CoursesCourses for the SLS BA

When Courses are Offered

To help you plan your course of study in the BA program in SLS, the following table shows when SLS courses are typically offered*:

Course
Required/ Elective
Focus, etc.
Fall
Spring
Summer
SLS 150 - Learning Languages and Communicating in a Globalized World Introductory
DS
√
SLS 280 - Bilingualism: Cognition & Culture Introductory
DS
  √
SLS 302 - Second Language Learning Required, Prerequisite*
W*
√
√
√
SLS 303 - Second Language Teaching
Required
√
√
√
SLS 312 - Techniques in SL Teaching: Reading & Writing
Elective
O*
√
SLS 313 - Techniques in SL Teaching: Listening & Speaking
Elective
O*
√
SLS 408 - Bilingual Education
Required
W*, DS
√
√
SLS 418 - Instructional Media
Elective
√
SLS 430 - Pidgin & Creole English in Hawai`i
Required
H (E*), DS
√
√
√
SLS 441 - Language Concepts for SL Learning & Teaching
Required
√
√
SLS 460 - English Phonology
Elective
DH
√
SLS 480-alpha* (others, including 480P: Pedagogy*)
Required
  (varies)
√
 √  (varies)
SLS 485 (Professionalism in SLS)
Required
  √
√
SLS 490 - Second Language Testing
Required
√
√
√

* NOTES:

    • This chart should only be used as a general guide for planning purposes. There is no guarantee that all SLS courses will be offered as indicated above, or that they will always have the focus or other General Education Core designations indicated above.
    • SLS 302 is the primary prerequisite course in the department.  The official listing in the UH Manoa catalog says "prerequisite (or concurrent)". This means that you can take other SLS courses during the same semester that you take 302. It's also OK to take SLS 150 prior to SLS 302. However, when you begin taking SLS courses at the 300- or 400-level, you'll need to be sure that SLS 302 is one of the courses you start with.
    • Both SLS 302 and 408 are "Writing Intensive" courses (each counts as one of the general education core requirements for "W" focus). We recommend that students avoid taking both in the same semester. Additionally, SLS 441 is considered by most students to be “homework-heavy” and requires that students keep up with (if not ahead of) the homework. Thus, we also recommend that students avoid taking SLS 441 at the same time as SLS 302 or 408.
  • Both SLS 312 and 313 are "Oral Communciation" courses (either one would meet each counts as the general education core requirement for "O" focus).
  • SLS 430 fulfills the 'H' focus requirement. A proposal is underway to also request for an 'E' focus designation.
  • Topic areas for SLS 480-alpha are:
    • 480P = Second Language Pedagogy
    • 480R = Second Language Research
    • 480U = Second Language Use
    • 480N = Second Language Analaysis
    • 480E = Second Language Learning
  • SLS 499 (Directed Reading/Research) is not listed in the chart, but may be possible in any semester or in summer, with permission from a supervising faculty member.
  • 300- and 400-level courses from other fields of study may be used as electives, if approved by your SLS advisor.

Course Descriptions

To see descriptions of all SLS courses, click here.

*The textbooks listed will be available at the UH bookstore before the semester begins as well as in price comparison shopping agents such as www.bestwebbuys.com and www.addall.com.  If you purchase from the price comparison shopping agents, be sure to allot enough time for delivery, as it can sometimes take 2-3 weeks for delivery.