Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Students to the Graduate Program in Foreign Language Education

When is the application deadline for the academic year 2009-2010?

The application deadline to start the FLE program in summer or fall 2009 is December 15, 2008.

Can I start the program in the spring semester?

No, the FLE program does not accept applications for the spring semester. You can only apply for the summer or fall semesters.

Is FLE a graduate program within the department of Curriculum & Instruction?

No, FLE and Curriculum & Instruction are separate graduate programs. FLE houses MA programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language and the Teaching of other languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, German, etc.) as well as PhD programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language, the Teaching of other languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, German, etc.), and Applied Linguistics.

If you wish to apply to FLE, be certain to select the major code for FLE (632335).

I am interested in teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language. Should I apply to the Department of Curriculum & Instruction or to Foreign Language Education?

FLE and Curriculum & Instruction are separate graduate programs. FLE houses the MA program in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language as well as PhD programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language and Applied Linguistics. Therefore, if you are interested in ESL/EFL, you should probably select the FLE program.

 

Depending on their interests, some students also consider the graduate programs in Language and LIteracy and/or Bilingual-Bicultural Education housed in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. Students who apply to programs in Curriculum & Instruction should know that many FLE courses are restricted to FLE students and do not admit students from other programs.

Do I have to submit GRE scores?

Yes, all applicants to the FLE program must submit GRE scores. International applicants must also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Students from countries where these tests are not offered should contact the Graduate Adviser.

I am an international applicant who completed an MA in an English-speaking country (US, Great Britain, Australia, etc.) Do I have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?

Yes, international applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores even if they have received or will receive an MA from a university in an English-speaking country.

Can I be admitted to the FLE program conditionally and then take the GRE and/or the TOEFL or IELTS (if an international student)?

No, the FLE program does not admit students conditionally. The FLE program does not consider applications without GRE scores and in the case of international students without TOEFL or IELTS scores.

What are the minimum GRE scores required for admission?

We do not have specific requirements for GRE scores. Applications are considered holistically by an admissions committee. The Admissions Committee considers the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytic Writing scores of the GRE separately.

What are the minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores required for admission?

We do not have specific requirements for TOEFL or IELTS scores. Applications are considered holistically by an admissions committee. The individual scores on the TOEFL or IELTS are considered separately.

Will I be accepted?

It is difficult to predict if any individual student will be accepted. The Admissions Committee carefully considers each application and grants admission to the number of applicants, we feel that we can accommodate in the program.

What does the Admissions Committee look for in a PhD application?

The Admissions Committee considers an applicant's potential and accomplishments both as a researcher and as a language teaching professional. Your essay and letters of recommendation should address these issues. At least two letters of recommendation should come from faculty members in your MA program.

 

The statement of purpose is especially important in a PhD application since one of our faculty members must agree to supervise your research. The Admissions Committee also looks for professional accomplishments such as presentations and publications and other indications of leadership in PhD applicants.

Can I apply directly to the PhD program, if I do not already have an MA?

No, The FLE program does not accept students into the PhD program who do not have a CLOSELY RELATED MA. MA students may apply to the PhD program at the completion of their MA degree, but continuation into the PhD program is NOT guaranteed.

What are the required tuition and fees?

The University of Texas website has information about tuition and fees for Texas residents and non-residents. Please consult the Graduate School tuition and fees website and related links: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/recruit/tuition.html.

How long does it take to complete the MA program?

Most students complete the program in 3 semesters and a summer or 4 semesters.

How long does it take to complete the PhD program?

It is difficult to estimate how long it will take an individual student to complete the PhD program because the amount of time depends on many factors including courses completed in the MA program and dissertation topic. Many students complete the PhD program in 3 or 4 years.

How many credits do students typically take each semester?

Most students take between 9 and 12 credits each semester.

Can I work full-time and complete the program in the evenings?

Generally no. Most FLE students are full time students. In addition, since the program is interdisciplinary courses are offered at different times during the day. Please contact the Graduate Adviser to discuss your particular situation.

Must I be certified to teach in order to apply to the FLE program?

No, the program does not require teacher certification.

Does the MA program in FLE include teacher certification to teach in American public schools?

The MA program in FLE does not include teacher certification. If a student wishes to teach in American public schools K-12, additional certification courses are required. Students should be aware that public school certification requirements vary from state-to-state. Please check the teacher certification website.

Do I have to have teaching experience to apply to the MA program?

No, teaching experience is not required for admission to the MA program. However, MA student who do not already have a year of full-time teaching experience will be required to complete a 3 credit internship course in addition to the other MA course requirements.

Do I have to have teaching experience to apply to the PhD program?

Successful PhD applicants have had substantial teaching or other professional experience.

I am interested in teaching English or another language to adults either in the US or abroad, is the MA program in FLE appropriate for me?

Yes, many of our students are interested in teaching adults abroad or in the US.