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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
M.A.-TESOL PROGRAM
MARSTON HALL 227
206.281.2670
TESOL@SPU.EDU

ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ M.A.-TESOL program will prepare you for leadership and service in the field of teaching English as a second or foreign language. Close interaction with faculty committed to excellence in teaching and scholarship is integrated with active involvement in the ESL community. A low faculty-to-student ratio is a hallmark of the program, which offers the following:

• Theory made practical.
• Balance between academic preparation and teacher training.
• Strong emphasis on ethical and intercultural sensitivity.
• Practica to ensure your success and confidence in the classroom.

DEGREE DESCRIPTION
The M.A.-TESOL program, begun in 1993, is rooted in a four-strand approach. The first strand, academic preparation, includes courses in phonology, morphology, syntax, and second-language acquisition. The second strand, pedagogy, includes methods courses that serve as a bridge between theory and practice. The third strand, practica, includes a language-learning practicum in which students reflect on the frustrations and rewards of learning another language. This strand also includes a two-quarter teaching phase during which students near the end of their program are placed with seasoned "host teachers" for classroom observation and teaching experience. The fourth strand, electives, gives students a chance to explore individual interests in the TESOL field, including courses in technology. The M.A.-TESOL program is 54 credits.

SCHEDULING
The 3-credit courses generally meet once a week for three hours. TESOL courses are usually held during afternoon and evening hours, Monday through Thursday. This makes full- or part-time employment possible. Students are also free to take only one or two courses per quarter as other obligations must be met, or to take up to 9 credits per quarter. All coursework must be completed within six years.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or its equivalent.
   
2. Submit letters of recommendation from at least two people. The letters submitted must come from unrelated individuals familiar with the applicant's intended field of study.
   
3. Submit an official copy of transcripts from the college or university that granted the bachelor's degree and any institution attended since that time.
   
4. Present a GPA of at least 3.0 (4.0=A) in the last 45 quarter credits of coursework completed before applying for admission or in all undergraduate work, whichever is higher.
   
5. Present an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance examination (for GRE, a minimum score of 500 on the verbal portion and 3.5 on the analytical writing portion; for MAT, a minimum of 35).
   
6. Submit an essay in response to questions provided in the application packet.
   
7. Provide proof of English proficiency if English is not the first language (TOEFL paper-based score of at least 600 or 250 on the computer-based test.)
   
8. Provide an affidavit of support reflecting financial support covering each year of intended enrollment if the applicant is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
   
9. Complete an application for the M.A.-TESOL program and include the $50 application fee.

Students may enter the program at the beginning of any quarter. The completed application packet must arrive in the M.A.-TESOL office by the applicable deadline below for admission to that quarter:

QUARTER APPLICATION DEADLINE
Autumn — August 1
Winter — December 1
Spring — March 1
Summer — May 1

PROGRAM CURRICULUM
Our program prepares you to teach in colleges and universities, and in various language institutes within the United States and abroad. The program may be completed in six quarters of full-time coursework. Practica scheduling and other considerations may extend this period. Many ESL programs run on a limited and shortened basis during Summer Sessions; practicum placements are typically unavailable at that time.

PREREQUISITES
Proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to at least one year's study at the college level and one or more basic courses in linguistic theory (e.g., LIN 2100) are required. With the approval of the program director, these courses may be taken concurrently with the master's coursework as the program is begun.

Students wishing to apply coursework completed prior to application must provide applicable transcript data; students may transfer up to 12 comparable graduate credits into the SPU program.

2007-08 Graduate Time Schedule | Academic Calendar | Graduate Homepage


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