MATL STUDENT HANDBOOK

Distance-Learning Courses through USM

Four types of courses for USM credit are available for earning credit during the academic year while not in residence on the USM campus.

1. The MATL faculty are an increased menu of online courses, which will be announced on the MATL Course Offerings page. Other possible electives are offered online by other departments at USM; check with your adviser as to the applicability of courses to your program of studies within the MATL. As of the fall 2006 semester, the MATL has been approved for completion totally online. At least one core course and one emphasis course each in Spanish and TESOL (many cross-listed in French) will be offered each semester.

In addition to fully online courses, the MATL also offers hybrid courses, which combine the benefits of face-to-face courses with the flexibility of work done online. See here for more information.

2. The second type of course involves the Special Problems course listings (FL 692, FRE 692, SPA 692, TSL 692). Students can develop a proposal for an individual study on a topic or project of interest to them. A professor must then agree to supervise the work and the student and the professor must negotiate the requirements for the course. Please understand that in most instances professors do these types of courses as an addition to their teaching assignments and are therefore not obligated to supervise a directed individual study.

3. All MATL students take FL 694 - Practicum, which is done online and thus does not require one's presence on campus.

4. Finally, for students in other areas in Mississippi, two core courses are regularly offered via the state interactive video network each academic year, usually FL 663 in the fall and FL 664 in the spring if they are not being offered online. The courses are schedule for late afternoons once a week. Check MATL Course Offerings page for details or contact an adviser.

These options can be combined with each other or with regular on-site courses (including hybrid courses) so that you can create a program of studies that best suits your needs and learning preferences. Contact us for more information on flexible enrollment possibilities.