Graduate Courses

Programs and Course Descriptions

Master of Education in World Language Instruction

This program is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Master of Education in world language instruction is an innovative program building on the strengths of the Concordia College undergraduate teacher education program and the pre-collegiate language programs at Concordia Language Villages. The degree consists of 34 credit hours and is offered to cohort groups beginning each summer. Summer courses are offered at Concordia Language Villages and academic year courses are offered online. Students complete courses during two summers and one academic year with the final fall semester spent writing their master’s thesis and participating in an online seminar.

The requirements for a Master of Education in world language instruction are listed below.

Summer I
AMLA 600 – Second Language and Immersion Methodologies, 4 credit hours
AMLA 602 – Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research, 4 credit hours
AMLA 604 – Motivating Students via Technology, 2 credit hours

Academic Year I
AMLA 610 – Technology for Effective Language Instruction, 4 credit hours
AMLA 612 – Accessing Cultural Products, Practices, and Perspectives via Technology, 4 credit hours
(These courses are the technology cognate for the program. Concordia may develop additional cognates based on student interest.)

Summer II
AMLA 620 – Assessment in the World Language Classroom, 4 credit hours
AMLA 622 – Content-Based Language Learning, 4 credit hours
AMLA 624 – Intensive Language Skills in Target Language, 2 credit hours

Academic Year II
AMLA 690 – Online Seminar, 2 credit hours
AMLA 698 – Continuing Registration, 1 credit hour
(required in all subsequent terms for those students who do not complete the thesis/project during the fall term)

AMLA 699 – Thesis, 4 credit hours

Objectives
Upon completion of this program, graduates are expected to:


1. Understand and demonstrate current methodologies in second language instruction

a. Understand and demonstrate immersion teaching principles in the second 
language classroom
b. Understand and demonstrate appropriate curricular design and instruction 
practices in content-based learning in the second language classroom
c. Understand and demonstrate best practices in assessment in the second 
language classroom including Integrated Performance Assessments

2. Understand principles of structuring research topics, gathering and using appropriate information, and employing valid statistical techniques in educational research designs


a. Understand and demonstrate design procedures for qualitative and quantitative research in second language teaching and learning

b. Critically interpret current research in second language teaching and learning

3. Apply current technology methods and innovations to second language teaching and learning


a. Evaluate modern electronic resources and considers strategies and issues involved in incorporating them in the classroom

b. Demonstrate how technology can be used to deliver and enhance instruction in the second language classroom
Admission Requirements

Admission to the graduate program in world language instruction consists of applying for graduate study at Concordia College. Application forms are available online. The forms may be downloaded, completed and sent directly to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies for processing.

Admission to a graduate program requires submission of the following materials:

1. A letter of application indicating intent and required materials submitted for 
application
2. A completed Application for Admission to Graduate and Continuing Studies 
form
3. An essay of at least 500 words, typed and double-spaced, that represents your 
highest level of academic writing. Provide a description of your professional experiences and background that have contributed to your readiness for graduate education. Specify those experiences that prepared you for your desired master’s degree. State your professional goals and indicate your potential to achieve this degree.
4. Sealed or certified copies of official transcripts for all postsecondary academic work should be sent directly to Academic Affairs, Attn: Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
5. Three letters of recommendation from different individuals
6. A nonrefundable $35 application fee payable to Concordia College. All application materials should be sent to Academic Affairs, Attn: Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, 
MN 56562.

Degree Requirements

1. Students may progress either through the cohort or may take individual courses. Full-time cohort students may complete the program in 18 months.
2. A thesis and a comprehensive oral examination are required of all candidates 
for the degree.
3. Allcourserequirementsincludingclinicalexpectationsmustbecompletedwith 
at least a grade of C. An overall GPA in the graduate program must be a 3.0.

Tuition and Fees
For information on tuition and fees, please go to www.ConcordiaCollege.edu/ graduate or contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies by mail or phone (218-299-3257).

Contact Information

Viann M. Pederson de Castañeda, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Master of Education, World Language Instruction Professor, Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562 (218) 299-3304 / email: pederson@cord.edu

Gay G. Rawson, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Master of Education, World Language Instruction Chair/Associate Professor, French
Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562 (218) 299-3412 / email: rawson@cord.edu

Cynthia R. Carver, Ph.D.
Chair, Division of Professional Programs and Communication Studies Professor, Communication Studies and Theatre Art
Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562
(218) 299-3154 / email: carver@cord.edu

Mark J. Krejci, Ph.D.
Provost and Dean of the College
Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562 (218) 299-3606 / email: krejci@cord.edu
Fax: (218) 299-4940

World Language Instruction Program Faculty

Stephanie L. Ahlfeldt, Ph.D.
Communication Studies and Theatre Art

Aileen L.S. Buslig, Ph.D.
Communication Studies and Theatre Art

Franciso L. Cabello-Cobo, Ph.D.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Gregory B. Carlson, Ph.D.
Communication Studies and Theatre Art

