GIAL Distance Education

The aim of Distance Education at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics is to offer graduate courses to students whose location, responsibilities, or other circumstances preclude their attendance at regularly scheduled classes. GIAL’s distance education planning calls for offering courses rather than degree programs by distance education.

At present, GIAL is authorized to offer up to 50% of a degree through distance education courses, but currently developed and available courses do not yet achieve that goal. More information is available from

• Dean of Academic Affairs (dean-academic@gial.edu, (972) 708-7340
• Dean of Students (dean-students@gial.edu, (972) 708-7379
• Mail: GIAL, 7500 W. Camp Wisdom Rd., Dallas TX 75236
• Phone: (972) 708-7340 / (800) 892-3356 / Fax: (972) 708-7292

Registration for Distance Education Courses

Distance education (DE) courses are 16-week courses that begin the fifth week of each bimester offered and finish at the end of the bimester. It is recommended that applicants begin six (6) months prior to the beginning of the bimester to allow time to complete the admission and registration process and to receive any written materials to be sent prior to the course start. Completed GIAL application forms must be received six (6) weeks before the bimester begins to avoid a late application fee. Applicants must be fully admitted and registered by the beginning of the bimester or they will not be eligible to take the DE course during that bimester. The amount due at registration includes tuition, distance education fee and registration fee. A late registration fee will apply if payment is not complete by the beginning of the bimester registration time. The distance education student is responsible to order books or CD’s related to the course. Minimal technical requirements include CD ROM and sound. Some courses may have other requirements.

Student Advisement for Distance Education courses may take place via e-mail or phone.

Check for Availability

• AL 5304 Applied Phonology

Potential Courses Offered

Not all courses taught at GIAL are appropriate for teaching by distance education techniques. If you are a current or potential student, or an employer of current or potential GIAL students, and there are any GIAL courses you would especially like to see online, please contact the Dean of Academic Affairs (dean-academic@gial.edu) or the Dean of Students (dean-students@gial.edu). The following courses represent current thinking about possible Distance Education offerings by GIAL:

• AL4301   Introduction to Linguistics
• AL4303   Principles of Phonological Analysis
• AL5314   Culture, Language, and Mind
• AL5315   Semantics and Pragmatics
• AL5316   Theory and Practice of Translation
• AL5373   Religion and Worldview
• AL5374   Christianity Across Cultures
• AL5375   Social and Political Organizations
• AL5380   Sub-Saharan Africa Area Study
• LD5340   Ethnographic Research Design and Methods

Further Information

Further information on distance education, curriculum, course requirements, nature of faculty/student interaction, assumptions about technological competence and skills, technical equipment requirements, availability of academic support services and learning resources, and costs and payment policies is available from the Academic Dean.