Jun 07, 2025

2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog

Second Language Studies, BA/MA (5-Year Plan)

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The Department of Second Language Studies offers a BA+MA Pathway that helps students earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in just 5 years. Effective from Fall 2018, BA students in SLS who are admitted into the pathway are able to double-count 9 credits towards both a BA and an MA in the Department of Second Language Studies, including taking three 600-level courses in their senior year.

Some students may take more or less time, depending on variables such as double majoring, AP credits, back credits, and number of eligible credits taken each semester.

For more information about the BA+MA Pathway in SLS, see www.hawaii.edu/sls/graduate/ma/bama-pathway/ and contact the SLS undergraduate coordinator.

5-Year Plan

This is a sample academic plan for Spring Admission. Students should meet with an academic advisor prior to registration to formulate their own plan.

Year 1

Fall

SLS 150 - Learning Languages and Communicating Interculturally in a Global Multilingual World Credits: 3 (FGC)
SLS 170 - Language by the Numbers Credits: 3 (FQ) (or FW)
DS (non-SLS) Credits: 3
DA/DH/DL Credits: 3
HSL 101 Credits: 3

Credits 15

Spring

SLS 280 - Bilingualism: Cognition and Culture Credits: 3 (DS)
OR
SLS 130 - Introduction to Pidgin in Hawaiʻi Credits: 3 (DS)
FW (or FQ) Credits: 3
DB (or DP) Credits: 3
DY Credit: 1
HSL 102 Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 16

Summer

DA/DH/DL (S/S1) Credits: 3
DP (or DB) (S/S1) Credits: 3
Elective (S/S2) Credits: 3
FG (A/B/C) (S/S2) Credits: 3

Total Credits 43

Year 2

Fall

HSL 201 Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 2

Credits 14

Spring

SLS 302 - Second Language Learning Credits: 3 *
SLS 303 - Second Language Teaching Credits: 3 *
HSL 202 Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 15

Summer

Elective 300+ (S/S1) Credits: 3
Elective (S/S1) Credits: 3
Elective (S/S2) Credits: 3

Total Credits 81

Year 3

Fall

Apply to MA Program

SLS 304 - Sociolinguistics of Multilingualism Credits: 3
SLS 301 - Basic Language Concepts for Second Language Learning, Teaching, and Use Credits: 3
SLS 300+ Credits: 3
SLS 300+ Credits: 3
Elective 300+ Credits: 3

Credits 15

Spring

Begin MA Coursework

SLS 300+ Credits: 3
SLS 485 - Professionalism in SLS Credits: 3
SLS 430 - Pidgin and Creole English in Hawaiʻi Credits: 3
OR
SLS 460 - English Phonology Credits: 3
OR
SLS 601 - Language Concepts for Second Language Learning and Teaching Credits: 3 **
OR
SLS 612 - Alternative Approaches to Second Language Teaching Credits: 3
OR
SLS 618 - Language and Learning Technologies Credits: 3
OR
SLS 660 - Sociolinguistics and Second Languages Credits: 3 ***
Elective 300+ Credits: 3

Credits 12

Total Credits 108

Year 4

Fall

Graduate with BA

SLS 430 - Pidgin and Creole English in Hawaiʻi Credits: 3
OR
SLS 460 - English Phonology Credits: 3
OR
SLS 600 - Introduction to Second Language Studies Credits: 3
OR
SLS 601 - Language Concepts for Second Language Learning and Teaching Credits: 3 **
OR
SLS 612 - Alternative Approaches to Second Language Teaching Credits: 3
OR
SLS 618 - Language and Learning Technologies Credits: 3
OR
SLS 660 - Sociolinguistics and Second Languages Credits: 3 ***
SLS 430 - Pidgin and Creole English in Hawaiʻi Credits: 3
OR
SLS 460 - English Phonology Credits: 3
OR
SLS 600 - Introduction to Second Language Studies Credits: 3
OR
SLS 601 - Language Concepts for Second Language Learning and Teaching Credits: 3 **
OR
SLS 612 - Alternative Approaches to Second Language Teaching Credits: 3
OR
SLS 618 - Language and Learning Technologies Credits: 3
OR
SLS 660 - Sociolinguistics and Second Languages Credits: 3 ***
Elective 300+ Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Credits 12

Spring

First Semester as MA student

SLS 650 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3

Credits 9

Total BA Credits 120

Graduate (Year 5)

Fall

SLS MA Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3

Credits 9

Spring

SLS Seminar 700+ Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3
SLS MA Credits: 3

Credits 9

Total MA Credits 36

(Double-counted credits 9)

Total Credits 147

Notes:

This plan assumes that students start their studies in a Fall semester. SLS is flexible about considering other options; students may discuss them with SLS undergraduate and graduate advisors. A full-time undergraduate carries a minimum of 12 credit hours.
*SLS 302  and SLS 303  are gateway courses for the pathway, which require a grade of “B” or better.
** SLS 601  can fulfill the SLS 301 /LING 320  BA SLS core requirement. Students interested in the Bachelor and Master’s BAM pathway and any others who plan to pursue an MA in SLS can take SLS 601 . Students who took SLS 301  or LING 320  to fulfill the core requirement may take SLS 601  as an elective in their senior year.
*** SLS 430 , SLS 460 , SLS 600  (Fall Only), SLS 601 , SLS 612 , SLS 618  (Spring Only), and SLS 660  can be double-counted for both the BA and MA in SLS. One 400-level course and two 600-level courses or up to three 600-level courses to be double counted. SLS 600 , SLS 601 , SLS 650 , and SLS 660  are core courses for the MA.
*** Students must earn grades of “B” or better. With the double-counted courses, the actual minimum number of total credits taken is 147. Total credits earned after completion of the MA is 156; reflecting 120 credits earned for the BA in SLS and 36 credits earned for the MA in SLS.