Raduate Andbook: L /tesol

Graduate Handbook 2010-2011
GRADUATE HANDBOOK
LINGUISTICS/TESOL
Linguistics and English Language Department
Brigham Young University
ONE PEAK OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE THAT IS HIGHLY RELEVANT TO

THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH IS THE REALM OF LANGUAGE. BYU SHOULD
BECOME THE ACKNOWLEDGED LANGUAGE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IN
TERMS OF OUR ACADEMIC COMPETENCY. . . . THERE IS NO REASON WHY
Brigham Young University
THIS UNIVERSITY COULD NOT BECOME THE PLACE WHERE, PERHAPS
MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE, THE CONCERN FOR LITERACY AND THE
TEACHING OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IS FIRMLY
HEADQUARTERED IN TERMS OF UNARGUABLE COMPETENCY AS WELL AS
DEEP CONCERN. --SPENCER W. KIMBALL, OCTOBER 10, 1975
Welcome to the graduate programs in the Linguistics and English Language Department of Brigham Young
University. We welcome you as friends and colleagues joining us in the development of our professions. We want
you to feel accepted and comfortable at the University and in the community. If you have any difficulties that we can
help you with, please contact your advisor, chair, the graduate coordinator, or the Linguistics and English Language
secretary.
We are proud of our graduates. You will find them in a variety of work settings around the world. We hope that you
will continually feel the stimulation that comes from new learning and experiences. We want you to succeed and
will try our best to help you to do so. This graduate handbook is one of our ways of assisting you.
TESOL MA Degree Requirements..11 Graduate Office Forms……….…...21

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Graduate Student Evaluation............12 Process for Generating a TESOL
Graduate Advisors/Committees...12-13 Thesis or Project…………….…22-23
Thesis and Project Report Format and Process for Generating a Linguistics
Mission and Aims of Graduate Style.......……………………….......13 Thesis Project ………………….24-25
Education…………………………..2 Project Expectations for TESOL or
Important Deadlines for Graduation.14
The Context of the University/ Linguistics……………………........26
Purpose of the Handbook..................3 Financial Assistance………………..15
Steps to Writing a TESOL
Internships for Graduate Students….15 Project........................................27- 28
Introduction to the Faculty............4-6
Travel Funding……………………..16 Examples of Possible Linguistics and
Linguistic/TESOL Program Learning
Outcomes………………………...7-8 Graduate Student Society…………..17 TESOL MA Project.........................28
Linguistics MA Degree Program of Study Form…………….18 Final Oral Defense……………..29-30
Requirements....................................9 Project and Thesis Comparison.........19 Completion of Degree……………..31
TESOL Graduate Certificate Thesis Expectations for TESOL and
Requirements……………………..10 Linguistics…………………....…20-21
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Linguistics/TESOL Graduate Handbook 2010-2011
MISSION AND AIMS OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The mission of the Linguistics/TESOL graduate program is to provide students

with a fundamental understanding of general and applied linguistics. Students will
gain competence in contemporary theory and practice with an emphasis on the
four aims of a BYU education:
Spirituality, Intellect, and Life-Long Habits of Learning and
Service
SPIRITUALITY: YOUR DOUBLE HERITAGE AND DUAL
and Service. CONCERNS WITH THE SECULAR AND THE SPIRITUAL REQUIRE YOU
TO BE "BILINGUAL." AS LDS SCHOLARS YOU MUST SPEAK WITH
AUTHORITY AND EXCELLENCE TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL
COLLEAGUES IN THE LANGUAGE OF SCHOLARSHIP, AND YOU MUST
ALSO BE LITERATE IN THE LANGUAGE OF SPIRITUAL THINGS. WE
MUST BE MORE BILINGUAL, IN THAT SENSE, TO FULFILL OUR
PROMISE IN THE SECOND CENTURY OF BYU.
--SPENCER W. KIMBALL, 1975
Each department graduate faculty member will help students recognize the divine nature
of the gift of language. They will encourage graduate students to seek the Spirit in their
Character language studies and related academic experiences.
INTELLECT: YOU REPRESENT IN YOUR PRESENCE ON THIS

CAMPUS THE WISDOM OF ALL THE WORLD AND OF ALL TIME . AMONG
The department graduate YOU THERE IS KNOWN MOST OF THE KNOWLEDGE EXISTING IN THE
WORLD TODAY, WHETHER IT BE OF THE STARS OF THE UNIVERSE, OF
programs will provide an
THE ROCKS OF THE EARTH , OF THE HISTORY OF NATIONS AND
environment where students can
PEOPLES , OF LANGUAGES THEY SPEAK , OF THE OPERATIONS OF
grow in integrity, kindness,
GOVERNMENTS , OF THE LAWS OF ECONOMICS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF
maturity, purity, and THE ATOM , OF THE NATURE OF ELECTRICITY, OF RELIGION AND
responsibility. Faculty, staff, ETHICS , OF LOVE AND HATE , OF THE MYRIAD FORCES AND
and students will honor their INFLUENCES CONTROLLING OUR EXISTENCE .
commitment to follow in the --GORDON B. HINCKLEY
footsteps of the Master Teacher, The department graduate faculty will strive to foster the intellectual development of all
Jesus Christ. students that they teach and mentor. They will encourage students to hunger and thirst for
knowledge and wisdom. They will also help students acquire marketable skills in the field of
You will always keep solvent, be language studies.
honest to the nth degree and
always full of integrity, not LIFE-LONG HABITS OF LEARNING AND SERVICE: THIS UNIVERSITY WILL GO
FORWARD. ITS STUDENTS ARE IDEALISTS WHO HAVE INTEGRITY, WHO LOVE TO WORK IN GOOD CAUSES.
because you are required to do
so, to keep your position, but THERE STUDENTS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE SECULAR TRAINING, BUT WILL HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID THAT THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE, WHICH HAD BEEN LOST BY SOCIETY
because you believe fully that
CENTURIES BEFORE, WAS “THE FULLNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES.” WE UNDERSTAND, AS FEW PEOPLE
God gives no commandments
DO, THAT EDUCATION IS A PART OF BEING ABOUT OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS AND THAT THE SCRIPTURES
which are not for our own CONTAIN THE MASTER CONCEPTS FOR MANKIND. --SPENCER W. KIMBALL, 1975
good.
Graduate faculty and staff in the department will regularly complement their professional
--Spencer W. Kimball, 1967
duties with family, community, and Church service. Graduate students will magnify their BYU
education by working to reach their highest potential, by sharing educational opportunities with
others, and by serving as ambassadors of peace and goodwill wherever their careers may lead
them throughout the world.
2
The Context of the University

Brigham Young University is a private institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(LDS). It originated from the Brigham Young Academy, a teachers college founded in 1875. Although the Church
did not directly sponsor the original academy, community and ecclesiastical leaders provided the financial
foundation of the institution for many years. In 1903 the academy became a university, and the Church was its direct
financial sponsor. Today the Church continues to provide the main financial support for BYU, and selected Church
leaders are on the Board of Trustees. Active members of the Church contribute tithing (10% of income), which
means that each tithe-paying member makes a significant financial contribution to the Church each year. The
University recognizes this contribution by keeping tuition considerably lower than most other private universities,
and the tithes of Church members pay about two-thirds of the cost of educating a student here. Students that are not
members of the Church pay tuition about one-third higher than members, which is analogous to higher tuition for
nonresidents at a state school where residents’ taxes provide the main support.
The Department of Linguistics and English Language
A majority of students at Brigham Young University are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Religion classes provide spiritual education to complement the secular education of students. Many students
are fluent in a language other than English. Ethical and moral values are very important to those who attend BYU.
As part of the admissions procedure, all who apply have an interview with an LDS Bishop or a clergy person of their
choice in order to affirm their commitment to the university’s standards. As part of the interview process, the Honor
Code and the Dress and Grooming Standards are explained to the potential student. Those who enroll at the
University agree to abide by these behavioral standards, and must reaffirm this commitment in an annual interview.
The Purpose of This Handbook

Brigham Young University publishes a graduate catalog online (http://saas.byu.edu/catalog) that describes the
university policies and procedures for graduate study. That catalog is the first and most important source of information
for earning your graduate degree. This additional Graduate Handbook is provided by the Linguistics and English
Language Department as a supplement to the BYU Graduate Catalog. This handbook describes policies and procedures
that are unique to our department graduate programs. It also provides, in a single document, useful information for our
graduate students that exists in a variety of locations in different handbooks and websites.
Please send your comments, requests, or suggestions for the next edition of this handbook to linguistics@byu.edu.
3
Introduction to the Faculty

A very important part of your graduate education will come from working closely with faculty
advisors and mentors. You need to become acquainted with the faculty so you can not only
choose the right topic for your MA thesis or project but also have the right advisory committee.
Below are the names, photos, specialties, and contact information for all the faculty members in
the Department of Linguistics and English Language. You can learn more about each one by
going to his or her respective website. There (and outside their office doors) you will also find
faculty members’ office hours. Every year, the Graduate Student Society also sponsors an
activity designed to help students and faculty get to know each other better.
Davies, Mark
Davies, Mark
Anderson, Neil Corpus Design
Corpus Design andand
Use; Linguistics
Use;
Learning Styles and Strategies; Databases; Historical Syntax and
Linguistics Databases; Historical
Reading; Research Syntactical
Syntax Variation;
and Syntactical Spanish and
Variation;
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/nja3 Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese
neil_anderson@byu.edu http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/med48
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/med48
422-5353 mark_davies@byu.edu
mark_davies@byu.edu
422-9168
4056A JFSB 422-9168
4071 JFSB
4071 JFSB
Baker, Wendy
Second Language Acquisition; Dewey, Dan
Psycholinguistics; Speech Second Language Acquisition;
Perception and Production Japanese
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/wb42 http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/dpd2
wendy_baker@byu.edu dan_dewey@byu.edu
422-2471 422-6005
4057 JFSB 4067 JFSB
Chapman, Don
Eddington, David
Old English Language and
Experimental Linguistics;
Literature; History of the English
Phonology; Morphology; Spanish
Language; Medieval Literature
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/deddingt
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/dwc2
eddington@byu.edu
don_chapman@byu.edu
422-7452
422-8738
4041 JFSB
4047 JFSB
Dant, Doris Eggington, William

American Literature, Varieties of English; Contrastive
Linguistics Rhetoric; Language Policy
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/wge
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/d
rd2 wegg@byu.edu
doris_dant@byu.edu 422-3483
422-4707 4064C JFSB
4069 JFSB
4
Elzinga, Dirk Henrichsen, Lynn

Phonological Theory and TESOL; Methodology; Materials
Analysis; Uto- Aztecan Development; Teacher Education;
Languages Adult ESL; International EFL
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/iae2
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/leh5
dirk_elzinga@byu.edu
lynn_henrichsen@byu.edu
422-2117
4043 JFSB 422-2938
4040 JFSB
Evans, Norman
TESOL Curriculum Lonsdale, Deryle
Development; Language Formal Syntax and Semantics;
Program Administration and Computational Linguistics;
Assessment; Writing in a Second Salish Languages
Language http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/dwh8
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/evansn lonz@byu.edu
norman_evans@byu.edu 422-4067
422-8472 4039 JFSB
4050 JFSB
Gardner, Dee Manning, Alan

ESL Literacy; Vocabulary Linguistics Theory; Syntax
Acquisition http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/adm3
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/dig alan_manning@byu.edu
dee_gardner@byu.edu 422-2974
422-1219 4053 JFSB
4061 JFSB
Gardner, Marvin Melby, Alan

Editing; Publishing; English Computer Aids Translators;
Language Syntax; French
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/mkg29 http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/akm2
marv_gardner@byu.edu alan_melby@byu.edu
422-1253 422-2144
4045 JFSB 4051 JFSB
Nuckolls, Janis
Quichua Grammar; Ideophony;
Hallen, Cynthia Morphology; Anthropological
Rhetoric; Lexicography; Philology Linguistics; Cultural Semantics;
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/clh8 Discourse Pragmatics
cynthia_hallen@byu.edu http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/jbn34
422-2020
janis_nuckolls@byu.edu
4073 JFSB
422-3448
4055 JFSB
5
Oaks, Dallin Tanner, Mark

English Linguistics; Structure of Language Acquisition; TESOL;
English; Ambiguity, Old English Sociolinguistics
Language http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/mwt
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/ddo mark_tanner@byu.edu
dallin_oaks@byu.edu 422-8154
422-6369 4063 JFSB
4075 JFSB
Skousen, Royal Thorne, Mel

Analogical Modeling; Textual Editing and Publishing
Criticism http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/mjt
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/rjs4 mel_thorne@byu.edu
royal_skousen@byu.edu 422-1719
422-3482 4092 JKB
4037 JFSB
Strong-Krause, Diane Willson, Heather

Language Testing; TESOL Syntax; K’ichie’; Marshallese
http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/ds23 http://humanities.byu.edu/faculty/hwills1
diane-strong-krause@byu.edu heather_wilson@byu.edu
422-3970 422-2692
4064B JFSB 4065 JFSB
ADMINISTRATION AND P ERSONNEL

Department Chair: William Eggington GSA Faculty Advisor: Heather Willson
(801) 422-3483 (801) 422-2692
Graduate Coordinator: Dee Gardner Linguistic Graduate Advisor: Deryle

(801) 422-1219 Lonsdale (810) 422-4067
Department Secretary: LoriAnne Spear TESOL Graduate Advisor: Lynn

(801) 422-2937 Henrichsen (801) 422-2938
6
Linguistics Program Learning Outcomes

The Linguistics MA program is designed to serve those seeking training in linguistic research and applications beyond
the undergraduate major. The program serves the values and philosophy of our sponsoring institution (The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) by training scholars and professionals who, we hope, will well represent the
Church's general mission of truth seeking through first-rate research and service through practical applications of
linguistic principles.
Students who complete the Linguistics MA program should be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to ask linguistically meaningful questions
Analyze linguistic data using appropriate (linguistic) methodology
Be prepared to enter advanced programs of study, e.g. a PhD program in Hispanic Linguistics
Be able to make a formal presentation (on a linguistic topic)
Be able to understand, interpret, explain, analyze and assess academic linguistic texts
TESOL Program Learning Outcomes

TESOL Program Learning Outcomes
The TESOL Graduate Program is divided into two parts. The first year of graduate study allows a student to
complete a TESOL Graduate Certificate. The purpose of the certificate program is to provide basic training in
the principles and practices of teaching English as a second or foreign language to adults whose first language
is not English. The purpose of the master's program is to prepare students to become professionals in the field
of teaching English to speakers of other languages. After finishing additional course work, students then
complete either a master's thesis or a project. Completion of the MA TESOL program also provides students
with appropriate preparation for further study at the PhD level as well as success as teachers of English in a
second or foreign language setting.
After completing the TESOL Graduate Certificate, students will be able to:
Teach English language skills to non-native speakers of English in an effective and professional manner.
As teachers, students will…
Manifest mastery of the English language
Demonstrate an understanding of the major systems of human language (phonology, morphology,
lexicon, syntax/grammar, semantics, & pragmatics)
Analyze and apply theories of second language learning and acquisition
Evaluate principles underlying effective empirical research
Examine proven second language teaching strategies and procedures
Apply accepted principles of effective lesson planning and materials development
Students completing an MA in TESOL will go beyond the basic core competencies of the TESOL Graduate
Certificate (See above) to:
Specialize in one or more of the following five areas (as determined by their choice of MA thesis or
project topic and their graduate committee):
7
TESOL Program Learning Outcomes Continued…
Research: Analyze, perform, and communicate professional level research

Specialized Teaching Knowledge & Skills: Demonstrate advanced specialized language teaching
knowledge and skills in one or more of the language skills and elements by:
 Examining, selecting, and using methods conducive to effective learning of particular language
skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) and elements (Culture, Grammar, Vocabulary,
Pronunciation)
 Examining, evaluating, and creating materials to support effective language teaching and
learning
 Critically analyzing research in language acquisition and teaching, and applying it to classroom
contexts
Curriculum and Materials Development: Develop professional quality curricula and materials for
English language teaching
Assessment and Evaluation: Create and interpret effective measures of language ability
Administration and Supervision: Understand and practice recognized principles of effective teacher
development and program operation
8
Linguistics MA Degree Requirements

Admission and Entry:
Application deadline is January 15th (only once a year), with the possibility for semester of entry in the fall
(unless students need to take Ling 330 summer term). Apply on-line at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies.
GRE EXAM IS REQUIRED.
A minimum TOEFL score of 580 (paper), 237 (computer), or 90 (internet based – iBT with minimum scores
of 23 in Speaking and 22 in Listening, Reading, and Writing) is required prior to admission for nonnative
English speakers.
Prerequisites:
Ling 330 Introduction to Linguistics (Modern), or equivalent, should be completed before the first semester of
coursework.
Competency in two languages other than English (300 level)
Nonnative English Speakers: ESL 404 Advanced Composition is a prerequisite; ESL 301 Advanced Academic
English, 302 Advanced English Pronunciation if indicated by OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) results. The
OPI should be completed before or during a student’s first semester in the program.
Requirements for Degree (total credit hours: 33)

