Shared BA/MA Program (TESOL)
The shared BA-MA is an integrated program in which some credits taken to fulfill your undergraduate requirements can be counted toward fulfilling the requirements for an M.A. as well.
Benefits
There are many benefits for academically advanced undergraduates who are enrolled in the shared program. You will be encouraged to take graduate-level courses when you are an upper level undergraduate, exposing you to an exciting and intellectually accelerated environment. You’ll be included in the TESOL graduate program’s events, including social events and professional development, where you can get to know other shared students as well as other MATESOL and Second Language Studies Ph.D. students.
With respect to time, for many students the dual enrollment program can allow you to complete the MA degree in less than the usual two years. Economically, the BA-MA program allows you to count up to 9 credits of relevant courses toward the the MA. These credits will be assessed at the undergraduate tuition rate, even if they are 800-level graduate courses. They will count toward your BA degree and toward your MA degree. Therefore the shared program may result in significant cost savings in both direct (e.g. tuition fees) and indirect (e.g. housing) expenses during your studies. In addition, the GRE test requirement is waived, saving you both time and a fee.
Eligibility
Applications cannot be submitted until you have achieved 56 credits. We welcome all majors but especially linguistics majors and language majors.
Deciding whether and when to apply
It is important that you talk to the TESOL Director (Professor Charlene Polio, polio@msu.edu) as early as possible, to see if this is an appropriate program for you. The sooner you begin the conversation, the sooner the TESOL Director can work with your undergraduate academic advisor on a coordinated plan. The dialog can begin as early as freshman year. If you’d like to get the maximum financial benefit of the BA-MA, you will want to dual-count 800-level courses, i.e. take graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. Since some of these courses have 400-level prerequisites or must be taken in a prescribed sequence, you’ll need to discuss your course plan with the TESOL Director.
Generally, courses can start to dual-count no earlier than the start of your junior year. Thus, if you want to dual-count courses in your junior year, you would need to ensure you have completed 56 credits. We strongly recommend that you apply to the program no later than the end of junior year, so that you can dual-count courses in your senior year.
Application Procedures
To apply to the shared B.A.-M.A. degree program, please follow the information below:
- Submit a graduate school application.
- Submit a request for dual enrollment.
- Personal Statement: Please indicate that you are applying for the B.A.-M.A. shared program.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required..
- Transcripts: You do not need to submit official university transcripts, but it would be preferred that you upload unofficial transcripts available in Campus Solutions.
- Application Deadline: Generally no later than the end of your junior year.
NOTE: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please ensure that the TESOL Director knows that you’ve submitted your application, since the TESOL Director will not receive an automatic notification from the admissions system.
For official details about admissions policies and policies governing the structure of the graduate programs, consult our graduate handbook.