We welcome your application for the College of Humanities’ Master of Arts in Professional Language (MAPL) Program at BYU! Currently available in the target languages of Arabic, Chinese, and French, the program is designed to help students develop ACTFL superior-level target language fluency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a professional domain. Upon completion of all program requirements, you will receive both a BA and an MA in Professional Language. MAPL students complete two years of intensive language coursework at the upper advanced and superior levels in their target language. They also take courses introducing the profession, in project management, and in overseas study and internship preparation. The first year of study is on campus at BYU, while the second year is in an overseas immersion setting. In the first year (MAPL1), students take advanced debate and presentation skills courses, advanced reading and writing, and domain-specific tutorials to help them build target language proficiency in their area of professional specialization. In their overseas year (MAPL2), in addition to superior-level language coursework, students will also complete direct enrollment courses in their professional domain and an internship or equivalent experiential learning opportunity. By the time they complete the program, students should test at the superior level in one or more language skill areas in their target language.
You will start the MAPL program during your final year on campus. By this time, you should be in the final year of completing all requirements for your major(s), minor(s), certificate(s) as well as all general education coursework. Prior to going overseas for MAPL2, you must have completed all non-MAPL/PLANG coursework. No exceptions will be allowed. To be admitted to the program, students must also have a professional domain outside of their target language studies, something other than target language literature, linguistics, or culture, ideally a major, but possibly a minor or strong course concentration. Applicants need to have achieved the Advanced-Mid ranking on the ACTFL OPI exam and one other nationally-normed test in listening, reading, and/or writing to qualify for admission.
We will contact you for a personal interview as part of the admissions process.
First Name*
Middle Name*
Last Name*
Email*
Language*
BYU Student ID*
Phone Number*
Major*
Please identify your professional language domain. Note that this cannot be the target language. Your domain should be an area outside of your study of language in which you will utilize your language skills at a professional level, i.e., engineering, business, neuroscience, political science, government agencies, K-12 teaching, etc.
Please note: Your undergraduate degree coursework, minor, certificate, or other programs must be completed BEFORE participating in the overseas portion (MAPL2) of the program, or the summer term before departure.
GPA*
Target Language GPA*
Domain Course GPA*
In-country experience: Living in a linguistic and cultural immersion environment can help you make great strides in learning a language, becoming familiar with your target culture, and developing resilience and patience. Such experience can come from living and working abroad as a student, worker, missionary, or foreign resident. They can also occur when you live in BYU’s on-campus Learning Immersion Student Residence (LISR) or living, working, or serving in an overseas community when you use your target language for a substantial time period each day. Please explain below what immersion experiences you have had learning and using your target language. Be as specific as possible, listing places, specific dates, and activities you pursued while there.
Test scores are not required, but if you have taken any, please enter them below.
Name
Score
Date Taken
Anticipated Date For Completion Of All Undergraduate/General Ed Courses
Anticipated Graduation Date With MAPL
In order to complete your MAPL degree in a timely fashion, you will need to have completed all of the coursework for all majors, minors, and certificates as well as all general education coursework. You will not be able to take any non-MAPL courses during while abroad on MAPL2.
I certify that I will have completed all non-MAPL coursework and general education courses prior to the time I start MAPL2 overseas.
Comments
Achieving superior-level proficiency requires continuous and intensive study over an extended period of time. Once admitted, you will need to complete the MAPL program within two years beginning the fall after your admission. MAPL1 and MAPL2 courses are offered once each year in a sequence beginning in fall semester and ending in winter semester (or spring term). No off-cycle admissions or courses are offered and deferrals of admission or pauses in study are not permitted due to resource constraints.
I understand that I will need to complete MAPL coursework as scheduled and sequenced and that deferrals or pauses are not allowed.
While overseas, you will be expected to devote your time and attention to MAPL courses and internship requirements. You will not be able to work outside of your internship, including working remotely. You will not be able to complete any remaining courses while abroad, hence the requirement that all coursework must be completed by the end of the summer term of your MAPL1 year.
I certify that I understand the requirement that I will not undertake employment or pursue non-MAPL coursework while overseas on MAPL2.
The MAPL2 overseas program will require you to live overseas for a period of 9-12 months. During this period, you will be studying language intensively—as much as 8 or more hours per day, as well as taking direct enrollment courses and doing an internship. The weather may be very hot or cold, with a high degree of humidity. Living conditions and cultural environments may be radically different from what you are used to.
Are you physically and mentally prepared for the rigors you will face overseas?
Are there any factors that might limit your ability to cope with these factors? If there are, please explain what they are.
Please enter the requested information for each individual who may be contacted as a reference on the applicant’s behalf for this application. Two references are required. One reference should be a language faculty member who can specifically address the applicant's language proficiency, as well as suitability for the purposes of the MAPL Program. The second reference should be from a professor or instructor in your domain area.
Title
Department/Institution
Email
Phone
Please attach your document below to explain why you are interested in being admitted to the MAPL program in your target language. Please take time to carefully and clearly explain (1) why you think you are qualified for admission, (2) what you hope to accomplish in the program, and (3) how MAPL will help you in your future career. In your response, please be sure to discuss your professional domain field, how you are building expertise in that, and why superior-level language study will be a help to you in the future given this field.
This application is submitted for consideration to the Brigham Young University (BYU) Integrated BA/MA MAPL Program. These requirements are subject to negotiation with the MAPL Faculty Coordinator, but any variations in these requirements must be approved before my application status is determined. In order to best support your studies in the program, students should consult with the MAPL Faculty Coordinator when considering outside employment.
By signing below, I acknowledge my commitment to the BYU MAPL Program and agree to abide by the terms outlined above.
Please sign the application below and press the submit button to send your application for review. You will be contacted if the application is incomplete. You will be notified by email that you have or have not been accepted to the MAPL Program.
Student Signature
Date
