2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/linguistics-teaching-english-second-language-tesl-balas/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

The BALAS in Linguistics + TESL introduces students to two overarching questions: How do speakers of different languages learn and use English as an additional language? How to teach and assess English learners across different developmental stages and proficiency levels in different contexts? Linguistics + TESL majors Students will learn about how linguistic, cognitive, cultural, and societal factors contribute to second language acquisition, and how these can account for second-language developmental trajectories across individual learners of different backgrounds and characteristics in varying instructional and naturalistic settings. Linguistics + TESL majors make use of developments from a range of disciplines that include anthropology, English, global studies, psychology, and curriculum and instruction, as well as various disciplines housed in the School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.

Minimum required major and supporting course work:Minimum required course work equates to a total of 41 credit hours of Linguistics and TESL courses, including at least 8 hours of foreign languages. Please see your academic advisor. A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses must be taken on this campus.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours. Students will complete 40 hours of upper-division coursework (these hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree).

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work. Minimum required course work equates to a total of 41 credit hours of Linguistics and TESL courses, including at least 8 hours of foreign languages. Please see your academic advisor. A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours)Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

University Requirements

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | fulfilled by LING 301 | | | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by LING 100 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Science | | | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | | 0-20 |

Major Requirements

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | LING Core Courses | | 15 | | LING 100 | Intro to Language Science | | | LING 222 | Language in Globalization | | | or LING 250 | American Voices: Linguistic Diversity in the US | | | LING 301 | Elements of Syntax | | | LING 302 | Elements of Phonology | | | LING 307 | Elmnts Semantics & Pragmatics | | | TESL Core Courses | | 15 | | EIL 411 | Intro to TESL Methodology (AND) | | | Choose four (4) courses from the following list: | | | | EIL 422 | Engl Grammar for ESL Teachers | | | EIL 445 | Second Lang Reading & Writing | | | EIL 488 | Phonology for Second Language Teachers | | | EIL 456 | Lang and Social Interaction I | | | EIL 460 | Principles of Language Testing | | | LING 450 | Sociolinguistics I | | | LING 489 | Theoretical Foundations of SLA | | | Capstone Course | | | | EIL 465 | TESL in the Community | 3 | | Foreign Language Requirement | | 8 | | In addition the LAS foreign language language requirement, students must complete at least 8 hours in a second foreign language. One of the languages must be a non-Western language. | | | | | | | | Total Hours | | 41 |

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and Education Requirements page.

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

1. Students will receive grounding in core areas of Teaching English as a Second Language.
2. Students will receive grounding in linguistic theory.
3. Students will gain grounding in language pedagogy and assessment.
4. Students will learn to apply linguistic, pedagogical, and assessment knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.
5. Students will receive grounding on multi-cultural and multi-lingual practices amongst their potential student populations.
6. Students will gain academic written and oral communication skills.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Linguistics & Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Department of Linguistics

Linguistics Faculty\ Linguistics Advising

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences