Below are required courses and possible elective courses for SLA majors that will be offered in Fall 2023. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are taught by core SLA faculty. Courses marked with an ampersand (&) can typically count towards the SLA minor. Courses are for 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
You might also be interested in consulting the course list compiled by the Language Ideologies and Linguistic Discrimination working group. (Check in the enroll app to see which of those courses will be offered in a given semester.)
All students, majors and minors, should check with their advisor on course selections. Please also consult Course Search & Enroll for additional information or courses not listed below.
Enrollment in some of these course may require the completion of pre-requisites. Please check the course listings carefully and consider contacting a given course’s instructor.
If you find a course that you think should be on this list, please let us know!
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African 703: Topics in Teaching African Languages - Communicative Lesson Planning (1 cr.)
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Adeola Agoke
Day(s) and time: Fridays, 1:30-3:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Theories and teaching methodologies for second language acquisition plus practical classroom techniques for teaching and directing programs in African languages.
*Asian 434: Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Junko Mori
Day(s) and time: Mondays and Wednesdays 4:30 – 5:45 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: ASIALANG 104 or 356 (E ASIAN 104 or 320 prior to Summer 2019) or placement into ASIALANG 203
Description: Phonology, morphology and syntax of the modern standard colloquial Japanese, including historical and dialectal aspects. Not open to students with credit for E ASIAN 434 prior to Fall 2019.
*Asian 633: Chinese Applied Linguistics
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Weihua Zhu
Day(s) and time: Tuesdays, 4:00-6:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Junior standing
Description: Subfields of applied linguistics in Chinese such as sociolinguistics, pragmatics, corpus linguistics, language pedagogy, second language acquisition, etc.
Communication Arts 402: Psychology of Communication
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Zhongdang Pan
Day(s) and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing
Description: The role and function of information processing in human communication behavior.
Questions regarding enrollment in Com Arts courses may be sent to:
registration@commarts.wisc.edu.
If you receive an error message when enrolling, first check to see if the course is initially reserved for majors or majors/certificate students. Students must enroll for sections they can attend. Com Arts does not maintain wait lists during enrollment.
& Curriculum and Instruction 675: Assessment in Education (1-3 credits)
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Yj Kim
Day(s) and time: Mondays, 4:30-7:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/Professional standing
Description: Subjects of current interest. Recent topics have included educational linguistics, language awareness, understanding language, foundations in teaching English or social studies.
Curriculum and Instruction 702: Sociocultural Theory
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Maxine Mckinney De Royston
Day(s) and time: Thursdays, 1:45 – 4:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/Professional standing
Description: Sociocultural theories posit that the fundamental mechanism for teaching and learning is social interaction. Examine the varying positions within this general body of theoretical liturature, compare and contrast how each position construes the fundamentally social nature of thinking and learning, and consider the methods entailed by each given theory.
Curriculum and Instruction 715: Design of Research in Curriculum and Instruction
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Matthew Berland
Day(s) and time: Wednesdays 11-1:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/Professional standing
Description: Introductory survey of empirical foundations of research. Development of methods and tools of research.
Curriculum and Instruction 719: Introduction to Qualitative Research
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: TBD
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:45 – 3:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Provides an overview of qualitative inquiry, examining assumptions, standards, and methods for generating and communicating interpretations. Methodological and theoretical works illustrate case study, ethnography, narrative, and action research. Does not include a field method component.
*Curriculum and Instruction 726: Qualitative Methods of Studying Children and Contexts
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: Emily Machado
Day(s) and Time: Mondays 1:45 – 4:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Examines the theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues in studying children from interpretive perspectives. A small group research project, focused on examination of an individual child and context, provides an introduction to qualitative methods within fieldwork.
Curriculum and Instruction 818: Teaching Controversial Issues
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: Li-ching Ho
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays, 11-1:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Critically examines different lines of research in controversial issues instruction such as the contextual factors affecting the teaching of controversial topics, and the instructional practices involved in teaching controversial issues. Contextual factors affecting teachers’ decisions to teach controversial issues or topics include official curricular policies, community beliefs, emotional histories, and teachers’ differing beliefs and sense of purpose. Examines the affordances and constraints of different pedagogical approaches to teaching controversial issues such as the use of discussion and deliberation, as well as pedagogies that recognize the importance of trust, power, emotion, and personal connections.
