Master of Science in Second Language Teaching

Graduate Program (fully online, asynchronous)

teacher working with students learning language

Overview

Online, Asynchronous Format Available for All Courses

Starting Fall 2025, we will offer all our courses in an online format to accommodate the locations and schedules of our working students with family and other obligations.

The Master of Science in Second Language Teaching (MS in SLT) is an innovative, interdisciplinary master's degree program with a strong practical emphasis.

It is designed for students desiring additional training at the graduate level in an integrative program combining coursework in the fields of Foreign Language Education, Bilingual/Immersion Education or ESL/EFL Education.

Attainment of the MS in SLT degree requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credits of coursework, focused on language, literacy, and culture. In addition, the program emphasizes teaching methodology, curriculum preparation, materials development, and assessment.

We also offer a collaborative track with the College of Education that leads to certification by the Utah State Board of Education for teaching grades 6-12 with a World Languages endorsement. This track requires an in-person component.

You can also earn an ESL Endorsement while completing the MS in SLT degree. Check the requirements on the Secondary Education page. The College of Education also offers a Dual Language Immersion Endorsement that is available to MS in SLT students, more information can be found on the Dual Language Immersion Endorsement page.

Please contact Bobbi Crabtree for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education program.

Alumni Stories

The MS in SLT Program would like to highlight some of its amazing alumni who are making great use of their MSLT degrees.

Read their stories

WICHE

The MS in SLT program is approved as a Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). This means that applicants who are officially residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming can attend the MS in SLT program at Utah’s in-state tuition rates, in effect lowering their tuition cost by two-thirds.

WRGP Application for Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

Master's Portfolio

Students develop a Master's Portfolio during their time in the program. The Portfolio contains a comprehensive statement of the candidate's philosophy of second language teaching and learning and how this philosophy will be applied in the professional environment. The Portfolio is defended before the candidate's supervisory committee.

Portfolio Guidelines

Sample Portfolios

Research-Focused Education

In the MSLT program, students are required to take the LING 6010 course (Research in Second Language Learning) which equips them with the knowledge and tools to carry out their own research projects. MSLT students are also able to work with faculty members, and these collaborations often lead to co-authored research- or teaching-related projects that are published in academic journals.