2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
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.
Website: gvsu.edu/english
The applied linguistics minor has two tracks: The general track (21 credits) and the ESL track for those seeking K-12 ESL teaching certification (23 credits).
General Track
The general track of the applied linguistics minor is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a systematic study of language and applied issues in language teaching, language learning, and language use. Students with a minor in applied linguistics/general track are well prepared to teach English internationally as well as to work in such settings as adult literacy, refugee services, nonprofit/NGO services, and electronic and print publishing. The minor is an excellent disciplinary complement to majors such as anthropology, classics, communications, computing and information systems, English, education, modern languages, philosophy, psychology, and writing.
Requirements for the General Track
The general track 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 the cross-departmental elective list or be approved by an English linguistics advisor.
Foundation Courses
Nine required credits:
- ENG 261 - Foundations of Language Study (3 credits)
- ENG 363 - Applied Linguistics (3 credits)
- ENG 364 - Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
English Electives
Nine credits required; select from the following courses:
- ENG 362 - History of the English Language (3 credits)
- ENG 365 - Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits)
- ENG 366 - English Grammar and Usage (3 credits)
- ENG 390 - Topics in Language and Rhetoric (3 credits)
- ENG 392 - Language and Power (3 credits)
- ENG 461 - Language and Gender (3 credits)
- ENG 465 - Teaching Second Language Reading and Writing (3 credits)
- ENG 467 - Language Disorders and English Literacy (3 credits)
- ENG 469 - ESL Teaching Practicum (3 credits)
Cross-departmental Electives
Three credits required; select from the following courses:
- ANT 207 - Language and Culture (3 credits)
- CIS 343 - Structure of Programming Languages (3 credits)
- CIS 365 - Applied Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- CIS 461 - Compiler Design and Construction (3 credits)
- FRE 331 - French Phonetics (3 credits)
- FRE 332 - Introduction to French Linguistics (3 credits)
- GER 321 - Improving German Pronunciation (3 credits)
- GER 322 - Introduction to German Linguistics (3 credits)
- GER 421 - History of the German Language (3 credits)
- PHI 203 - Intermediate Logic (3 credits)
- PHI 470 - Truth, Meaning, Communication: Philosophy of Language (3 credits)
- PSY 305 - Infant and Early Childhood Development (3 credits)
- PSY 357 - Psychology of Language (3 credits)
- PSY 365 - Cognition (3 credits)
- SPA 308 - Spanish Phonetics (3 credits)
- SPA 309 - Advanced Spanish Grammar (3 credits)
- SPA 327 - The History of the Spanish Language (3 credits)
- SPA 329 - Sociolinguistics of Spanish (3 credits)
- SPA 335 - Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (3 credits)
ESL Track
The ESL track of the applied linguistics minor is designed for students seeking elementary (including PCKET) or secondary teacher certification in the U.S. The curriculum meets Michigan Department of Education (MDE) standards for a teachable minor for elementary and secondary certification and leads to ESL endorsement, an add-on credential to a Michigan teaching license. To qualify for ESL endorsement, students must also pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in ESL.
Course Requirements
23 credits are required. Students must complete 18 credits of coursework in English and a supervised teaching practicum through the College of Education and Community Innovation to fulfill the applied linguistics minor/ESL track.
English Courses
18 credits are required.
- ENG 261 - Foundations of Language Study (3 credits)
- ENG 363 - Applied Linguistics (3 credits)
- ENG 364 - Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
- ENG 365 - Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits)
- ENG 366 - English Grammar and Usage (3 credits)
- ENG 465 - Teaching Second Language Reading and Writing (3 credits)
CECI Practicum
There are 5 credits required.
- EDR 470 - Directed Teaching in ESL: Elementary (5 credits) OR EDR 471 - Directed Teaching in ESL: Secondary (5 credits)
Note about extended practicum schedule: EDR 470/EDR 471 is offered in winter semesters only, during an extended (20-week) semester that ends approximately mid-June. Students must register for EDR 470/EDR 471 concurrently with their major subject area student teaching (EDI 430/EDI 431).
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' worth of college-level study. Students pursuing a B.A. from GVSU fulfill this state requirement by completion of the degree requirement that requires third semester proficiency in a second language. Students pursuing a B.S. from GVSU can fulfill the state requirement in one of the following ways:
- Two semesters of second language study at the college level
- Second semester proficiency in a second language as demonstrated by the appropriate proficiency exam(s) administered by the Modern Languages and Literatures Department or the Classics Department
- Certificate from an intensive language institute verifying at least 15 weeks of intensive second language study
Note to students in the following areas of teacher certification:
- If you are seeking elementary certification with a pedagogical content knowledge for elementary teaching (PCKET) major, the applied linguistics minor/ESL track fulfills the required "student-centered" minor.
- If you are seeking secondary certification in any of the state-approved teachable majors, the applied linguistics minor/ESL track fulfills the requirement for a teachable minor for initial certification.