Jonathan P. Clark, Ph.D.
German

Mark K. Covey, Ph. D.
Psychology

Dawn E. Duncan, Ph.D.
English

Kenneth W. Foster, Ph.D.
Political Science

Eduardo Gargurevich, Ph.D.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Stephen A. Grollman, Ph.D.
German

Debra M. Grosz, Ph.D.
Education

Heidi Hamilton, Ph.D.
Concordia Language Villages

Paul Hoff, Ed.D.
Concordia Language Villages

Mona M. Ibrahim, Ph.D.
Psychology

Juihsien H. Kao, Ph.D.
Counseling Center

Joan L. Kopperud, Ph.D.
English

Andrew M. Lindner, Ph.D.
Sociology and Social Work

Wanda J. McSparron, Ph.D.
Counseling Psychologist

Julie R. Mach, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry

Tao Ming, Ph.D.
Chinese

Viann M. Pederson de Castañeda, Ph.D.
Program Co-Director, World Language Instruction Spanish and Hispanic Studies

James Postema, Ph.D.
English

Gay Rawson, Ph.D.
Program Co-Director, World Language Instruction French

Donald E. Rice, Ph.D
Communication Studies and Theatre Art

Mary K. Rice, Ph.D.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Lisa Sethre-Hofstad, Ph.D.
Psychology/Scandinavian Studies

Karla J. Smart-Morstad, Ph.D.
Education

Elna K. Solvang, Ph.D.
Religion

Allison Spenader, Ph.D.
Concordia Language Villages

Sara B. Triggs, Ph.D.
Education

Amy Watkin, Ph.D.
English

Sonja P. Wentling, Ph.D.
History

Course Descriptions

AMLA 600 – Second Language and Immersion Methodologies, 4 credit hours. Students will examine past and present methods of teaching a second language, drawing on their own experiences to enhance the discussions and understandings. Models and principles for immersion instruction will be contrasted with second language instructional principles. Observation and analysis of a variety of methodologies in action at the Language Villages will help students define their personal instructional philosophy and methodology.

AMLA 602 – Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research, 4 credit hours. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary, theory, primary principles, methods, and techniques of qualitative and quantitative methods of
inquiry. Students will read and review a variety of research articles related to second language methodologies.

AMLA 604 – Motivating Students via Technology, 2 credit hours.
Students will discuss how technology can be used in the second language classroom to motivate language learners. Through observations and discussions of how technology is used at the Language Villages, students will design a unit of instruction incorporating technology.

AMLA 610 – Technology for Effective Language Instruction, 4 credit hours. Based on current research and methodological approaches, students will explore the many available uses of technology in second language instruction. The course will also enable students to critically analyze and assess commercially produced materials for the language classroom. This course will be offered online.

AMLA 612 – Accessing Cultural Products, Practices, and Perspectives via Technology, 4 credit hours. Students will increase their Web navigating skills to access authentic materials and instructional resources on the Web. They will learn how to use Web-based instructional materials effectively to enhance understanding of cultural products, practices and perspectives. This course will be offered online.

AMLA 620 – Assessment in the World Language Classroom, 4 credit hours. Students will discuss the theoretical and practical foundations in learner- centered and performance-based assessments. The role of national standards, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) K-12 Performance Guidelines and the LinguaFolio in assessing language learning will be presented. Students will examine a variety of assessment tools and their use in providing meaningful feedback to both teachers and students.

AMLA 622 – Content-Based Language Learning, 4 credit hours. Students will examine the principles and characteristics of content-based instruction in the second language classroom. A continuum of program models ranging from content-driven to language-driven instruction will be discussed along with implications for curriculum and instruction. Students will design a content-based unit of instruction to demonstrate understanding of the methodology.

AMLA 624 – Intensive Language Skills in Target Language, 2 credit hours. OPTIONAL for all students but would fulfill partial requirements in the language intensive cognate area. Students will actively participate in the planning and delivery of a variety of programs at the Language Villages in collaboration with staff members and native speakers.

AMLA 690 – Online Seminar, 2 credit hours. Students will participate in an online seminar to work on their thesis with their faculty advisor and to share progress with others who are working on their thesis. Instruction will be provided in online units that will vary according to the students’ needs and the topics of the theses.

AMLA 698 – Continuing Registration, 1 credit hour. Continuing enrollment in Graduate Programs. This option is used for registration after completion of all course requirements or when not otherwise actively enrolled. This course may not be used to meet any program or graduation requirement. Prerequisites: AMLA 690 and AMLA 699

AMLA 699 – Thesis, 4 credit hours. The thesis will be a written work of publishable quality and will include documentation of literature review and evidence of extensive research to inform the work.

Information For:

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