Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Language and International Trade [M.A.]


Objectives
The program’s objectives are to promote cultural awareness and sensitivity concerning our society and societies of other world regions and provide the skills and knowledge necessary for competent performance in an international business environment. In addition, students will develop skills to work in the international business community and acquire practical knowledge of business practices in their target language.

Program Admission


Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Fall or Winter. See Application Deadlines.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements.

Program Requirements  

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements. Requirements may be more stringent than the minimum graduate school requirements.

  • Declare the language to be used for the language area requirement on the Application for Graduate Admission (e.g., Language and International Trade - French). Native speakers of a language may not elect that language without the permission of the language section concerned. (Students applying to the ESL section of the master of arts in language and international trade should be sure their completed applications reach the Office of Admissions five months before the first semester of their program.).
  • Submit a statement of their reasons for pursuing this degree (Instructions - Spanish [PDF] , Instructions - French [PDF] , Instructions - German [PDF] )
  • Request a letter of recommendation from two former university professors. 
  • Meet the background requirements stated below:
    • Foreign Language - Non-native speakers of French, German or Spanish must possess at least a minor in that language with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or the equivalent proficiency. Non-native speakers of English must possess a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score on the computerized versions.  Students should see the EMU admissions website at www.emich.edu/admissions for required minimum scores.
    • Economics - A two-course sequence in macroeconomic theory and policy. A two-course sequence in microeconomic theory and policy. (Students not meeting the above requirements may be granted conditional admission and be required to complete either ECON 201  and ECON 301  or ECON 501  and either ECON 202  and ECON 302  or ECON 502 . Students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 [B] or better in deficiency courses.)
    • Business - A course in the principles of accounting. A course in basic computers in business.

Note: Students not meeting the above degree requirements may be granted conditional admission and be required to complete either ACC 240  and ACC 241 , or ACC 501 , and MATH 118  plus COSC 101  or IS 215 , or IS 502 . Students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better in deficiency courses.

Conditional Admission - Conditional admission may be granted to students who do not meet the above admission requirements. These students will be required to take deficiency courses to meet these requirements; this work will be done in addition to regular program requirements. Students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better in deficiency courses. 

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions  and select the appropriate application.

Domestic Applicants Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript from all previously attended institutions.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

 

Department Information


World Languages 219 Alexander, 734.487.0130

Jeff Popko, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information


Michael Foster, PhD, French Advisor

Monica Millan, PhD, Spanish Advisor

Carla Damiano, PhD, German Advisor

Degree Requirements: 31-34 hours


The M.A. in Language and International Trade requires 31-34 hours of coursework to be distributed among required courses in foreign language, economics, business, and cooperative education courses as follows:

World Language: 10 hours


  • Complete ESLN 642 and ESLN 648 (five hours each) if fulfilling foreign language requirements with English.
  • If fulfilling the world language requirement with French, German, or Spanish, complete 10 credit hours in the chosen language.

Economics: 6 hours


Business: 12 hours


Select 12 credit hours from the following.

Culminating Experience: 3-6 hours


To complement their academic training and enhance their professional preparation and chances for future employment, all students are expected to complete a minimum 15-week assignment in the public or private sector, provided an appropriate position can be found. U.S. citizens may undertake this assignment either in the United States (U.S. Placement ) or a country where the language being studied is spoken (Overseas Placement ), while ESL students may elect only the U.S. placement. In all cases, students must satisfy the requirements of the placement for which they are eligible.

Critical Graduation Information


Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Master’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of first enrollment in the master’s degree program.

In the event a student does not complete the master’s degree requirements within six years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all master’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

  • A master’s degree must require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
  • No more than six credits of independent study courses and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined may be applied to a graduate degree.  
  • Residency Requirement:
    • For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere). 
    • For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
    • Residency and enrollment in multiple programs: Students enrolled in multiple master’s/specialist degree programs must have 24 unique credit hours in each degree program.
  • Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
  • Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
  • The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
  • Some master’s programs require a thesis; others require a special project or internship; others require students to pass a final exam. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.