Frequently Asked Questions
In this Section:
- How do teachers complete a 36-unit master's degree while teaching abroad?
- What are the academic prerequisites for the program?
- What if teachers have not completed the foreign language prerequisite?
- Are there any other requirements?
- Does APU help place teachers in universities overseas and assist them in obtaining visas?
- Will teachers have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
- What happens if teachers can no longer teach abroad due to the loss of finances or teaching position?
- What happens if a teacher fails or withdraws from a class?
- How many units can be transferred into the program?
- How long does it take to complete the degree?
- Where will teachers be staying while taking classes at APU and overseas?
- How big are the classes?
- What are the academic polices for withdrawal?
- What are the deadlines for admission to APU?
- What will a typical term cost?
- How do teachers find out more about the APU M.A./TESOL Field-Based Program and sending agencies?
How do teachers complete a 36-unit master's degree while teaching abroad?
In-service teachers attend a series of intensive, one-week classes in July
and January with a cohort of 6-28 classmates. Over the next six months, they
complete additional assignments and class projects while teaching abroad.
Classes are taught in an intensive format, yet course work is completed in
an extensive format, which allows teachers to apply and adapt what they are
learning in their own classrooms overseas. To complete the master's degree,
teachers must attend three summer terms on the APU campus in July and two
winter terms abroad in January.
What are the academic prerequisites for the program?
Teachers must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale from
an accredited institution. (Applicants for the TESOL programs are not required
to have undergraduate majors in fields such as English, linguistics, or education;
however a strong background in one of these is recommended.) Teachers with
a GPA between 2.5-2.99 may be considered for provisional admittance. The GRE
is not required. For nonnative speakers of English, a score of 600 or higher
on the TOEFL is required. Native speakers of English must have completed a
minimum of six semester units of college-level foreign language with a grade
of B or better or its equivalent.
What if teachers have not completed the foreign language prerequisite?
Teachers who have not met the foreign language prerequisite can complete a
corequisite through an equivalency option in which they engage in foreign
language tutorials, formal classroom instruction, or some kind of intentional,
community-based language learning while residing abroad. Teachers demonstrate
equivalency by passing an oral proficiency interview usually given the last
summer at APU or by documenting the equivalent of 6 semester units, which
would be 240 hours of instruction, including out-of-class work.
Are there any other requirements?
Yes. Teachers must have applied and been accepted to a sending agency such
as, but not limited to, English Language Institute/China
(ELIC) or Educational Services
International (ESI) or have secured a teaching contract in an educational
institution abroad.
Does APU help place teachers in universities overseas and assist them
in obtaining visas?
No. APU handles only the academic program. It is suggested that teachers who
have not taught abroad before consider going through a sending agency.
Will teachers have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Teachers in the field-based program are not required to take a comprehensive
exam or write a thesis. In lieu of a thesis or exam, students complete an
Action Research Project in TESL
595.
What happens if teachers can no longer teach abroad due to the loss of
finances or teaching position?
It is necessary to maintain a teaching position abroad up to the final summer
session. It is possible for teachers who have had to drop out of the program
to join the campus-based M.A./TESOL program. These students must pay the full
tuition rate. It is also possible to request and rejoin the field-based program
at a later date.
What happens if a teacher fails or withdraws from a class?
The field-based program is set up so that teachers proceed through the program
with the same cohort. If a teacher withdraws or fails a class, she or he may
join a new cohort to take the needed classes. However, classes are offered
only once a year and there is no guarantee that every class will be offered
every year. Thus, failing or withdrawing from a class would prolong the time
it takes to complete the degree. A 3.0 GPA is required to obtain an M.A. degree.
How many units can be transferred into the program?
Up to six units of related graduate course work may be transferred into the
M.A./TESOL program by petition. See the section "Transfer Credit"
in the Graduate Catalog for the specific
requirements for transfer credit.
How long does it take to complete the degree?
If no classes are dropped or repeated, it takes three years to complete the
master's degree.
Where will teachers be staying while taking classes at APU and overseas?
While taking summer classes in Azusa, California, teachers will be living
in the dorms with other colleagues enrolled in the program. The current location
in Asia is the International Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
How big are the classes?
Class size is usually between 12 and 20. When 28 teachers enroll in a class,
the cohort is divided in order to maintain the quality of care and interaction
needed in a graduate program.
What are the academic polices for withdrawal?
The APU M.A./TESOL Field-based Program adheres to the academic policies described
in the Graduate Catalog. However, due
to both the intensive and extensive nature of our program (e.g., one week of
class attendance at APU or abroad followed by six months of course work),
some grace periods have been extended.
What are the deadlines for admission to APU?
APU has rolling admissions, but at least one month is needed to process the
information. It is best to start the application process as soon as possible
to guarantee a place. Graduate applications can be mailed, faxed, or downloaded.
What will a typical term cost?
Excluding travel expenses, each two-week term will cost an estimated $2,000
for room, board, books, fees, and 6 units of tuition. Financial aid is not
available.
How do teachers find out more about the APU M.A./TESOL Field-Based Program
and sending agencies?
Inquiries about attending APU's M.A./TESOL Field-based Program may be addressed
to the administrative assistant of the Department of Global Studies, Sociology, and TESOL,
(626) 815-3844, or to the director of the field-based program, Mary Shepard
Wong, Ph.D., via email at mwong@apu.edu
or by visiting www.apu.edu/tesol/fieldbased/.
You can contact ELIC at www.elic.org/degree/earn.asp,
and ESI at www.teachoverseas.org
or (800) 895-7955.
