy, psychology, and writing.

REQUIREMENTS

The AL minor requires three foundation courses and four electives for a total of 21 credits. Three electives must be chosen from English. The fourth elective must be chosen from a list of cross-departmental electives or be approved by an English linguistics advisor.

Applied Linguistics Minor requires the following 21 credits

REQUIRED FOUNDATION COURSES (9 credits)

Nine required credits:

ENGLISH ELECTIVES (9 credits)

Select THREE courses from the following:

CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL ELECTIVES (3 credits)

Select ONE course from the following:

ESL MINOR

The ESL minor is designed for majors in Secondary Education and PCKET who wish to add ESL certification to their teaching credentials. The curriculum meets Michigan Department of Education (MDE) standards for ESL endorsement, an add-on credential to an initial Michigan teaching license, which qualifies candidates to teach multilingual English learners in grades PK 12. To earn ESL endorsement, students must complete the required curriculum (outlined below) and pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in ESL.

Earning ESL endorsement significantly enhances teachers' marketability. Districts across Michigan and nationwide are experiencing a growing demand for educators who can effectively support multilingual learners. More than half (59%) of elementary schools and 69% of secondary schools in the U.S. reported difficulty filling ESL teaching positions with qualified candidates in 2024-2025 (National Center for Educational Statistics). More than 60,000 new ESL teaching positions are expected to open over the next decade (Zippia, 2024). Graduates with ESL endorsement are qualified for more positions, experience greater job stability, and often become instructional leaders in their schools. They are also prioritized by principals in hiring decisions. Adding GVSU's ESL minor makes a powerful investment in your future.

ESL Minor requires the following 24 credits

COURSES REQUIRED PRIOR TO ESL STUDENT TEACHING (12 credits)

COURSES REQUIRED DURING THE ESL STUDENT TEACHING SEMESTER (12 credits)

EDR 470 is a six-credit, semester-long, student teaching internship in ESL. Candidates will participate in EDR 470 seminar meetings and have full-day field placements in ESL contexts. EDR 470 is to be taken concurrently with ENG 469 ESL Practicum (3) and EGR 360 English Grammar and Usage (3) in the academic semester after a candidate has completed their major area student teaching (EDR 470 or ).

Note to PCKET majors pursuing Grade bands 3-6 and PK-6:

Adding the ESL minor exempts you from having to complete a Concentration in ENG, MTH, SST, or SCI. The ESL minor fulfills/replaces the 9-credit Concentration requirement for 3-6 teachers.

Experience Learning an Additional Language

In addition to the required coursework, the MDE requires all candidates pursuing ESL endorsement to have documented experience learning a second language, equivalent to two semesters of college-level study. Students pursuing a B.A. from GVSU fulfill this state requirement by achieving third semester proficiency in a second language. Students pursuing a B.S. from GVSU (most PCKET majors) can fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Completing two semesters of second language study at the college level;
  • Demonstrating second semester proficiency in a second language, as measured by the appropriate; proficiency exam administered by GVSU's Department of Modern Languages or Classics;
  • Holding a certificate from a language institute verifying 15 weeks of intensive second language study;
  • Other means; consult an advisor or the section chair of Applied Linguistics & ESL to discuss.

If you are in need of assistance please submit any questions or comments.