Contact Information
Fully Offered
Admission Terms
Examples of Possible Careers*
Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and English as a Second Language instructors
- -10.4% decline
- 59,300 number of jobs
- $55,350 potential earnings
Elementary school teachers, except special education
- 3.5% about as fast as the average
- 1,452,100 number of jobs
- $60,940 potential earnings
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- 3.7% about as fast as the average
- 127,700 number of jobs
- $57,860 potential earnings
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.6% about as fast as the average
- 627,100 number of jobs
- $60,810 potential earnings
Preschool teachers, except special education
- 2.5% slower than the average
- 540,400 number of jobs
- $31,930 potential earnings
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.8% about as fast as the average
- 1,050,800 number of jobs
- $62,870 potential earnings
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- 2.1% slower than the average
- 81,300 number of jobs
- $69,000 potential earnings
Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other
- 7.4% faster than the average
- 406,200 number of jobs
- $40,590 potential earnings
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- 2.1% slower than the average
- 81,300 number of jobs
- $69,000 potential earnings
Additional Careers
- Teacher educator
- Teacher supervisor
- Language program director
- Community college ESL instructor
- University ESL instructor
- Curriculum designer
- Educational materials writer/editor
- Language assessment writer/editor
- Educational consultant
- Language school instructor (in the US or abroad)
- Teacher of English as a foreign language
- Academic advisor
*Note
Source of occupation titles and labor data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Description
The Master of Arts degree in Teaching English as a Second Language is grounded in linguistic principles, language learning theory and empirical research on language learning and teaching. The program enables students to teach effectively in varied learning contexts. Students gain experience through a supervised practicum and have the opportunity to teach in a variety of English-as-a-second/foreign-language contexts. Graduates are prepared for international teaching and research, adult education, and advanced study in applied linguistics. literacy positions.
The Teaching English as a Second Language major comprises the following optional concentration:
- The TESL Education concentration prepares students for P-12 school educators. Students' practicum takes place in area schools, and students prepare for the state licensure requirements.
Admission Requirements
Applicants will be assessed holistically, considering academic credentials; academic or professional references; non-academic criteria; and other specific program criteria.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Goal statement (1-2 pages)
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score
For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of different associated fields within teaching English as a second language, including linguistics, language acquisition, pedagogy and practice.
- Demonstrate what knowledge of the field and disciplines making up teaching English as a second language.
- Demonstrate skills in teaching.
- Demonstrate understanding of different cultural norms and practices and the ability to accommodate teaching practices based on these differences.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
ENG 63001 | METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE | 3 |
ENG 63033 | THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3 |
ENG 63040 | LINGUISTICS FOR THE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONS | 3 |
ENG 63041 | DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR OF ENGLISH | 3 |
| 24-36 |
| |
| |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 36-48 |
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
ENG 63034 | LITERATE PRACTICES AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS | 3 |
or ENG 63047 | HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING |
ENG 68492 | PRACTICUM IN TEACHING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | 3 |
1 | 18 |
| LITERATE PRACTICES AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS 2 | |
| TEACHING LITERATURE AND CULTURE | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AND TESTING | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE WRITING | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE READING | |
| ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE LISTENING AND SPEAKING | |
| HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING 2 | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH METHODS | |
| SEMINAR: LINGUISTICS | |
| THESIS I | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
TESL Education Concentration requirements
Course List Code | Title | Credit Hours |
CI 67105 | IMPROVING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION | 3 |
CI 67310 | THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THE TEACHING OF READING | 3 |
or CI 67330 | READING IN CONTENT AREAS |
ENG 51009 | STUDENT TEACHING 1,2,3 | 9 |
ENG 63044 | SECOND LANGUAGE READING | 3 |
ENG 68592 | PRACTICUM IN TEACHING P-12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS 3,4 | 3 |
| 15 |
| MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES | |
| LITERATE PRACTICES AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS | |
| TEACHING LITERATURE AND CULTURE | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AND TESTING | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE WRITING | |
| ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE LISTENING AND SPEAKING | |
| HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING | |
| SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH METHODS | |
| LEARNING THEORIES | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Graduation Requirements
- All students in the M.A. degree complete a capstone project with options of a thesis or portfolio or exams.
- All students in the M.A. degree cannot be concurrently enrolled in the Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language certificate. Students who hold either certificate may be permitted to apply 12 graduate credit hours earned in the certificate toward the M.A. degree.
Licensure Information
Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer the Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.