A6001 Master of Applied Linguistics

The course is structured in four parts. Part A. Core studies, Part B. Applied studies, Part C. Professional practice studies and Part D. Elective studies.

A research pathway is also available subject to meeting eligibility requirements.

Part A. Core studies 

These studies will immerse you in applied linguistics studies at graduate level and draw on best practices within the broad realm of applied linguistics practice and research. You will gain a critical understanding of theoretical and practical issues relating to applied linguistics, including language in multilingual societies, research methods, second language acquisition, English grammar and pedagogy, digital language and intercultural communication.

Part B. Applied studies  

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development programs.

Part C. Professional practice studies

Designed in association with industry experts, select from this suite of professional enhancement offerings to build essential competencies for your career pathway

Part D. Elective studies

Select from a range of options designed to enhance specific knowledge and skills in applied linguistics and related fields. 

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1, you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part. A, Part. B, Part. C and Part. D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part. A, Part. B, Part. C (6 credit points) and Part. D (18 credit points).
• If you are admitted at entry level 3, you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part. A (30 credit points), Part. B and Part. D (6 credit points).

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression maps

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course comprises 96 points structured into four parts: Part A. Core studies (36 points), Part B. Applied studies (12 points), Part C. Professional practice studies (12 points) and Part D. Elective studies (36 points)

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3.

Part A. Core studies (36 points)

You must complete 36 credit points, comprising:

- 30 credit points from the following units; and

- 6 credit points (one unit) from the specified elective studies list.

Note: Entry level 3 completes only 30 credit points from the following list and no specified elective studies are required.

• APG5043 Language and multilingual societies (12 points)
• APG5347 Research methods in applied linguistics
• APG5348 Second language acquisition (12 points)

Specified elective studies

And you must complete 6 points from the following list:

• APG5046 English language, pedagogy and use 
• APG5107 Digital language: Users and technology
• APG5139 Using language data and technology 
• APG5349 World Englishes
• APG5704 Discourse analysis: Texts and talk

Part B. Applied studies (12 points)

You must complete 12 credit points (one unit) from the following capstone units:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points) 
• APG5856 Research Project (12 points) 
• APG5969 Advanced simulation (12 points) 

Part C. Professional practice studies (12 points)

You must complete 12 credit points from the following list.

Note: Entry level 2 is only required to complete 6 credit points of Professional practice studies.

Note: If you intend to complete the research pathway you must complete APG5084.

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5129 Evaluation
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5140 Principles and practices for disaster management, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation
• APG5170 Social enterprise challenge in the Pacific
• APG5393 Ethical theory
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5652 Language and intercultural communication
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A
• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (12pts)
• MON5750 Monash innovation guarantee

Part D. Elective studies (36 points)

You must complete: 

• Entry level 1: 36 credit points from the elective list below, including a minimum of 12 credit points at level 5.
• Entry level 2: 18 credit points from the elective list below, including a minimum of 12 credit points at level 5
• Entry level 3: 6 credit points at level 5. 

Note 1: You may also complete units not undertaken from Parts A, B or C.

Note 2: You can complete a maximum of 12 credits points of approved units from the core studies or elective studies parts from other Arts Graduate coursework programs subject to meeting individual unit prerequisites.

Discipline electives

• ATS2671 Managing intercultural communication
• ATS2769 Englishes around the world
• ATS3325 Multimodal communication and cognition
• ATS3329 Language, culture and power
• EDF5643 Second language assessment and testing

Arts enrichment electives

Note: A maximum of 12 points can be completed from the Arts enrichment units

• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5170 Social Entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environment

Students looking to pursue particular career pathways are advised to pair units within their Part D as follows to build their skills in selected areas of Applied Linguistics: 

Language documentation and revitalisation electives

• ATS2281 Aboriginal languages
• ATS2668 Structure in the languages of the world
• ATS2669 Phonetics and phonology: The science of speech sounds
• ATS3816 Language learning and multilingualism

Structure of English electives

• APG5046 English language, pedagogy and use
• APG5349 World Englishes
• ATS3673 English across time

 Language and technology electives

• APG5107 Digital language: Users and technologies
• APG5139 Using language data and technology
• APG5704 Discourse analysis: texts and talk

Language teaching electives

• APG5046 English language, pedagogy and use
• ATS3816 Language learning and multilingualism
• EDF5631 Bi/multilingual education
• EDF5643 Second language assessment and testing

Research pathway (optional) - 24 points

You can complete a research pathway in your course if:

• you have achieved a minimum weighted average mark of 80% in the units of this course;
• you have the permission of the Course Director; and
• a suitable thesis supervisor is available.

If you are admitted into the course at entry level 1 or 2, the following unit replacements will apply:

• APG5084 Designing research as offered in Part C.
• APG5849 Research thesis A replaces 6 credit points from Part D.
• APG5850 Research thesis B replaces 12 credit points from Part B.

If you are admitted into the course at entry level 3, the replacement units will be determined based on previous study in consultation with the Course Director.

Note 1. APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester.
Note 2. Undertaking a research pathway does not guarantee entry into a graduate research degree (e.g. Masters by Research, PhD).

You must complete 24 credit points from the following list:

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5849 Research thesis A
• APG5850 Research thesis B