Required courses:
Foundation (9 hours): Ling 601, 602, 603
Ling 601 Linguistic Foundations: Sounds of Language. (3 cr.)
Ling 602 Linguistic Foundations: Structures of Language. (3 cr.)
Ling 603 Linguistic Foundations: Meanings in Language. (3 cr.)
Research core; (3 hours): Ling 604
Ling 604 Research Design in Linguistics. (3 cr.)
Electives (15 hours): To be selected depending on course availability and in consultation with advisors.
Ling 545 Psycholinguistics. (3 cr.)
Ling 550 Sociolinguistics. (3 cr.)
Ling 551 Anthropological Linguistics. (3 cr.)
Ling 558 Historical-Comparative Linguistics. (3 cr.)
Ling 580 R Problems in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. (1-3 cr.)
Ling 581 Natural Language Processing. (3 cr.)
Ling 590 R Readings in Linguistics. (1-3 cr.)
Ling 615 Analogical Modeling of Language. (3 cr.)
Ling 640 Language Acquisition. (3 cr.)
Ling 651 Advanced Phonology. (3 cr.)
Ling 652 Advanced Morphology. (3 cr.)
Ling 653 Advanced Syntax. (3 cr.)
Ling 654 Advanced Semantics. (3 cr.)
Thesis or project (6 hours).
Ling 698R Master’s Project. (1-3 cr.) or Ling 699R Master’s Thesis. (1-9 cr.)
Examination: oral defense of thesis or project (consult department for details).
Graduate ELang courses (500-600 level) approved by your Linguistics MA committee can be used as electives.
9
TESOL Graduate Certificate Requirements

ADMISSIONS
Deadline for all applications is January 15th (only once a year). This includes both U.S. and International
Students.
The numbers of students admitted to the TESOL Graduate Certificate Program depends on its capacity
(approximately 25 students) and the number of students who exit the program.
Admissions are dependent upon:
 Undergraduate GPA
 Letter of Intent (experience, commitment, plans, etc.)
 Three Letters of Recommendation
 General GRE Score
 Entrance Examinations for all non-native speakers of English whether they graduated from an English-
speaking school or not: A TOEFL score of 237 (computer), 580 (paper), or 90 (internet based – iBT with
minimum scores of 23 in Speaking and 22 in Listening, Reading, and Writing) or higher is required. Any
deficiencies in English skills must be remedied to the satisfaction of the department before moving into the
TESOL program.
Students must begin coursework in fall semester. If you have not taken Ling 330 or equivalent, you can enroll
in that class summer term. If you plan on taking Ling 330 summer term, you must contact the department
secretary to change your start date from fall to summer.
Apply online at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies.
Prerequisites
Ling 330 - Introduction to Linguistics (Modern), or equivalent, must be completed before the first semester of
course work.
Computer literacy – skills equivalent to CHum 200.
For non-native English speakers:
 ESL 404 - Advanced Composition (offered Winter) (should be completed before or during second semester
of course work).
 Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Students must obtain an ―Advanced-Mid‖ rating. Non-native English
speakers will take language proficiency exams during their first semester in the program to determine any
language deficiencies that must be remediated through ESL classes.
 ESL 301—Advanced Academic English (offered Fall), ESL 302—Advanced English Pronunciation
(offered Winter) (to be taken if indicated by OPI results), and/or ESL 305—Applied Grammar may be
required.
REQUIREMENTS
18 coursework hours.
Language-learning experience (at least 200-level proficiency in a foreign language).
CORE COURSES (ALL REQUIRED ; TOTAL OF 18 CREDITS)

Ling 601, Linguistic Foundations–Sound (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s first semester in the
program.
Ling 602, Linguistic Foundations–Structure (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s first semester in the
program.
Ling 603, Linguistic Foundations–Meaning (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s second semester in the
program.
Ling 610, TESOL Methods and Materials Overview (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s first semester in
the program.
Ling 611, TESOL Methods and Materials Application (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s second
semester in the program.
Ling 612, TESOL Practicum (3 credits). To be taken during a student’s second semester in the program.
10
TESOL MA Degree Requirements

Admissions
Deadline for application is January 15th (only once a year). Application is made directly to the Linguistics and
English Language Department during or after completion of the TESOL Graduate Certificate. Students must
complete all TESOL Graduate Certificate course work before they begin the MA program.
Admissions decisions are based upon:
 Performance and GPA in BYU’s TESOL Graduate Certificate program.
 General GRE score (required for TESOL Certificate application).
 Program of Study (containing required and anticipated elective courses).
Note: Accepted students will meet with their assigned committee chair to adjust and finalize this program
of study as needed.
 Letter of intent (including experience, commitment to the profession, and plans for the future).
 Brief proposal (500-750 words) of intended thesis research or project addressing its purpose, nature, and
feasibility (which needs to be compatible with department faculty interests and expertise).
REQUIREMENTS
Thirty-six total credits for TESOL MA, including 18 credits from the TESOL Graduate Certificate and 18
credit hours from the core courses and electives listed below.
Thesis or Project and successful defense.
CORE COURSES (ALL REQUIRED )
Ling 620, Research in TESOL (3 credits). Offered fall semester.
Ling 640, Language Acquisition (3 credits). Offered fall semester.
Ling 660, Language Testing (3 credits). Offered winter semester.
Linguistics 695, TESOL Seminar (1 credit). Offered winter semester.
Thesis Option
Students accepted into the MA program to complete a thesis will take six credit hours of Ling 699R (Thesis credit) plus
one elective course (2 credits) approved by their committee chair. The elective course is selected from the list below.
Project Option
Students accepted into the MA program to complete a project will take two credit hours of Ling 698R (Project credit)
plus three elective courses (2 credits) to be approved by their committee chair. The elective courses are selected from
the list below.
ELECTIVES*: Each of the following electives is a 2 credit course. The selection of electives is to be made with
the prior approval of the thesis or project chair. These courses are offered Winter or Spring as demand warrants.
Ling 625 Speaking Theory and Pedagogy
Ling 631 Grammar Theory and Pedagogy
Ling 655 Culture Teaching
Ling 672 Reading Theory and Pedagogy
Ling 673 Writing Theory and Pedagogy
Ling 674 Listening Theory and Pedagogy
Ling 675 Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition and Teaching
Ling 676 Technology in Language Teaching
Ling 677 Curriculum Development
Ling 678 Materials Development
Ling 679 TESOL Supervision-Administration Internship
Ling 688R Internship (offered Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)
The following elective courses are offered by BYU’s Department of Instructional Psychology and Technology.
IP&T 560 - Microcomputer Materials Production (3 cr.)
IP&T 564 - Instructional Design (3 cr.)
IP&T 654 - Computers in Educational Measurement (2-4 cr.)
IP&T 655 - Instructional Print Design and Production (2 cr.)
IP&T 665 - Instructional Visual/Video Production (4 cr.)
* OTHER GRADUATE -LEVEL LINGUISTICS COURSES AND APPROPRIATE COURSES FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS
MAY ALSO BE USED AS ELECTIVES WITH APPROVAL .
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Evaluation of Graduate Students

At the end of each semester, the department provides a progress report to the university Office of Graduate Studies,
rating each student as Satisfactory, Marginal, or Unsatisfactory. Students who earn a Marginal or Unsatisfactory rating
two semesters in a row will be dropped from the program. Typical reasons for receiving a less than satisfactory rating
include: (1) GPA falling below the minimum 3.0 GPA; (2) Lack of progress/communication (as determined by
committee) towards completion of thesis during each full semester (fall and winter)—exceptions must be approved by
committee chair, or (3) Not completing coursework in a timely manner.
Graduate Advisors and Committees