*Curriculum and Instruction 823: Coloniality of Language and Science in Education
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: Diego Román and Dr. Katie Kirchgasler
Day(s) and Time: Wednesdays 11 am – 1:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: This graduate seminar explores interdisciplinary theories on coloniality used in education research, with a focus on historicizing and interrogating hierarchies of language, race, and scientific reason. The course examines distinct analytics of power offered by raciolinguistic perspectives, postcolonial science studies, and postfoundational curriculum studies.
Curriculum and Instruction 830: Theory and Design of the Curriculum
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: Chris Kirchgasler
Day(s) and Time: Fridays, 11-1:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Dimensions of theory and their interrelationships with reference to the curriculum field.
Curriculum and Instruction 912: Writing in Educational Research
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructors: John Rudolph
Day(s) and Time: Thursdays 8:15 – 10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Examination of substantive and stylistic elements of writing in the field of education research. Development of individual skills within and mastery through analysis, practice, and peer editing.
Curriculum and Instruction 916: Research Methods in Education
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: TBD
Day(s) and time: Mondays, 1:45-4:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing
Description: In the past few decades, social thought and philosophy have provided alternative arguments and styles of reasoning in thinking about the history and sciences of education. Explores readings and the importance of this literature to education is in multiple layers; provides ways of thinking about difference outside of theories of representation and identity; embodies ways of engaging the knowledge of science and the political in schooling; provides alternative strategies for discourse analyses; problematizes the givenness of the subject of schooling as the object of change; (re)vises notions of materialism and power in understanding the effects of schooling; provides ways of thinking about knowledge and language as not merely an epiphenomena to structures; and historically explores the limits of theories of practice that are given as what is real and useful.
Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis 940: Intro: Mix-Methods Research (1-3 credits)
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Xueli Wang
Day(s) and time: Mondays, 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Research on and/or discussion of selected topics in educational leadership and policy analysis.
Educational Policy Studies 595: Language Politics and Education
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Matthew Wolfgram
Day(s) and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-5:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Overview of language politics, policies, and practices in global perspective; draws on the work of anthropologists, sociolinguists, and language policy scholars to examine how language choices in and regarding schooling interact with ethnic and linguistic diversity. Consider the following questions: How and under what conditions do language policies, practices, and pedagogies redress or exacerbate inequalities? How people at the local level, including educators, negotiate language and literacy policies and politics. Uses a global lens to expand local understandings and practices.
Educational Psychology 760: Statistical Methods Applied to Education I
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Check Course Search and Enroll
Day(s) and Time: Multiple sections, offered, all with labs. Please check Course Search and Enroll.
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Introductory descriptive statistics and statistical inference; measures of central tendency and variability, confidence intervals, theory of hypothesis testing, correlation techniques.
Educational Psychology 822: Introduction to Quantitative Inquiry in Education
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Ar Nelson
Day(s) and Time: Thursdays 4:40 – 7:10 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Utilize the concepts and methods of quantitative social science research to conduct research on education issues. Topics include hypothesis testing, statistical inference, point estimates, graphic and numerical data displays, correlation and regression.
Educational Psychology 827: Surveys and Other Quantitative Data Collection Strategies
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Mollie Mcquillan
Day(s) and Time: Thursdays 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Methods and concepts of survey research methods as they are commonly used in education research. Strategies include surveys (phone, mail, electronic, in person), logs/diaries, and experience sampling instruments. Emphasis is given to self-administered surveys, including periodic surveys, since these strategies are the most common in education research.
English 314: Structure of English
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Tom Purnell
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:55 – 10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Description: Linguistic methods of analysis and description of English syntax and morphology.
English 315: English Phonology
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Eric Raimy
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 11:00-11:50 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Description: Basic principles of phonetics and phonology applied to the description of English.
English 316: English Language Variation in the United States
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Juliet Huynh
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 – 10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Description: Description and analysis of geographical and social variation in English in the United States.
English 318: Second Language Acquisition
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Juliet Huynh
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 – 3:45 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Description: Systematic study of how people learn ESL and other second languages. An interdisciplinary survey emphasizing research in linguistics, psychology, education, and sociology into the phenomenon of second language acquisition.
