Applied Linguistics and TESOL is an exciting and ever-growing field with post-graduate opportunities around the world. If you have an eye for adventure and interests in language and culture, this could be the field for you!
the TESOL masters program at UA prepares graduates to pursue a range of academic and professional careers. In recent years, our graduates have continued to doctoral programs in Linguistics, Rhetoric and Composition, and History and taught in schools, language institutes, and universities in the US and around the world. Through our comprehensive curriculum and varied tutoring and teaching experiences, we help students acquire the specialized knowledge, cultural understanding, and teaching skills necessary for a successful career.
Admission Requirements
A candidate for admission to the MA TESOL degree program must satisfy the minimum conditions for regular admission to the Graduate School (including a GPA of 3.0 overall). Each applicant must also submit a sample of his or her academic writing.
Speakers of English as an additional language applying to the MA TESOL program, are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE scores unless they meet at least one of the following criteria: 1) at the time of initial enrollment, they will hold a degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in one of the English speaking countries or regions listed on the graduate school webpage; 2) at the time of initial enrollment, they will have been enrolled in coursework for at least two years at a U.S. institution or an institution in one of the English speaking countries or regions; 3) they are a citizen or legal resident of one of the English speaking countries or regions. For other applicants, one of the following minimum language test scores is required. Note that this departmental requirement is more stringent than the Graduate School’s requirement.
- o TOEFL IBT = 100
- o IELTS = 7
- o Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 68
- o Duolingo English Test (DET) = 120
While new applications to our graduate programs will continue to be read until admissions decisions have been made, the application deadline for best consideration for all funding opportunities is December 1.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
The program offers two paths to the master’s degree:
- Plan I (Thesis): Students may write a thesis under the guidance of the MA TESOL faculty. Students writing a thesis will take 6 hours of thesis research (EN 599) during the second year of the program.
- Plan II (Non-Thesis): Students who choose the non-thesis option will be required to pass a comprehensive examination towards the end of their coursework. The examination is normally given once a year, in late February. The examination will cover all the major areas of study, including second language development, linguistics, and language teaching methodology.
Plan I - Thesis Course Requirements
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| EN 524 | Modern English Grammar | 3 |
| EN 610 | Meth Teaching English Sec Lang | 3 |
| EN 612 | Topics In Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| EN 613 | Second Language Development | 3 |
| EN 617 | Teaching L2 Writing | 3 |
| EN 620 | Descriptive Linguistics | 3 |
| Thesis Course | ||
| EN 599 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Typical electives include topics such as Language Assessment, Language Policy, Classroom Discourse Analysis, and Technologies for Second/Foreign Language Teaching and Learning. All electives must be approved by the program coordinator. Directed studies are also an option. | ||
| Options include but are not limited to: | ||
| ANT 501 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 510 | Ethnography of Communication | 3 |
| BEF 534 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| BEF 585 | Language Politics & Education | 3 |
| BEP 500 | Adv Educational Psych | 3 |
| BEP 505 | Motivation and Self-Regulation | 3 |
| BEP 541 | Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| BEP 550 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| BEP 641 | Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| BER 500 | Intro Educatn Research | 3 |
| BER 540 | Statistical Methods In Educ | 3 |
| BER 550 | Eval Classroom Learning | 3 |
| BER 555 | Measure & Eval: Social & Behav | 3 |
| BER 558 | Psychometric Theory | 3 |
| BER 631 | Inqry As Interp: Qual I | 3 |
| BER 634 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| BER 640 | Adv Statistical Methods in Ed | 3 |
| CIE 567 | Improv Foreign Lang Instruct | 3 |
| CIE 575 | Teaching Emergent Multilingual | 3 |
| CIE 578 | Second Lang Test Assess Evaln | 3 |
| CIE 605 | Tch Prac Across World | 3 |
| CIE 606 | New Literacies | 3 |
| EN 500 | Special Topics | 3 |
| EN 512 | Computers And Writing | 3 |
| EN 523 | History English Language | 3 |
| EN 525 | Global Englishes | 3 |
| RL 514 | Qual Methds/Applied Ling Res | 3 |
| RL 518 | Historical Linguistics | 3 |
| RL 524 | Bilingualism Research Methods | 3 |
| RL 586 | Pragmatics | 3 |
| RL 587 | Bilingualism | 3 |
| RL 523 | Quantitative Methods in Ling | 3 |
Plan II - Non-Thesis Course Requirements
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| EN 524 | Modern English Grammar | 3 |
| EN 610 | Meth Teaching English Sec Lang | 3 |
| EN 612 | Topics In Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| EN 613 | Second Language Development | 3 |
| EN 617 | Teaching L2 Writing | 3 |
| EN 620 | Descriptive Linguistics | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 12 | |
| Typical electives include topics such as Language Assessment, Language Policy, Classroom Discourse Analysis, and Technologies for Second/Foreign Language Teaching and Learning. All electives must be approved by the program coordinator. Directed studies are also an option. | ||
| Options include but are not limited to: | ||
| ANT 501 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 510 | Ethnography of Communication | 3 |
| CIE 606 | New Literacies | 3 |
| BEF 534 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| BEF 585 | Language Politics & Education | 3 |
| BEP 500 | Adv Educational Psych | 3 |
| BEP 505 | Motivation and Self-Regulation | 3 |
| BEP 541 | Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| BEP 550 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| BEP 641 | Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| BER 500 | Intro Educatn Research | 3 |
| BER 540 | Statistical Methods In Educ | 3 |
| BER 550 | Eval Classroom Learning | 3 |
| BER 555 | Measure & Eval: Social & Behav | 3 |
| BER 558 | Psychometric Theory | 3 |
| BER 631 | Inqry As Interp: Qual I | 3 |
| BER 634 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| BER 640 | Adv Statistical Methods in Ed | 3 |
| CIE 567 | Improv Foreign Lang Instruct | 3 |
| CIE 578 | Second Lang Test Assess Evaln | 3 |
| CIE 605 | Tch Prac Across World | 3 |
| CIE 609 | Discourse & Pedagogy | 3 |
| CIE 575 | Teaching Emergent Multilingual | 3 |
| EN 500 | Special Topics | 3 |
| EN 512 | Computers And Writing | 3 |
| EN 523 | History English Language | 3 |
| EN 525 | Global Englishes | 3 |
| RL 514 | Qual Methds/Applied Ling Res | 3 |
| RL 518 | Historical Linguistics | 3 |
| RL 523 | Quantitative Methods in Ling | 3 |
| RL 524 | Bilingualism Research Methods | 3 |
| RL 586 | Pragmatics | 3 |
| RL 587 | Bilingualism | 3 |
EN 533 and FWP orientation are conditions of employment for all graduate students who are teachers of record for EN 1xx courses.
Language Requirements
To earn the degree, native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in a second language. The language requirement may be satisfied by one of the following:
- the certification through the appropriate department of a "B" average or the equivalent of two years of undergraduate-level study in a single foreign language, completed within five years of admission to the master's program; or
- proof of advanced proficiency in the form of an undergraduate major in a foreign language OR the certification of at least a "B" in two advanced literature courses (300-level or higher) taught in the foreign language, completed within five years of admission to the master's program, or
- passing the foreign language reading examination prepared by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics.
Students who are speakers of English as an additional language may use their native language to fulfill this requirement. Students may petition their program director and/or the Graduate Studies Director for exceptions to these guidelines.
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Academic Misconduct
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence
Graduate School information on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation
Information on the Application for Graduation.