The MATFL degree program is 40 credits and is typically completed in four academic semesters with a course load of 12-13 credits/semester. Students may also elect to pursue one of the certificate options in conjunction with their MA TFL coursework: Language Program Administration (LPA), Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) or TESOL.

As part of their degree requirements, MATFL students take between 8 to 12 credits of appropriate language study courses, one of which may include the one-of-a-kind Monterey Model Course. In addition, MATFL students often enroll in a cross-linguistic pedagogical grammar course which explores the use of grammar in authentic discourse and examines ways of effectively teaching it in the foreign language classroom.

While the majority of the MATFL coursework is conducted in English, the MATFL students design language lessons, develop curricula, create assessment tools, and conduct research projects focused on their particular language of study.

The international community found in Monterey provides a wealth of observation and teaching opportunities in a multitude of languages.

View the MA in Teaching a Foreign Language degree map, exemplifying the typical course load and order of courses for a student studying in the MA program. Semester unit values are given in parentheses after each course.