For additional information about the Master's International Program/MA in TESOL, visit the program Web page.

Admission to the Program

Applicants to the master’s program in TESOL are subject to the minimum university requirements for admission to graduate study. Further, a grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in the undergraduate major, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and two letters of academic reference are required. It is strongly recommended that native speakers of English have some background in at least one other language. International students are expected to demonstrate competence in English equivalent to a score of 600 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Part-time as well as full-time students are welcome in the program.

A joint program between the Peace Corps and American University enables participants to prepare for Peace Corps English teaching assignments while earning an M.A. in TESOL. Application is made separately to American University and the Peace Corps. Admission requirements for the M.A. program are the same as above. The Peace Corps accepts American citizens only and participants must meet all other Peace Corps requirements prior to beginning Peace Corps service. Successful participants will begin their Peace Corp training and service after they have completed the bulk of their academic work. The Peace Corps service experience constitutes the equivalent of a 6-credit hour internship, for which the tuition is waived. Also, TESL-620 may be waived for students in the AU/Peace Corps program, for a total of 33 credit hours for the degree.

Note: This program is not designed for K–12 ESOL licensure. K-12 public school licensure (or certification) in ESOL is available through the M.A.T. track in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). For more information, see the School of Education, Teaching and Health programs.

Degree Requirements

• 36 credit hours of approved TESOL course work 
• Completion of a teaching portfolio compiled during course of study
• An oral comprehensive examination taken after completion of all required course work and the teaching portfolio
• Thesis or nonthesis option

Course Requirements

Core Courses (27 credit hours)

• TESL-500 Principles of Linguistics (3)
• TESL-501 English Language Teaching I (3)
• TESL-502 English Language Teaching II (3)
• TESL-503 Structure of English (3)
• TESL-522 Language Acquisition (3)

or

TESL-523 Second Language Acquisition (3)

• TESL-531 Language Assessment (3)
• TESL-541 Teaching Grammar (3)

or

TESL-542 Teaching Pronunciation (3)

• TESL-620  English Language Teaching III (3) (waived for students in the AU/Peace Corps program)
• One of the following:

ANTH-537 Topics in Language and Culture (3)

ANTH-544 Topics in Public Anthropology: Anthropology of Education (3)

TESL-527 Cultural Issues in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3)

or other approved course dealing with language and sociocultural issues

Electives (9 credit hours)

• Three courses as approved by the student’s advisor from the following:

ANTH-537 Topics in Language and Culture (3) (if not taken in core)

ANTH-544 Topics in Public Anthropology: Anthropology of Education (3) (if not taken in core)

SOCY-645 Global and Multicultural Education (3)

TESL-504 Language Analysis (3)

TESL-522 Language Acquisition (3) (if not taken in core)

TESL-523 Second Language Acquisition (3) (if not taken in core)

TESL-524 Reading and Writing in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3)

TESL-527 Cultural Issues in the ESL/EFL Classroom (3) (if not taken in core) 

TESL-528 Bilingual Education (3)

TESL-531 Language Assessment (3)

TESL-541 Teaching Grammar (3) (if not taken in core)

TESL-542 Teaching Pronunciation (3) (if not taken in core)

TESL-545 Curriculum and Materials Design (3)

TESL-554 Technology for Language Learning and Teaching (3)

TESL-560 TESOL Topics (1–3)

TESL-691 Internship (1–6)

TESL-693 Peace Corps Internship (6) (required for students in the AU/Peace Corps program)

• Thesis option: completion of TESL-797 Master’s Thesis Seminar (6) in lieu of 6 hours of electives listed above (the thesis option is not available to students in the AU/Peace Corps program)

Nonthesis option: 9 elective credit hours

Grades of B or better are required for all courses taken for the thesis or nonthesis option.

Combined Bachelor’s Degree and M.A. in TESOL

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs.

This program enables qualified students to earn both a B.A. or B.S. in any major and an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Note: This program is not designed for K–12 ESOL licensure.

Requirements

• The standards for admission as defined by the relevant undergraduate teaching unit’s requirements must first be satisfied. Undergraduates should apply for admission to the combined program by the end of the junior year.  Undergraduates whose overall grade point average is 3.00 or higher will be considered for the combined program. Applications must be accompanied by two letters of academic reference and a statement of purpose. Students should discuss their interest in the program with the TESOL M.A. director before submitting a formal application.
• All requirements for a B.A. or B.S. in any major at American University

Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work to satisfy the requirements for both degrees.

• All requirements for the M.A. in TESOL, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.