The program’s two concentrations are Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Sociolinguistics. Students in the program may also earn a certificate in TESOL and/or use appropriate courses in the program as requirements toward obtaining the Commonwealth of Virginia Endorsement for English as a Second Language.

The M.A. in Applied Linguistics requires 33 credit hours, and the passing of an oral comprehensive examination, and the completion of a language requirement (12 credits or the equivalent in a single foreign language; international students may meet the requirement based on English proficiency as measured by the TOEFL). No more than 12 hours may be taken on the 500 level. Courses taken PASS/FAIL are not included in the 33 credit hours.