Master of Applied Linguistics
MAAL Degree Structure
The MAAL degree and the MAAL (TESOL) major each consist of 48 credit points made up of 8 units (courses or subjects) of 6 credit points each. The degree is normally taken over 1 year full-time or 2–4 years part-time. A full-time load consists of approximately 40 hours per week of academic work, and most students who are in employment find that part-time study better meets their needs.
For the MAAL, students need to take all four units in Group I (listed below), and to choose any four (4) electives from any of those in Group II and Group III (Total 8 units).
For the MAAL (TESOL), students need to take all four units in Group 1, and the two units in Group III. They choose two elective (2) units from Group II (Total 8 units).
Here are the official requirements. For more information about each unit, please see Units in Linguistics
(a) Candidates must pass units to the value of 48 credit points at 500 level or above. (500 is the unit code which designates a postgraduate-level unit).
(b) Candidates must include all Group I units.
(c) Candidates may not enrol in any unit or units where the candidate has undertaken equivalent subject matter in a previous award.
(d) With permission from the Degree Coordinator, a candidate may substitute Group II units in place of Group I units, up to the value of 12 credit points.
(e) For the general MAAL degree, with permission from the Degree Coordinator, a candidate may substitute other units at 500-level for elective units, up to the value of 12 credit points. It may also be possible, with permission, to include advanced-level units in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Indonesian and Japanese. Not all language units may be offered online. See individual disciplines for pre-requisites and other information.
If you are searching for specific information about units on offer in a given year, visit the Courses and Units Catalogue and type the unit code into the 'Unit Search box' – e.g. LING550.
Group I units (core):
- LING550 The Design of Language
- LING551 Issues in Applied Linguistics
- LING552 Intercultural Communication
- LING553 The English Language
Group II units (elective):
- LING505 Meaning in Language
- LING561 Research Methods in Second Language Acquisition
- LING562 Second Language Acquisition
- LING563 Bilingualism, Education and Society
- LING564 First Language and Literacy Acquisition
- LING565 Phonetics and Phonology
- LING566 Australia's Indigenous Languages
- LING569 Morphology and Syntax
- LING580 The Languages of Asia
- EDLA523 Second Language Acquisition: Applications
Group III units (prescribed for the MAAL (TESOL); elective for the MAAL):
- EDLI502 TESOL I
- EDLI504 TESOL II
Advanced Standing
Candidates may be granted advanced standing to a maximum of 12 credit points on the basis of units passed either at UNE or elsewhere provided that:
a) those units have reasonable correspondence to MAAL units; and
b) those units have not been counted towards the same degree which qualifies the candidate for MAAL admission. Students normally apply for advanced standing before commencement of the program.
Period of Candidature
Candidates must satisfy the requirements of the program in not less than two trimesters and not more than eight trimesters (four years).