Master of Arts in the Teaching of English as a Second Language
and Applied Linguistics
Dr. Denise Pearson, Dean
School of Education and Human Performance
Dr. Yolanda Edwards, Chair
Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling and Professional Studies
About the Program
The MA in the Teaching of English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics (TESL/AL) is a comprehensive graduate program, consisting of 39 credit hours. Program completers will have the specialized knowledge and skills to faciliate ESL global instruction in their capacity as:
- ESL instructors in diverse academic settings in the US and abroad
- ESL trainers with loca, federal and international agencies
- ESL trainers in corporate offices, community and government organizations, churches and schools
- rater/test designers with testing services
Master of Arts in TESL/AL candidates who hold a teaching license are eligible to apply to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for an advanced teaching license in TESL upon complettion of the program.
Program Objectives
- Expand and diversify the scope of the candidates’ professional training
- Maximize the candidates’ educational experience
- Broaden the candidates’ pedagogical knowledge and skills
- Strengthen the candidates’ professional competency
- Increase the candidates’ preparedness for present- day societal challenges of multiculturalism and multilingualism
- Help the candidates obtain a North Carolina “M” License in the Teaching of ESL
- Enable the candidates to develop relationships and bonds with cohorts of peers
- Enhance the candidates’ earning potential
Learning Outcomes
- Teacher candidates gain an understanding of, and expertise in areas such as:
- Language acquisition and language learning
- Social and psychological aspects of language
- Cultural aspects of language
- Grammar for ESL teachers
- Principles and methods of teaching ESL
- Testing, assessment, and evaluation in ESL
- Literacy skills development in ESL
- Differentiated instruction in ESL
- Descriptive linguistics
- Varieties of English
- Discourse analysis
Application Deadlines
- Fall admission – July 15 ( April 15 for International Students)
- Spring admission – November 15 (September 15 for International Students)
- Summer admission – April 15
Degree Requirements
The MA TESL/AL requires completion of 39 (thirty-nine) credit hours of course work, including 6 (six) credit hours of thesis or 6 (six) additional credit hours of course work within ESL. Candidates with an initial teaching license are able to add a Professional - I ESL teaching license upon completion of 18 (eighteen) credit hours in the core areas.
Disclaimer: Only pre-licensed candidates can obtain a North Carolina “M” License in the Teaching of ESL upon issuance of the MA degree. Candidates may apply for a North Carolina Professional I License in the Teaching of ESL as soon as they have completed 18 credit hours of required coursework.
Time Limits for Completion
Candidates have six (6) years to complete the MA in TESL/AL.
Progression Requirements
Candidates must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and may not earn more than two grades of “C” to remain in good standing in the program.
Required Courses
Note: * These 18 credit hours are required for Professional I licensure in Teaching ESL
Recommended Electives
Select 9 credit hours from the following courses:
ESL 6201 Research Methods in Linguistics
ESL 6202 Special topics in Linguistics
ESL 6601 Master’s Thesis (optional)
Accreditation
The MA in ESL is fully accredited by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Admission Requirements
- Evidence of foreign language experience at the college level
- Undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Official transcripts submitted by the deadline
- Three professional references validating applicant’s professional experiences
- Completed graduate application, including application fee and applicant’s Statement of Purpose, submitted to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Winston-Salem State University
206 Thompson Center
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For US Citizens and/or legal residents
- a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5)
For International applicants
- a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
- proof of English language proficiency, as verified by
- An official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper), 79-80 (Internet), or 213- (computer-based)
- OR
- An official IELTS score of at least 6.5
- OR
- An official certificate of completion of classes offered by an English language institute, along with official transcripts from said institute
A listing of additional documents required for admission is available on the program’s website at the Master of Arts in the Teaching of English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics Webpage.
All transcripts will be translated by an agency in the US. WSSU prefers the following agencies:
World Education Services
PO Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
Tel: (800) 937-3895
Fax: (212) 966-6311
Email: info@wes.org
Website: http://www.wes.org/
Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 9203
College Station, TX 77842
Tel: (979) 690-8912
Fax: (512) 528-9293
Website: http://www.gcevaluators.com/
Faculty
Ludovic M. Kovalik, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
MA and Ph.D. degrees in TESL/Linguistics, Oklahoma State University/Stillwater
Doina L. Kovalik, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Coordinator
MA and Ph.D. degrees in TESL/Linguistics, Oklahoma State University/Stillwater
Departmental Links
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