The department uses a committee system to advise and evaluate students in its graduate programs. Each student is
appointed a faculty advisor (TESOL Graduate Certificate) or an advisory committee (MA programs). The role of the
advisor/committee is to both guide and evaluate students in their coursework, research, professional development, and
overall performance. Students who wish to make an adjustment in the composition of their committee may do so with
consent of both original committee members and the proposed committee members.
TESOL Graduate Certificate students work with their advisor throughout the certificate program.
In the Linguistics M.A. program, students work with an advisory committee until they choose a
thesis/project topic (in Ling 604 at latest). Students must then choose a graduate thesis committee and file
the necessary forms to notify the department of the makeup of that committee. Failure to do so may
result in an unsatisfactory evaluation. The thesis committee then mentors and evaluates students
through the rest of their program.
TESOL M.A. students are assigned a graduate advisory committee in accordance with their thesis or
project topic when they are admitted to the MA level.
M.A. advisory committees consist of at least three members: a committee chair (or the first reader) and two other
faculty members (or the second reader and the third reader of a thesis). All members of the committee must have
graduate faculty status. In those cases where a student declares a minor, a fourth committee member is necessary from
the minor department.
Advisory committee members share in the responsibility of evaluating students in their progress through the program,
and the committee gives final approval of the thesis/project for M.A. candidates. All committee members participate
in events such as the prospectus meeting, the pre-scheduling meeting, and the thesis/project defense. Students should
arrange an initial meeting with all three committee members as they begin the thesis/project process. Other meetings
with the committee may be held as needed. Students should arrange a pre-scheduling meeting with all three committee
members to discuss the completed thesis/project before scheduling the defense. Faculty members will not sign the
defense scheduling form until they have read and discussed the completed thesis/project with students and fellow
committee members. Graduate students should plan the timing of their defense carefully because of the variability of
faculty responsibilities, such as research leaves, administrative assignments, out-of-town conferences, and so forth.
This is especially true in the spring and summer terms, when faculty members may be unavailable. To facilitate
communication, students should send a brief monthly email progress report to all three of their committee members.
12
G RADUATE C OMMITTEES C ONTINUED …
The thesis committee chair, as the first reader, has primary responsibility for mentoring a student in the
thesis/project. The thesis/project is students’ responsibility; hence, the chair is an advisor, rather than a supervisor.
The chair works with students, but does not do the work for students. Students should become familiar with graduate
school policies rather than expecting the chair to take the initiative. The chair will advise students with regard to the
topic, focus, approach, methodology, results, content, organization, expression, format, and originality of the
thesis/project. The chair also helps students to find opportunities for professional development.
The second reader has a secondary responsibility for mentoring a student in the thesis/project and professional
opportunities. Generally, the second reader will review on-going work on the thesis/project after students have
incorporated changes and suggestions from the first reader (chair). Students should consult with the second reader
from time to time about the progress of the thesis/project several times before the scheduling of the defense.
Generally, the third reader will review on-going work on the thesis/project after students have incorporated changes
recommended by the first reader and the second reader. The third reader responds to the thesis/project more as a
finished product. (You may have a fourth, non-graduate faculty member, on your committee if needed for
specialized input.)
Thesis and Project Report Format and Style

Students may obtain copies of university format guidelines for theses and project reports from
http://gradstudies.byu.edu. General style guidelines are available online, in the library, at the bookstore, in the JKB
writing center. Linguistics MA theses/projects should follow LSA (Linguistic Society of America) style (see
http://www.lsadc.org/info/pubs-lang-style.cfm for details). TESOL MA theses/projects should follow APA
(American Psychological Association) style (see the APA Publication Manual or
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ for details). Any deviations from these guidelines must be
approved by your advisory committee.
Although your committee will give feedback on format and style, do not place the responsibility for editing,
spelling, and proofreading on the shoulders of your committee members. It is your responsibility to produce
standard academic prose in English. Bring clean and accurate drafts of your work to consultations and meetings.
You may need to hire an editor or proofreader.
13
Important Deadlines for Graduation

In order to graduate on schedule, you must meet a series of university and Graduate Studies deadlines. Students
submitting materials after these deadlines will not be considered for graduation until the following semester. Here are
the deadlines for this academic year:
Dec 2010 Apr 2011 Aug 2011

Graduation Graduation Graduation
Sep 24 Jan 28 May 27 Last day to apply for graduation online in AIM.
Go to byu.edu → Route Y → School → Apply for Graduation.
Oct 29 Feb 18 Jun 17 Last day to schedule a final oral examination (defense of thesis or project)
with department using the Department Scheduling of Final Oral
Examination (ADV Form 8C), and submit copies of your document to
your graduate committee.
Nov 12 Mar 4 Jul 1 Last day to have a final oral examination (defense of thesis or project).
Note: Ample time should be allowed to make revisions after the oral
examination and before the deadline for submitting the final ETD.
Nov 19 Mar 11 Jul 8 Last day to submit thesis or project with the Approval for Submission of
Dissertation, Thesis, or Selected Project form (ADV Form 8d) to the
college dean for signature.
Upon receipt of the signed ADV Form 8d, the ETD must be submitted for
electronic format approvals through the ETD submission website
(http://etd.byu.edu/). After the department has approved the ETD, the
dean’s office will review and approve the ETD.
Dec 3 Mar 18 Jul 15 This is the last day the student may take the ADV Form 8d to the Library
Administration Office (2060 HBLL) once the ETD appears in the Library
Administration Office ETD queue. The student then takes the validated
ADV Form 8d to Graduate Studies (105 FPH).
Also the last day to complete any remaining requirements for a degree
including payment of fees, submitting grade changes (for I’s, T’s, etc.),
prerequisite independent study courses, and for departments to enter
examination results (oral or written) in AIM (ADV08).
None* Apr 21 Aug 11 Graduation — University Commencement
None* Apr 22 Aug 12 Graduation — College Convocations
* December graduates are invited to participate in April graduation exercises.
14
Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Everyone who is accepted into the Linguistics and English Language Department’s graduate programs is
eligible for a scholarship. The amount of the scholarship for each student is based on the number of
credits that student is taking during the semester/term. It also depends on the total amount of money
available and the number of students in the program. The scholarship amount varies between 30% and
70% of LDS member graduate tuition. Near the beginning of each semester, you will receive an e-mail
from the department graduate secretary informing you how to apply for a department scholarship.
Generally, the deadline for applying for fall and winter semester scholarships is April 1, and the
deadline for applying for spring/summer term scholarships is Feb 1. The courses applicable to your
scholarship must be on your Program of Study. Please be aware that the total amount of loan, grant, and
scholarship money received by a graduate student each year cannot exceed the estimated cost of
education at BYU (which for the coming academic year is $19,690 LDS and $25,110 non-LDS) Any
financial aid received by a student who has borrowed money through federal student loan programs this
academic year in excess of the cost of education will be used to pay down student loans.
The Graduate Research Fellowship award is a university award sponsored by Graduate Studies and is
designed to support thesis and dissertation research and to encourage independent research, scholarly,
and creative activity among graduate students. Two levels of award are granted: Doctoral, $6,000;
Master's, $4,500, to be awarded in the upcoming academic year. The award is to be used in support of
students’ research and creative work. All graduate students matriculated into a graduate program are
eligible to apply. Master’s degree candidates must have been matriculated in their programs on or before
Fall semester. It is expected that the research funded by the Graduate Research Award will support the
dissertation, thesis or project. Recipients must be in good academic standing, making satisfactory
progress toward completion of the degree. It is intended that the award is for proposed research or for
work in the initial stages, not for work completed or nearing completion. The funds are dispersed at the
beginning of the academic year. For more information go to
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/grantsfellowships/grantsfellowships.php.
Graduate Mentoring Awards are funded by Graduate Studies to promote both mentoring of graduate students
and supporting graduate students as they serve as mentors to undergraduate students. Colleges may choose to
Internships for Graduate Students
recommend $4,000 for master's students and/or $5,000 for doctoral students, or divide the funds between two
students. While students are not able to apply for these grants directly, they are encouraged to approach graduate
faculty members as well as department administrators to express interest in these mentoring grants. For more
information
Although ourgograduate
to http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/grantsfellowships/mentoringgrant.php
programs do not require them, internships can be very valuable educational experiences.
They allow students to make connections between the academic content they learn in their courses and the
practicalities and constraints of the real world. In addition, internships often lead to post-graduation employment
opportunities.
TESOL MA students who wish to do an internship (Ling 688R) as one of their elective courses should check the
information available online at http://linguistics.byu.edu/tesol_internships.php and then see Dr. Henrichsen, the
TESOL internship coordinator, or his assistant coordinator. He has information on a variety of local, domestic,
and international internship sites. He also has the necessary course contract, internship approval, and other forms.
These forms must be filled out and the internship approved before beginning the internship.
15
Travel Funding for Professional Conferences and Research
Department funds (up to $500 per graduate student per

academic year) are available to partially fund graduate
students for trips to conferences at which they are
presenting. To apply for this funding, you must first fill
out a travel request form, which you can get form the
department office. You should submit this form (along
with a copy of your presentation acceptance letter or e-
mail) well in advance of your conference trip so that
funds can be apportioned and reserved appropriately.
Please contact the department secretary for further
information.
The College of Humanities also offers funding for

graduate students (up to $400) to travel to conferences
when they are presenting. The college funding request
forms can be obtained in the department office.
BYU’s Office of Graduate Studies also has funds to help graduate students attend and participate in professional,
academic conferences. Graduate students presenting original research at conferences are eligible to receive a
Research Presentation Award (RPA) averaging $400. RPAs are intended to enable graduate students to travel to
important conferences within their discipline in order to present their scholarly and creative work. RPAs are
awarded two times each year and are distributed within two months after the application deadline. The application
deadline is in the middle of an award period which allows students to apply who have either already presented their
research or who are planning to within the specified time period. Approximately 1/3 of the applicants receive an
award. For more detailed information, go to http://www.byu.edu/gss.
16
Graduate Student Society