English 412: Bad Grammar and Metalinguistic Awareness
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Anja Wanner
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 – 10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Description: Explores the relationship between descriptive and prescriptive grammar. Examines the role of prescriptivism in linguistics from a disciplinary view (why are linguists against it when the public is so clearly interested in singling out some constructions as ‘bad grammar’). Provides a historical view (the tradition of grammar writing — who gets to decide what is ‘correct’) and a variationist view (corpus-based studies on phenomena like preposition stranding, split infinitives, the distinction of who/whom etc.) of grammar writing. Covers the historical and cultural roots of beliefs about what constitutes ‘good’ and ‘bad’ grammar. Introduces linguistic tools and methods to check claims about grammar.
English 515: Techniques and Materials for TESOL
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Andrea Poulos
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: English 415
Description: Supervised practice in the use of current techniques and materials in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages, including peer and community teaching with videotaped sessions.
English 516: English Grammar in Use
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Anja Wanner
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: ENGL 314 or graduate/professional standing
Description: Functions of English grammar, covering use in a variety of contexts and text types. Involves analysis of spoken and written English across genres and settings.
English 700: Introduction to Composition Studies
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Michael Bernard-Donals
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Rhetorical, linguistic, psychological, and social foundations of writing; implications for instruction.
English 701: Writing and Learning
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Morris Young
Day(s) and Time: Fridays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Historical, critical and philosophical perspectives on the relationship between writing and learning. In addition to reviewing current research, students will have the opportunity to carry out their own investigation designed to study possible relationships between writing and learning.
*&French (French and Italian) 820: College Teaching of French
Instructors: Heather Willis Allen
Day(s) and time: Fridays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Description: Intended for instructors of elementary- and intermediate-level collegiate world language courses, French 820 targets the following learning objectives: 1. Developing conceptual understanding of communicative, literacy-oriented instruction; 2. Developing understanding of classroom techniques for communicative, literacy-oriented instruction; 3. Applying key concepts related to communicative, literacy-oriented teaching to designing instructional materials for elementary- and intermediate-level collegiate world language courses; 4. Increasing engagement in pedagogical discourse on collegiate world language teaching and learning. Course assignments include reading responses and teaching reflections, instructional materials projects, and a statement of teaching philosophy.
German 758: Structure of German
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Mark Louden
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:05 – 12:55 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Topics in contemporary German culture, literature, and linguistics.
Italian 340: Structures of Italian
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Loren Eadie
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:05 – 12:55 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Italian 202, 204, or graduate/professional standing
Course Description: Examination of Italian phonetics and phonology, morphology and word formation, and syntax, with attention to contrasts with English. Prepares for advanced courses in Italian linguistics.
Journalism And Mass Communication 620: International Communication (4 credits)
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Lindsay Palmer
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 – 12:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Junior standing
Description: Historical, political, economic and cultural trends in global mass communication systems.
For course specific information or enrollment permissions contact the instructor of record.
Linguistics 522: Advanced Morphology
Information from this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Monica Macaulay
Day(s) and Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:20 – 2:10 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Linguistics 322
Description: Advanced morphological theory.
Linguistics 977: Linear Regression - Linguists (2-3 credits)
Information from this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Eric Raimy
Day(s) and Time: Mondays 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Critical examination of selected issues in linguistics.
Psychology 414: Cognitive Psychology
Information from this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Brad Postle
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 – 10:45 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: PSYCH 202, (BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101 and 102), BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151, or (BIOCORE 381 and 382)
Description: How people perceive, learn, remember, plan, solve problems, make decisions, and communicate. The main approach is psychological but will also consider contributions from computer science, linguistics, and neurobiology.
Psychology 711: LangAcquisition Infancy-Child (2-3 credits)
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Jenny Saffran
Day(s) and Time: Mondays 9-11:00 am
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: None yet provided.
Psychology 733: Perceptual and Cognitive Sciences (2 credits)
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Joe Austerweil
Day(s) and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 – 5:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Current approaches to perceptual and cognitive sciences.
Sociology 754: Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology
This course is not on the electives list. Please talk to your advisor before enrolling. Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Jessica Calarco
Day(s) and Time: Wednesdays, 4 – 6:30 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisite: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Teaches how qualitative research can be used to advance sociological theory. Topics include inductive and deductive research designs in qualitative research, conducting and analyzing interviews, content analysis, conducting observations, focus groups and data management in qualitative research.
& Spanish (Spanish and Portuguese) 630: Clitics in Spanish
Information for this class taken directly from Course Search and Enroll.
Instructor: Grant Armstrong
Day(s) and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 – 2:15 pm
Modality: In person
Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing
Description: Advanced course focusing on particular theories, approaches, and/or methodologies concerned with Spanish linguistics.