The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Linguistics prepares students to pursue advanced graduate study, teach in colleges, adult education programs, businesses, private schools and institutions in the U.S. or abroad, work with private businesses, and help meet the language acquisition needs of second language learners. The Program takes pride in the international, intercultural, academic, and professional experience it offers to students from all over the world, including Germany, Russia, Slovenia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Tunis, Afghanistan, Burma, China, Indonesia, Bolivia, etc. The core faculty who serve the program are dedicated teachers as well as accomplished scholars and researchers, devoted to mentoring graduate students and helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.<br><br>The program offers two concentrations--Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Sociolinguistics--which are uniquely intertwined.<br>TESOL International Association considers a Master's degree in TESOL or related area to be the terminal degree for teaching positions in English as a second, foreign, or additional language.<br>Students may earn a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and/or use appropriate courses in the program toward obtaining a Commonwealth of Virginia Endorsement for English as a Second Language (ESL) if they already have a teaching license.