Graduate student societies (GSS) at both the university and department levels provide students with opportunities
to associate with each other and the faculty. The stereotypical image you might have of the individual genius
scholar toiling away in some isolated attic apartment is pure myth. Successful graduate students get work done in
groups. Be part of the group!
Information on the university-wide graduate student society (the GSS website) is available at
http://www.byu.edu/gss/.
At the department level, the current GSS advisor is Dr. Heather Willson (422-2692 or heather_willson@byu.edu).
From time to time the GSS will circulate flyers and email messages about activities of the department-level society.
Officers are nominated and elected once a year: two from TESOL, one from Linguistics, and one from Language
Acquisition and Teaching.
We strongly advise students to become familiar with and get involved with activities of the GSS. As graduate
students, you have committed yourself to professional-level work in the field of linguistics/TESOL/English
language studies. Professionals make it a point to form societies and to interact with each other. Effective research
and real-world applications of research never happen without collaboration of some kind with other professionals.
You should begin this process of collaboration/interaction with your peers, your fellow students.
Although the Language Acquisition graduate program is administered through the Center for Language Studies at
the college level, we welcome and include the Language Acquisition graduate students in all relevant GSS
activities.
By talking together, working together, and socializing together, you and your fellow graduate students will find it
easier to think like professionals, to gain insights on how you should proceed with your coursework, your own
classroom teaching experience and/or with the research that will generate your project or thesis.
17
Program of Study Form

Program of Study
The Program of Study is a form that students fill out in order to plan all of the courses they will take to fulfill
degree requirements. The Program of Study constitutes a contract between students and the university. It is a
necessary step on the path towards graduation. If you have not completed and submitted a Program of Study
form, please see a secretary in 4064 JFSB as soon as possible.
How to fill out a Program of Study

On your Program of Study, list all classes (required courses, skill courses, and electives) that you plan on
taking in your graduate program at BYU. After you decide on your classes, review them with your advisor
or advisory committee and obtain the necessary signatures of approval on the Program of Study form.
Due date for Program of Study

You should complete your Program of Study no later than September and turn it in to the department
secretary.
How to change the Program of Study

You can make changes in your program if they are authorized by your advisor or committee. Obtain a
Program of Study Change Form. These forms are available online at http://gradstudies.byu.edu/forms.
How to submit a Program of Study Change

List the classes currently on your program of study that need to be deleted, and list the classes that you want to
add. Have your advisor or committee approve the changes by signing the bottom of the form. Then submit this
form to the department secretary in 4064 JFSB.
Relationship between your Program of Study and your Progress Report

Your progress report compares your individual study list with the courses you have actually taken. It
summarizes your progress in your program: classes completed, current registration, classes still needed, and
current grade point average. In addition, the progress report alerts you and your advisors to possible problems
with academic status, GPA, prerequisites needed, minimum registration requirements, time limits, and so forth.
Your progress report is available on AIM through Route Y.
Classes that can be funded by department scholarships

Any department scholarship funding you receive will cover tuition only for program prerequisites and
classes on your approved Program of Study form. Tuition for any additional courses (not on your approved
Program of Study) must be funded from other sources.
Credit-hour requirements
You are required to take two credits during the semester you graduate (defend your thesis or project).
You are required to take six credits per year otherwise you will be dropped from the graduate program by
the university.
18
Project and Thesis Comparison

To earn your MA degree, you will need to complete either a thesis or a project. The following description will
help you make the decision of whether to do a thesis or project. Thesis
Project Thesis
Purpose: Identify a practical need and create a Purpose: Identify a problem or question not
tool, program, process or procedure to address settled in existing literature. Propose and defend
that need. an answer.
Needs Review: Establish a need for the project Literature Review: Establish that a problem or
with a needs analysis, and/or market survey, question remains unsettled, or not fully addressed
and/or pre-testing of existing tools to establish in existing literature. Identify sources that will be
minimum performance standards, and/or a used to support the proposed solution/answer.
literature review.
Research Design or Method: Describe means by
Product Development: Create a tangible which the proposed solution/answer is validated.
product of some sort, in whatever format Show empirical study meeting standards of
students’ faculty committee deems appropriate- statistical validity or explanatory models meeting
-a written report, portfolio, curriculum, software standards of valid reasoning. Describe
CD, testing instrument, etc., with clear procedures in such a way that other researchers
instructions for its use or implementation. might replicate the study.
Product Evaluation: Track results from use or Findings and Discussion: Facts and figures, or
implementation of the product. Evaluate data gathered as part of research, or summary of
product using qualitative or quantitative arguments for and against various competing
methods and compare with performance of answers/solutions to a question/problem.
competing products or with performance of Interpretation of all research results directed
users who did not have access to the project’s toward addressing the question/problem.
product.
Both project and thesis should begin with a prospectus, submitted to your committee chair (or the TESOL
MA admissions committee, which will assign you an appropriate chair and committee). Once the chair approves,
your prospectus should also be reviewed by the other two members of the committee. Committee members
should discuss and agree upon the viability of the project or thesis proposed. The committee chair will then work
with you to develop the project or thesis. Once your thesis/project has reached a particular stage of development,
subsequent drafts should be submitted to the entire committee.
19
Thesis Expectations for TESOL and Linguistics

