Applied Linguistics Minor
UMKC's Applied Linguistics Minor can be combined with a Bachelor's degree. The Minor strengthens applications for MA TESOL programs, especially at UMKC's School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences. It supports teaching careers outside and inside the United States.
The Applied Language Institute offers a pathway program for future English teachers at the B1 and B2 CEFR levels of English. Visit our Paseo Program page to learn about pathway admission requirements. Students at the A1 and A2 CEFR levels will need to complete the ALI's Intensive English Program before beginning the Applied Linguistics Minor pathway.
Paseo Pathway Courses
B1 Level Semester
ALI 115 - Digital Writing and Information Literacy (3 credit hours)
This course develops students' writing skills in digital environments while strengthening their ability to evaluate and use information effectively. Students will engage with a variety of digital tools, refine their writing for different audiences, and develop critical thinking skills related to online sources.
ALI 116 - Handwriting, Grammar, and Test Preparation (3 credit hours)
This course provides structured practice in handwriting, grammatical accuracy, and timed writing skills to support students in producing clear, legible, and grammatically accurate written responses. It also serves as a proctored testing space where students complete assessments based on readings and lectures from their other courses. This course will help transition students from the ALI to UMKC's Writing Center, which they will use at the B2 level of the Paseo Program.
ALI 117 - Academic Discussions, Presentations, and Debates (3 credit hours)
This course enhances students' speaking abilities by preparing them for structured presentations, debates, and academic discussions. Students will develop argumentation skills, critical thinking, and the ability to express opinions with clarity and confidence in academic and professional settings.
ALI 100 - Lab for B1 Support (1 credit hour)
This interactive lab provides personalized grammar and vocabulary practice to support students in ALI 115 and ALI 117. Students are requried to spend 90 minutes per week working through AI-powered exercists that reinforce key language structures, such as complex verb tenses, connectors, modal verbs, and academic vocbaulary.
Math Pathway Course
Math Pathway courses are part of UMKC Essentials (UMKC's general education courses). These courses are required for every undergraduate major. These classes count toward the total required credits for your major and graduation.
Students should choose one of the following math classes. Students in the Applied Linguistics minor should enroll in an in-person section.
- MATH 116: Mathematics for Liberal Arts (3 credit hours)
- STAT 115: Statistical Reasoning (3 credit hours)
- MATH 110: Precalculus Algebra (3 credit hours)
- MATH 120: Precalculus (5 credit hours)
- Any 200-level MATH or STAT course (3-5 credit hours depending on course)
B2 Level Semester
ALI 160, ENGL 110, and COMM-ST 209 must be taken in the same semester.
ALI 160 - Academic Communication for International Students (3 credit hours)
This course prepares students to deal effectively with the language and academic culture of undergraduate coursework at an American university. Discussion and exercises emphasize fluency and accuracy in both interpreting and producing oral and written academic discourse in Standard English. This course carries credit toward graduation.
ENGL 110 - Introduction to Academic Prose (3 credit hours)
This course introduces students to college-level reading, writing, and rhetorical analysis. Students will analyze and create texts, focusing on the threshold concepts of writing, multiple rhetorical situations and cultural matters related to writing. Students will also learn to analyze, revise, and edit their own work and use academic documentation.
ENGL 110 is a part of UMKC Essentials (UMKC's general education courses). These courses are required for every undergraduate major. This class counts toward the total required credits for your major and graduation.
There are several sections of ENGL 110 offered each semester. Students in the Applied Linguistics Minor should enroll in an in-person section.
COMM-ST 209 - Cross-Cultural Interactions: Experience and Understanding (3 credit hours)
This course focuses on the social and cultural context of interactional patterns. U.S. and international students are paired in academic activities to encourage mutual understanding and self-awareness. They will draw on a variety of resources and learning modalities to examine aspects of their own and one another's societies, cultures, religions, and family relations. Making use of intercultural theories, students will reflect upon and explore cultural myths and stereotypes and develop a general understanding of cultural similarities and differences. This class counts toward graduation and the Applied Linguistics Minor.
ENGL 310 - Introduction to Linguistics/Language Science (3 credit hours)
Students may also enroll in a course of their choice if ENGL 310 is not available. ENGL 310 will be required to complete the Applied Linguistics Minor.
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the theory, methodology, and applications of the science of language. It examines the properties of human language, covers all branches of language science, and provides a foundation for a critical understanding of language issues.