4. The Structure of the MAAL and MAAL (Hons) Degrees
4.1 Unit?, degree?, trimester? Is there a glossary of terms your university uses?
4.2 How many credit points and units do I need to complete?
4.3 What units are available?
4.4 Which MAAL units are compulsory, and which elective?
4.5 Is the MAAL best done full-time or part-time?
4.6 Can I take any units I want?
4.7 What is the grading system?
4.1 Unit?, degree?, trimester? Is there a glossary of terms that your university uses?
Yes; please click here for a glossary of terms.
4.2 How many credit points and units do I need to complete?
The MAAL and the MAAL (TESOL) major both require completion of 48 credit points to satisfy the requirement of the degree. This is normally 8 units at 6 credit points each.
The MAAL (Hons) consists of 48 credit points as above, plus the 24 credit point unit LING600 Dissertation.
4.3 What units are available?
There are 4 core units for the MAAL, MAAL (TESOL) and MAAL (Hons). Each unit is worth 6 credit points except for LING600 which is worth 24 credit points. For further information on each unit and when they are on offer see Units in Linguistics.
The MAAL consists of:
All 4 Group I (core) units
4 units of your choice from Group II or Group III
The MAAL (TESOL) consists of:
All 4 Group I (core) units
2 units of your choice from Group II
Both Group III units
The MAAL (Hons) consists of the MAAL or MAAL (TESOL):
+ LING600 Dissertation in Linguistics or Applied Linguistics (24 cp)
- LING550 The Design of Language
- LING551 Issues in Applied Linguistics
- LING552 Intercultural Communication
- LING553 The English Language
- LING505 Meaning in Language
- LING561 Research Methods in Second Language Acquisition
- LING562 Second Language Acquisition: Theory
- EDLA523 Second Language Acquisition: Applications
- LING563 Bilingualism, Education and Society
- LING564 First Language and Literacy Acquisition
- LING565 Phonetics and Phonology
- LING566 Australia's Indigenous Languages
- LING569 Morphology and Syntax
- LING571 Sociolinguistics and Language Ecology
- LING580 Languages of Asia
- EDLI502 TESOL I
- EDLI504 TESOL II
4.4 Which MAAL units are compulsory, and which elective?
The Group I units listed in 4.3 are compulsory units, and are either pre-requisite or co-requisite to the 'elective' units in Group II and Group III. Normally, students will complete all four Group 1 units (i.e. 24 credit points) as part of their degree. Students will usually choose four units (i.e. 24 credit points) from the list of units in Group II or Group III (notice that Group III units are 'prescribed', i.e. compulsory for the MAAL (TESOL) major and that EDLI502 must be completed before EDLI504).
Ideally, you would complete the core units before you enrol in the elective units. This is possible if you are studying part-time, but not if you are studying full time. For this reason we have made most core units as co-requisites to the Group II and Group III units – so you can take them at the same time.
4.5 Is the MAAL best done full-time or part-time?
In Australia normally 4 units (24 credit points) per trimester is a full-time load, and 2 units per trimester (12 credit points) is a half-time load. If you are fitting your Masters studies around work commitments, and want maximum choice of units, then we recommend that you do the MAAL part-time. If you want to take it full-time, that is quite possible, but you'll have less choice available to you. It is not possible to take more than 4 units in any single trimester. Please note that it is only possible to complete the MAAL (TESOL) full-time if you begin study at the beginning of the academic year in February, since you need to take EDLI502 before EDLI504.
4.6 Can I take any units I want?
There are some constraints. Unless you have an exemption, you must complete all four Group I units. For the MAAL (TESOL) you must also take the two prescribed units in Group III. For the MAAL (Hons) you must take the core unit LING600 Dissertation. For advanced language units, you need the permission of the MAAL Coordinator. Beyond that, you can choose whichever electives you like.
4.7 What is the grading system?
Final grades for units are as follows:
High Distinction (HD) 85% – 100%
Distinction (D) 75% – 84%
Credit (C) 65% – 74%
Pass (P) 50% – 64%
Fail (F) 49% or less
NI – Fail incomplete (if you do not submit all obligatory assignments)