All theses will involve original research that is designed to answer a pertinent question in the field or to
solve a relevant problem. With this in mind, each thesis should have the following parts:
1. An introduction to the problem or question. This section includes things such as context
of the problem, significance of the question, rationale for the study, etc. It basically shows that there is a
problem of some kind that needs a solution and that the solution would be of value in the field of TESOL or
Linguistics. It then states what the research question or purpose of this particular study is and how it will lead
or help lead to the solution which is needed.
2. Review of literature. This section shows what has already been done by others that may relate to
or be part of the solution to the problem that was identified in the first section. It should demonstrate clearly
that the problem has not been decisively solved, but it should suggest possible solutions or answers as well as
possible ways to approach finding solutions or answers. The section should not just be a listing of relevant
literature, but it should be well-organized and structured, much as you would expect to find if this section
were to stand by itself as a library research paper. The end of the review of literature should include a brief
summary of what has been found up to this point and the specific research question(s) that this study intends
to answer. Instead of research questions, the end of chapter two may also include hypotheses about what is
expected to be found in the current study.
3. Research design or method. This section tells how the thesis writer conducted the current
study in order to find the answer(s) to his or her research questions or the solution(s) to his or her research
problem. The writer should tell what people (participants), materials (instruments), procedures, and analyses
were used and why they were selected over other possibilities. The reasons why all were selected should show
their relevance and similarity to the situations in which the original question or problem has arisen. The
description of and rationale for how the research was conducted should be so clear that anyone could set up
the same research and run the study again if necessary. If a pilot study is conducted prior to actual data
collection, it is important to describe how the pilot was conducted and what changes occurred in the data
collection instruments and research design based on this preliminary research.
4. Findings and discussion. This section may actually be divided in two chapters if necessary for
clarity. The findings consist of the facts and figures which were gathered as part of the research. The
discussion consists of explanations of those facts particularly as they relate to the research question or
problem. It is the thesis writer's best interpretation (based on the data) as to what the answer to the research
question or the solution to the research problem is.
20
Thesis Expectations for TESOL and Linguistics Continued…
5. Conclusion. This section consists of a brief reiteration of what the findings of the research are with
regard to the research question(s) or hypotheses and a summary of how those findings should be applied,
refined, and accepted with caution. The thesis should end with a discussion of limitations present in the study
and suggestions for future research in this area of TESOL or Linguistics.
All graduate students are expected to convene a committee meeting shortly after their thesis advisory
committee is formed and prior to the start of data collection. The purpose of this meeting is to allow
the committee to provide feedback on the review of literature, research questions or hypotheses, and to
approve the research design and data collection instruments and procedures. After receiving approval
from the thesis advisory committee, students should submit the appropriate documents to BYU’s
Institutional Review Board (IRB) if the study involves collecting any form of data from human
subjects.
Graduate Office Forms
1. 1. Program of Study for Graduate Students (Form 3): Submit this form to the Linguistics and English
Language Department early during the first two weeks of your study in the M.A. (and TESOL Graduate
Certificate) program. This form is sent to you in you acceptance packet.
2. 2. Request for Program of Study Change (Form 3b): To alter an original Program of Study form, fill
out this form and turn it in to the department.
3. Application for Graduation: You must apply online for graduation at:
https://y.byu.edu/ry/ae/prod/acad_plan/cgi/stdGraduationApp.cgi.
4. 4. Departmental Scheduling of Final Oral Examination (Form 8C): Fill this form out, get all your
committee members’ signatures, and turn it in to the department no later than two weeks before your
defense.
5. 5. Departmental Approval for Submission of Dissertation, Thesis, or Selected Project (Form 8D):
Fill out this form with the appropriate signatures and submit to the library.
All these forms can be obtained online by clicking on ―Advisement forms‖ at:
www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms
21
Process for Generating a TESOL Thesis
A. While you are a student in the TESOL Graduate Certificate program, get to know the faculty and their
areas of expertise, as well as their research interests. At the same time, as you complete your coursework, keep a log
of potential thesis research topics that are interesting to you. During this course, select an appropriate research topic
by conducting a review of the literature, and determining a specific question to be addressed.
B. Well before January 15 of the year you want to enter the TESOL MA program, meet with faculty
members who might be interested in the same research topics that interest you. Get their feedback and guidance and
gauge their interest in your potential topics. Use this information to reach a decision regarding your thesis topic.
C. Before January 15 of the year you want to enter the TESOL MA program, write a thesis prospectus,
indicating the question(s) to be addressed in the thesis and the proposed methodology that will be used to do so. This
prospectus is a crucial part of your application to the TESOL MA Program. The prospectus can be no more that 750
words long and it is due to the department secretary along with all other application materials by January 15. Write it
far enough in advance that you have time to edit and proofread it carefully. If possible, share it with interested faculty
and your fellow graduate students to get feedback and suggestions.
D. If you are admitted to the MA program, you will be informed who is on your committee. As soon as
possible after that, you should arrange to meet with your thesis committee chair and begin to organize a timeline for
the completion of your thesis and coursework.
E. After starting the MA program, enroll in Ling 620 Research in TESOL in fall semester. In this class, you
will learn about research design and procedures and you may get a good start on writing your thesis.
F. As you draft your chapters, use the approved APA style. See your chair for details. You should also
format your thesis for future written and electronic (ETD) submissions (see section P below). For specific
information concerning ETD formatting, you should work closely with your chair and the department secretary. ETD
information is also available at http://etd.byu.edu. There is an ETD class offered at the library that we highly
recommend you take. The graduate office will email the dates to you at the beginning of each semester.
G. After completing Ling 620, you should work with your thesis chair to complete a draft of the initial
chapters, as well as the data collection instruments and procedures to be used in the study. This material should then
be distributed to the other committee members, and you should organize a meeting in which the entire committee is
able to give feedback on your research plans and, ultimately, approve them.
H. If you are using human subjects as part of your research study, you must submit the appropriate forms and
receive permission from BYU's Institutional Review Board (IRB) to proceed with the study. This material is available
online from: http://orca.byu.edu/irb/.
I. You should work closely with your thesis chair to successfully complete your thesis. The chair is
responsible for reviewing each chapter and providing feedback to students. The thesis should be submitted chapter by
chapter to your chair. It should never simply be submitted as a whole, since this does not allow for revisions along the
way that could affect subsequent portions of the work. Of course, you can also obtain feedback from other committee
members during this drafting and review process.
Continued…
22
P ROCESS FOR G ENERATING A TESOL T HESIS C ONTINUED …
J. Typically, during the final semester of your thesis work, a preliminary version of your final thesis is
presented orally as part of the requirements for completing the seminar course—Ling 695. This presentation must be
attended by classmates and at least two faculty members from your thesis committee.
K. When your chair agrees that your thesis is ready to defend and at least two weeks before scheduling the
defense or oral exam, your thesis must be submitted to all members of the committee for defense approval. Before
distributing it, you should carefully proofread this semi-final draft for content, spelling, grammar, syntax, word
choice, approved APA style, and other writing conventions. The primary responsibility of the thesis committee is to
review the content of the thesis. They should not be required to address basic writing issues. You are, therefore,
advised to utilize the university writing center, experienced proofreaders and other such resources to improve the
presentation and mechanics of your thesis prior to submitting it to your committee. All thesis drafts should be typed
on a word processor (double-spaced, carefully proofread, and submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper or as an electronic
attachment to an e-mail message). For specific formatting guidelines see the ADV 11 forms at
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms.
L. Before scheduling your thesis defense, you must apply for graduation at:
(http://y.byu.edu/ry/ae/prod/acad_plan/cgi/stdGraduationApp.cgi).
M. You must schedule the oral exam or defense at least two weeks, to the day, before the actual exam by
completing ADV Form 8C Departmental Scheduling of Final Oral Examination, getting all your committee members
to sign it, and turning it in to the department secretary. Be advised that finding a day and time when all your
committee members are available can be a complicated and time-consuming process.
N. The oral examination or defense takes approximately two hours. You will be examined on thesis content
and quality as well as appropriate coursework preparation for your thesis topic. Possible results of the oral exam are
Pass, Pass with Qualifications, Recess, or Fail. Students should review deadline guidelines and application forms:
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms (ADV Form 08). For more information on the oral
defense itself see page 29 ―Final Oral Defense‖ in this handbook.
O. Typically, you will be required to make additional revisions following the oral exam and prior to final
manuscript submission. Allow time in your schedule to make these revisions. When all of them have been completed
and accepted by the committee, you must obtain signatures from all your committee members, and submit the thesis
to the library.
P. All theses are now submitted to the library as ETDs (Electronic Theses and Dissertations). The library
does not require paper copies, but you or your committee may want a bound paper copy in addition to the electronic
copy. Theses in electronic format receive broader exposure and make you part of a worldwide learning community as
your thesis and the results of your research are made available to scholars throughout the world. For ETDs, there are
some special guidelines. For example, margins must be one inch on all sides, and committee signatures are collected
on the ADV Form 8d and not in the thesis preliminary pages. You should work carefully with both your advisory
committee chair and the department secretary to complete this process. Also see http://etd.byu.edu.
23
Process for Generating a Linguistics Thesis or Project
A. With the acceptance letter from the department, you will be informed which faculty members have been
assigned as your initial chair and committee.
B. During the first semester, you should begin to actively read and document professional research articles
and books in the range of subject areas that your might later choose for a thesis or project topic. You should also
consider the interests of faculty members in this process, and determine whom you will ask to serve as your
permanent chair. During the second semester, you should narrow your potential topics by considering gaps in the
research literature (thesis) or practical applications (project). In consultation with the Ling 604 instructor and
permanent chair (if determined), you should narrow your list of potential research questions to one, and utilize
appropriate bibliographic references to generate a thesis prospectus of approximately 20 pages outlining the
background of the question, the proposed methodology for answering the question, and what you expect to find.
C. After completing Ling 604, you should continue working with your thesis chair
to complete a draft of the first three chapters of the thesis, including the data collection instruments and procedures to
be used in the study. This material should then be distributed to the other committee members, and you should
organize a meeting at which the entire committee is able to approve your research design. During this same time, you
should also begin to format your thesis for future written and electronic (ETD) submissions (See section j below). For
specific information concerning ETD formatting, you should work closely with your chair and the department
secretary.
D. If you are using human subjects as part of your research study, you must complete the appropriate forms
to receive permission from BYU's Institutional Review Board (IRB) to proceed with the study. This material is
available online from: http://orca.byu.edu/irb/.
E. You should work closely with your thesis chair to successfully complete your thesis. The chair is
responsible for reviewing each chapter and providing feedback to you. The thesis should be submitted chapter by
chapter to the thesis chair. It should never simply be submitted as a whole, since this does not allow for revisions
along the way that could affect subsequent portions of the work. Of course, you can also obtain feedback from other
committee members during the drafting and review process.
F. Two weeks before scheduling your oral exam, you must submit the thesis to all members of your
committee for defense approval. You should carefully proofread this preliminary draft for content, spelling, grammar,
syntax, word choice, style, and other writing conventions. The primary responsibility of the thesis committee is to
review the content of your thesis. They should not be required to address basic writing issues. Your are therefore
encouraged to utilize the university writing center, experienced proofreaders and other such resources to improve the
presentation and mechanics of your thesis prior to submitting it to the committee. All thesis drafts should be typed on
a word processor (double-spaced, following LSA style, carefully proofread, and submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper
or as electronic e-mail attachments). For specific formatting guidelines see ADV 11 forms at
Continued…
24
Process for Generating a Linguistics Thesis or Project Continued…
G. Before scheduling your thesis defense, you must apply for graduation at:
H. You must schedule the oral exam two weeks, to the day, before the actual exam by completing ADV
Form 8C Departmental Scheduling of Final Oral Examination. The oral examination takes approximately two hours.
Candidates are examined on thesis content and quality as well as appropriate coursework preparation for the thesis
topic. Results of the oral exam are Pass, Pass with Qualifications, Recess, or Fail. You should review deadline
guidelines and application forms (ADV Form 08) available online at:
I. Typically, you will be required to make additional revisions following the oral exam and prior to final
manuscript submission. When all revisions have been accepted by your committee, you must obtain signatures on
ADV Form 8d from all committee members, and submit the thesis to the library.
J. All theses are now submitted to the library as ETD (Electronic Theses and Dissertations). The library
does not require paper copies, but you or your committee may want a bound paper copy in addition to the electronic
copy. Theses in electronic format receive broader exposure and make you part of a worldwide learning community
as your thesis and the results of your research are made available to scholars throughout the world. For ETDs, there
are some special guidelines. For example, margins must be one inch on all sides, and committee signatures are
collected on the ADV Form 8d and not in the thesis signature pages. You should work carefully with both your
advisory committee chair and the department secretary to complete this process. Also see http://etd.byu.edu.
25
Project Expectations for TESOL or Linguistics

