Program Requirements
The program leading to the Master of Arts in TESOL consists of 12 courses, including both required and elective options, totaling 36 units.
| Required Courses | 30 units | |
| TESL 505 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| TESL 515 | Teaching English Grammar | 3 |
| TESL 525 | Teaching English Pronunciation | 3 |
| TESL 545 | Second Language Pedagogy I | 3 |
| TESL 550 | Second Language Pedagogy II | 3 |
| TESL 555 | Observational Practicum | 3 |
| TESL 556 | Teaching Practicum* | 3 |
| TESL 560 | Language Program Design | 3 |
| TESL 570 | Second Language Assessment | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| TESL 530 | Intercultural Communication and Language Teaching | 3 |
| TESL 535 | Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching | 3 |
| *Students who have at least two years of ESL/EFL teaching experience may waive TESL 556 and substitute a third elective course with faculty approval. | ||
| Elective Courses | 6 units | |
| Students select two courses from a variety of electives. Options include: | ||
| TESL 548 | Teaching EFL with Children | 3 |
| TESL 589 | Research Methods in TESOL | 3 |
| TESL 590 | Thesis Preparation | 3 |
| TESL 599 | Readings in TESOL | 1-3 |
| Total | 36 units | |
Corequisites
- Prior to graduation, native speakers of English must verify completion within the last 10 years of a minimum of 6 semester units of college-level foreign language with at least a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent. Many options exist to satisfy the foreign language requirement, including formal course work, community language learning, or study abroad. Students may also establish proficiency via an exam.
- Nonnative speakers of English scoring between 550 and 600 on the TOEFL will complete TESL 500 during their first semester of graduate work. This course enhances students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as preparation for graduate study. Degree credit is not given for the course. (A student with an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in which English is the medium of instruction and a grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale may waive this requirement.)
Professional Development
Students are required to provide evidence of the following prior to completion of the program:
- Membership in a professional organization for teachers of English as a second or foreign language, such as TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) or IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
- Attendance at a national, state, or regional conference sponsored by one of these organizations
Thesis or Comprehensive Examinations
Students may choose either to take comprehensive examinations or to write a thesis to complete the program. Students who choose to write a thesis must enroll in TESL 589 Research Methods in TESOL as one of their electives; most will also enroll in TESL 590 Thesis Preparation, or a comparable course in research methods, as their second elective. After completing the thesis, students must provide an oral defense. Students who opt to finish the program by course work take both oral and written comprehensive examinations.
Time Requirements
Students may begin TESOL studies in either Fall I (September) or Spring I (February).
The program is offered in a four-term format: Fall I, Fall II, Spring I, and Spring II. Full-time students typically enroll in two courses per session, and can complete the entire program in approximately six terms (one-and-a-half years). Part-time students taking one course each term can complete the program in about three years.
Field-Based M.A./TESOL Program »
