Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages gives students an understanding of the nature of language, culture, instruction, assessment, and professionalism, and their interrelationships. The M.A. in TESOL prepares one to teach English in the US or overseas. In addition, students who have a valid teaching certificate can take courses leading to the Illinois State Endorsement to teach ESL. See more below under “TESOL Endorsement”.
The program is designed for full- or part-time students, and all master’s level courses in the fall and spring are offered in the evenings.
Requirements for Admission to the M.A. Program:
Students must fulfill the requirements for admission to the Graduate College of Northeastern Illinois University and apply to the TESOL Program for admission to the degree program. A student-at-large may transfer no more than 9 credit hours of graduate coursework into the graduate TESOL program.
Program Prerequisites:
Students entering the M.A. in TESOL program are not expected to have any prior preparation or knowledge of the field.
Language requirement:
- For students whose native language is English: 9 hours of college level work—or the equivalent—in one or more foreign languages, or a demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language at ACTFL level 2 or above.
- For students whose native language is not English: English proficiency demonstrated by a score of 95 on the internet based TOEFL (IBT), with a minimum of 20 on each of the four sections; or by a score of 7.0 on IELTS, with a minimum of 6.5 on each of the four sections; or by a score of 587 on the paper-based TOEFL.
For additional information visit the TESOL program website.
Requirements for the Degree:
All graduate credits must be at the 400 level.
Students enrolled in the TESOL M.A. program must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in all courses taken in fulfillment of the degree program.
All students pursuing a Master of Arts in TESOL will be required to submit a graduation project as one part of their graduation requirements. The project will consist of a capstone paper with 5 elements to be included as appendices. Students pursuing the M.A. in TESOL will be assigned an advisor early in their degree program for assistance in the preparation of the capstone paper. Please refer to the program website for specific information with regard to timing, formatting, etc.
Additionally, students can choose from two options: a thesis and a non-thesis option.
The thesis option requires 30 hours of completed coursework, including
- all required courses with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and no more than two grades of C;
- a master’s thesis for an additional 6 hours credit.
The thesis option may be exercised only with department approval.
The non-thesis option requires 36 hours of 400-level course work as specified with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and no more than two grades of C, plus the final capstone paper (“Graduation Project”).
Any special program design, tutored study, or independent study must be approved in advance by the graduate advisor, and also requires the approval of the instructor, department chair, and the appropriate college dean(s).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| Language | ||
| TESL-402 | Principles Of Linguistics For Teachers | 3 |
| TESL-420 | Structure Of Modern English | 3 |
| TESL-426 | Advanced Linguistic Analysis | 3 |
| Culture | ||
| TESL-445 | Language Variation | 3 |
| TESL-447 | Pragmatics (or another culture-related course, in consultation with the advisor) | 3 |
| Planning, Implementing, and Managing Instruction | ||
| TESL-410 | Techniques Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| One other course, in consultation with the advisor | 3 | |
| Assessment | ||
| TESL-468 | Principles Of Language Assessment | 3 |
| Professionalism | ||
| TESL-414 | Theories Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| TESL-460 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Electives
Non-thesis Option: Six credits worth of electives are selected from the list of 400-level courses approved by the TESOL graduate advisor. In addition, a limited number of courses offered by other departments may be taken as electives. See your advisor for more information.
Thesis Option: Six credits of Thesis Hours (TESL 5901-3).
TESL courses which may be taken as electives include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TESL-409 | Research Design & Methods | 3 |
| TESL-430F | Structure Of Language: Tai, Kirundi, Tun, Arabic | 3 |
| TESL-433 | Lexicography | 3 |
| TESL-440 | Language & Literacy | 3 |
| TESL-442 | Using Technology With Second Language Learners | 3 |
| TESL-447 | Pragmatics | 3 |
| TESL-451 | Lexically-Based Instruction | 3 |
| TESL-452 | Content-Based Instruction | 3 |
| TESL-465 | Experiential Preparation For Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| TESL-471 | Evolution Of Laws & Policies In Language Instruction | 3 |
| TESL-490F | Seminar In TESL: Language & Culture | 3 |
The sample plans of study are provided to guide you in the planning of your progression for this program. This guide should not replace regular consultations with your program advisor. For specific recommendations of courses not identified, please consult your program advisor.
Sample Plan of Study: Two courses per term (Capstone Option)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| TESL-402 | Principles Of Linguistics For Teachers | 3 |
| TESL-414 | Theories Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| TESL-420 | Structure Of Modern English | 3 |
| TESL-445 | Language Variation | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| TESL-410 | Techniques Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| TESL-447 | Pragmatics | 3 |
| TESL Course 1 | ||
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| TESL-468 | Principles Of Language Assessment | 3 |
| TESL-460 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| TESL-427 | Teaching Pronunciation | 3 |
| 2nd Planning, Implementing, and Managing Course | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| TESL Elective 1 | 3 | |
| TESL Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours: | 36 | |
Sample Plan of Study: Two courses per term (Thesis Option)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| TESL-402 | Principles Of Linguistics For Teachers | 3 |
| TESL-414 | Theories Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| TESL-420 | Structure Of Modern English | 3 |
| TESL-445 | Language Variation | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| TESL-410 | Techniques Of Teaching English As A Second Language | 3 |
| TESL-447 | Pragmatics | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| TESL-468 | Principles Of Language Assessment | 3 |
| TESL-460 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| TESL-427 | Teaching Pronunciation | 3 |
| 2nd Planning, Implementing, and Managing Course | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 6 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| TESL-5903 | Thesis Hours | 3 |
| Term Hours | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| TESL-5903 Thesis Hours | 3 | |
| Term Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours: | 36 | |