The following criteria (approved by BYU’s Graduate Council) are designed to ensure that TESOL
and Linguistics MA projects will be of high, graduate-level quality:
1. All projects require approval in advance by the student’s graduate advisory committee, consisting of a chair
and two other members.
2. The project must have a practical orientation and meet a demonstrated, real-world need. A rationale for its
existence must be supplied by the student.
3. The nature and purpose of the project should be congruent with the strengths, interests, activities, and/or
needs of the BYU Linguistics Department and the faculty who serve on the student’s advisory committee.
4. The project must clearly demonstrate a thorough, holistic understanding of current theory related to it. It
should also require a synthesis of relevant concepts within that theoretical framework. In other words, the
development of the project should clearly be an exercise in critical thinking.
5. The project development process may include a needs analysis, market survey, pre-testing (to establish
baseline performance), and/or a review of relevant literature. The results of these processes will be submitted
to the student’s advisory committee in the form of a prospectus that includes a rationale, statement of
methods, and proposed timeline and budget for the project.
6. The project must result in a tangible product of some sort. This product may be in whatever format the
advisory committee deems most appropriate—a written report, a portfolio, a curriculum, instructional
software, an assessment instrument, etc.
7. In addition to development, the project experience must also involve the evaluation of its outcomes. This
evaluation will include qualitative or quantitative analysis.
8. When human subjects are involved in the piloting and assessment of the project, appropriate procedures
must be followed and approvals from BYU’s Human Subjects Committee must be obtained.
9. Elective courses on the student’s program of study will be determined in consultation with the student’s
graduate advisory committee and reflect the nature of that student’s project.
10. Any of various technology-based or traditional media will be allowed (with the completion of corresponding
coursework, e.g., IP&T 665 for a video-based project).
11. For the project to receive final approval, its development must be completed (i.e., not just partially done)
12. For the project to receive final approval, work must be finished (i.e., of publishable quality), not rough.
13. The project product must be functional and usable in the real world.
14. The project development process may include a relevant field experience, which may take place in either a
domestic or international setting. Such experiences (to a maximum of 9 hours of Ling 688R) must be
approved in advance by students’ project advisory committee.
15. A final report on the project (including a demonstration of it, when appropriate) must be delivered in Ling
695 (TESOL MA only).
16. When completed, the project must be presented and defended before the student’s project advisory
committee.
17. Although these other criteria are just as significant as time, the time devoted to a project’s development is
also important and should amount to around 45 clock hours per credit hour. That is, a two-credit project
should represent around 90 hours of work.
26
Steps to Writing a TESOL Project

A. The first step towards successfully completing a TESOL MA project is to get to know the TESOL faculty
and their specialties. You should do this when you are a TESOL Graduate Certificate student. The department will
also distribute a listing of potential and ongoing projects that our TESOL faculty are interested in having students
work on.
B. Based on your own interests, as well as the specialties and ongoing projects of the TESOL faculty, you
need to prepare a project prospectus that will be part of the materials you submit for application to the MA TESOL
Program. This prospectus can be no more that 750 words long, and it is due to the department secretary (along with
your other application materials) by January 15.
C. Upon admission to the M.A. program, you will be informed which faculty members are part of your
project advisory committee. You should arrange to meet with your project committee chair as soon as possible and
begin to organize a timeline for the completion of your project. This timeline will also include when your coursework
will be completed. Your committee may also recommend changes in your elective coursework at this time.
D. You should work with your project chair to complete a draft of the initial sections of your project report
(introduction, review of literature, project description) and your plan for the development of your project. This
material should then be distributed to the other committee members. Then you should organize a meeting at which
your entire committee discusses (and approves) your project’s scope and design, as well as your plan for completing
your project.
E. If you are using human subjects as part of your project, you must complete the appropriate forms
(available online from http://orca.byu.edu/irb/) to receive permission from BYU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
F. You should work closely with your project chair to successfully complete your project. Your chair is
responsible for reviewing each chapter and providing feedback to you. You should submit your project chapter by
chapter to your project chair. When it is being developed, it should never simply be submitted as a whole, since this
does not allow for revisions along the way that can affect subsequent portions of the work. You can also obtain
feedback from other committee members during this draft and review process.
G. Typically during your final semester, you present a preliminary version of the final project orally as part
of the requirements for the seminar course, Ling 695. This presentation will be attended by your classmates, but it
must also include at least two faculty members of your project committee.
H. At least two weeks before scheduling your project defense (final oral exam), your finished project and
project report must be submitted to all members of your committee for defense approval. Please proofread this semi-
final draft carefully for content, spelling, grammar, word choice, style, and other writing conventions. The primary
responsibility of your project committee is to review the content of your project report. Your committee should not be
required to address basic writing aspects of your report. If you need assistance, you are urged to utilize the university
writing center, experienced proofreaders, and other such resources to improve the presentation and mechanics of the
project report prior to submitting it to your committee. All project drafts should follow APA style, be carefully
proofread, and be submitted on 8 1/2'‖ x 11‖ white paper (or electronically). For specific formatting guidelines see
ADV 11 forms at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms.
27
Steps to Writing a TESOL Project Continued… TESOL Project Continued…

I. Before scheduling your project defense (Final Oral Examination), you must apply for graduation at:
J. You must schedule the oral exam at least two weeks, to the day, before the actual defense. The oral
examination may take up to two hours. You may be examined on project content and quality as well as appropriate
coursework preparation for the project topic. Possible results of the oral exam are Pass, Pass with Qualifications,
Recess, or Fail. You should review deadlines and download application forms (ADV Form 8) at
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms. Also, see the detailed explanation in the ―Final Oral
Defense‖ section on the next page of this handbook.
K. Typically, students are required to make additional revisions to their projects or reports following the oral
exam and prior to final project report submission. Please allow time for these revisions in your schedule. When all
revisions have been accepted by the committee, students must obtain signatures from all committee members, and
submit the project to the library.
M. Students are now required to convert their project report to an electronic format (ETD) for broader
exposure, and should work carefully with both their chair and the department secretary to complete this process. Also
see http://etd.byu.edu.
Examples of Possible Linguistics and TESOL MA Projects
Ling MA Projects TESOL MA Projects

1. A dictionary of a language that 1. Designing an ESL/EFL program for use in a specific situation
significantly improves on any existing in Latin America, setting it up, operating it, assessing its
dictionaries. effectiveness, and making recommendations based on that
2. A grammatical description of a language assessment.
that significantly improves on existing 2. Developing an ESL/EFL teacher training program and related
grammars. materials, piloting them, and assessing their effectiveness.
3. A tutorial that significantly improves on 3. Developing software for computer-assisted language learning
existing methods of teaching some aspect of and assessing its effectiveness and usability.
linguistics. 4. Creating and piloting a computer-adaptive English language
4. A computer program that parses some examination and analyzing the items in it as well as its overall
language that improves on existing parsers. effectiveness and usability.
5. A computer program that recognizes 5. Developing the curriculum for an ESL/EFL program (including
speech that improves on existing systems. needs analysis, goals and objectives, syllabus design, methodology,
6. A program that manipulates or sorts data in materials, and formative summative evaluation.)
a language corpus, in some useful way. 6. Training and supervising undergraduate interns involved in
7. A program that models linguistic behavior, teaching English to speakers of other languages and documenting
generating morphological, phonological, or the outcomes of this process.
syntactic patterns that more closely 7. Developing Web-based modules for teaching and/or testing
approximate human-generated patterns. English language skills, piloting these modules, and assessing their
8. A software tool that assists translators in effectiveness and usability.
translation, dictionaries, online helps, grammar 8. Conducting a thorough, in-depth, professional-quality
checkers, etc., which in some way improve on evaluation of an existing program for teaching English to speakers
existing systems. of other languages and then writing and submitting an extensive
written report describing the process and outcomes of the
evaluation.
28
Final Oral Defense

Scheduling Your Final Oral Defense
First, apply for graduation. The graduation application is found at:
Second, after satisfactorily completing the development of your thesis/project, you must schedule an oral defense.
This can be done only after applying for graduation. You should take full responsibility to ensure that the final copy
of your thesis/project is accurately formatted and proofread in accordance with the appropriate style guide. Make three
paper copies of the formatted defense draft of the thesis or project report and give one copy to each committee
member two weeks before scheduling the defense (some faculty may prefer to receive electronic copies; some may
prefer paper; check with your committee members to see which they prefer). The defense cannot be scheduled until
this draft has been made available to all committee members and reviewed and approved by them at least 2 weeks
before you schedule your defense. Proper reviewing takes time and cannot be done at the last minute. Go to
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms and print a copy of the ―Departmental Scheduling of
Final Oral Examination‖ ADV Form 8C. Then work with all the members of your advisory committee to select a
defense date that works for all parties. Once you have an agreeable date and time, you must schedule a room for the
defense through the department secretary, and obtain signatures from all committee members on the scheduling form.
The signed form with signatures, date, time, room, and thesis/project title must be turned in to the Linguistics and
English Language Secretary at least two weeks in advance of the defense date. You must be enrolled for at least two
credits the semester of the defense. Also, please note that after your defense, the ETD and ADV Form 8d must be
turned in to the library before graduation day in order to avoid paying tuition for the next semester/term.
Final Oral Defense: In the oral examination, you present a brief overview of the rationale, design, results and
conclusions of your study or project, after which members of the graduate committee take turns asking questions to
evaluate the quality of the work. Possible results of the oral exam are Pass, Pass with Qualifications, Recess, or Fail.
University and Graduate Studies guidelines state that this exam should be ―demanding and fair.‖ You are expected to
show ―currency in the field, thorough analysis of the questions or problems posed, and synthesis of knowledge in the
discipline,‖ all at a level appropriate for a master’s degree. You are expected to be able to demonstrate, for instance,
how your work relates to the discipline as a whole, the rationale behind your thesis or project, the questions or issues
the work was designed to address, the way you addressed those questions, and the implications of your work for future
research or practice. If you worked on a research or development team, you should also provide an explanation of
your role and contributions.
Attendance at the Final Oral Exam: The final thesis/project defense is an announced public event. You are
encouraged to attend at least one oral examination before defending your own thesis/project. Any faculty member may
also attend the final exam of any student. However, non-committee members cannot vote. Students and all guests must
be prompt at the oral defense.
29
Final Oral Defense Continued…
Turn in Thesis/Project to the Library: A final revised manuscript (based on issues raised during the oral exam)
must be submitted to the chair for approval (see ADV Form 11 ―Minimum Standards for Submitting Dissertations,
Theses, or Selected Projects‖ found online at http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=advforms). After
all your committee members have approved the final draft of your thesis/project and signed your ADV Form 8d, you
need to either email or bring in your thesis/project to the Linguistics and English Language department secretary to
have the format approved. If the format is approved, then the department graduate coordinator or secretary will sign
ADV Form 8d. Email the approved thesis/project to The College Graduate Coordinator, Ray Clifford and take him
ADV Form 8d to sign. After he has signed the form, you then convert the thesis to a PDF file and upload it as your
ETD. The offices behind the library information desk can help you with this step. As you upload and submit your
ETD, it is sent to the department, and then the college for final approvals. You will receive emails as to the progress
of the ETD in this process. If there are any problems with the ETD, it will not be approved, and you will receive an
email indicating what problems you need to fix. Once you have corrected any problems, you need to upload and
resubmit the ETD again. Once the ETD has been approved by the department and then the college, you will receive
an email from the university telling you to take ADV Form 8d and a copy of the thesis title page to the Library
Administration Offices on the second floor of the HBLL. The LAO will stamp your form and have you pay any fees
if you are requesting a bound copy. After the library, you will take the stamped ADV form 8d and the title page to the
Graduate Office. You are then finished.
30
Completion of Degree
Receiving the Master’s Degree to obtain initial job placements or admission to
After all qualifications have been met (course work is doctoral programs. Graduates may also contribute in
completed, and your thesis/project is successfully various ways to strengthening the graduate program
defended), your degree will be awarded. Graduation and its reputation. Our network of former graduates
deadlines (ADV Form 8) can be found at continues to grow nationally and internationally, and
http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php?s=ad we will be happy to include you in that network.
vforms.
Students completing requirements after graduation
deadlines can receive a letter of completion for
employment purposes. In such cases, degrees will be
posted the following semester.
Continuing Our Relationship

We hope that as a program graduate you will keep in
touch with the department faculty in mutually
beneficial relationships. Many former students
continue their friendships with other students and with
faculty members. Some continue to publish or to work
in collaboration with faculty. Some receive assistance
31

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Graduate Handbook 2010-2011

ONE PEAK OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE THAT IS HIGHLY RELEVANT TO

TESOL MA Degree Requirements..11 Graduate Office Forms……….…...21

MISSION AND AIMS OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN THE

The mission of the Linguistics/TESOL graduate program is to provide students

Character language studies and related academic experiences.

INTELLECT: YOU REPRESENT IN YOUR PRESENCE ON THIS

The Context of the University

The Purpose of This Handbook

Introduction to the Faculty

Dant, Doris Eggington, William

Elzinga, Dirk Henrichsen, Lynn

Gardner, Dee Manning, Alan

Gardner, Marvin Melby, Alan

Oaks, Dallin Tanner, Mark

Skousen, Royal Thorne, Mel

Strong-Krause, Diane Willson, Heather

ADMINISTRATION AND P ERSONNEL

Graduate Coordinator: Dee Gardner Linguistic Graduate Advisor: Deryle

Department Secretary: LoriAnne Spear TESOL Graduate Advisor: Lynn

Linguistics Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Linguistics MA program should be able to:

TESOL Program Learning Outcomes

TESOL Program Learning Outcomes Continued…

Research: Analyze, perform, and communicate professional level research

Linguistics MA Degree Requirements

Requirements for Degree (total credit hours: 33)

TESOL Graduate Certificate Requirements

CORE COURSES (ALL REQUIRED ; TOTAL OF 18 CREDITS)

TESOL MA Degree Requirements

Evaluation of Graduate Students

Graduate Advisors and Committees

G RADUATE C OMMITTEES C ONTINUED …

Thesis and Project Report Format and Style

Important Deadlines for Graduation

Dec 2010 Apr 2011 Aug 2011

None* Apr 21 Aug 11 Graduation — University Commencement

None* Apr 22 Aug 12 Graduation — College Convocations

* December graduates are invited to participate in April graduation exercises.

Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Travel Funding for Professional Conferences and Research

Department funds (up to $500 per graduate student per

The College of Humanities also offers funding for

Graduate Student Society

Program of Study Form

How to fill out a Program of Study

Due date for Program of Study

How to change the Program of Study

How to submit a Program of Study Change

Relationship between your Program of Study and your Progress Report

Classes that can be funded by department scholarships

Project and Thesis Comparison

Thesis Expectations for TESOL and Linguistics

Thesis Expectations for TESOL and Linguistics Continued…

Graduate Office Forms

Process for Generating a TESOL Thesis

P ROCESS FOR G ENERATING A TESOL T HESIS C ONTINUED …

Process for Generating a Linguistics Thesis or Project

Process for Generating a Linguistics Thesis or Project Continued…

Project Expectations for TESOL or Linguistics

Steps to Writing a TESOL Project

Steps to Writing a TESOL Project Continued… TESOL Project Continued…