School of Education
M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
The M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) prepares students to teach in classrooms with English Language Learners and to teach English as a second language in colleges and language institutes in the U.S. and abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue the degree as full-time students and all students will complete a teaching practicum.
Current Delaware teachers can earn an additional certification as a Teacher of English Learners or a Bilingual Teacher through the ACE initiative. In addition, it is possible to apply the 5 ACE courses towards the MA in TESL (subject to admission requirements).
Current UD English majors can complete the M.A. in one year through the 4+1 program in TESL.
The M.A. in TESL program is 33 credits and students can pursue teacher certification during the program.
The following information is for students entering the M.A. in TESL program in Fall 2014 or later. Please see the previous program policy statement for program requirements if you began the M.A. before this time.
Education Core Courses (9 credits)
- EDUC 623: Applied Human Development in the Schools
- EDUC 740: Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners
- EDUC 741: Diversity in ESL Classrooms
Linguistics and TESL Courses (18 credits)
- LING 676 or LING 699: Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism or Issues in Teaching English Language Learners
- LING 677: The Structure of English
- LLCU 622: Language Syllabus Design
- LLCU 624: Second Language Testing
- EDUC 672: Teaching English as a Second Language
- EDUC 647: Advanced Methods in Teaching ESL
Teaching Practicum (6 credits)
Students who are seeking teacher certification complete EDUC 750: Graduate Teaching Internship (student teaching).
Portfolio Requirement for Candidacy
The School of Education requires all of its graduate programs, including the MA TESL program, to have performance-based means for measuring student learning. Thus, in addition to exams students may have taken, the program relies on papers, projects, and teaching demonstrations to verify the mastery of the content, communication skills, teaching skills, critical thinking, and lesson planning.
All applicants should complete the UD online graduate application. Additional information can be found at our How to Apply page.
The final application deadline for Fall semester is July 15. However, UD English majors who are applying for the 4+1 program should apply by November 1 of their junior year.
A successful applicant profile includes a strong academic record of a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a strong personal statement. A prior experience in teaching is preferred. Some items specific to the M.A. in TESL program include:
- the TOEFL, IELTS, or iTEP Academic Plus test. The minimum acceptable score for the paper-based TOEFL is 600; the minimum acceptable score for the Internet-based TOEFL is 90. The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS is 7.0. The minimum acceptable score for the iTEP Academic Plus is 4.5.
- Optional GRE scores. Candidates are welcome to submit GRE scores in support of their application but GRE scores are no longer required.
- A resume is required. All graduate programs require the submission of a resume.
- The M.A. in TESL program does require a specific question be answered for the personal statement or essay section of the application. The question of M.A. in TESL candidates to be answered is:
You should present a carefully planned and written statement of one to two pages in length describing what led you to pursue a degree in TESL, any past work in TESL or TEFL, your expectations of the University of Delaware M.A. in TESL program, and how you intend to use the degree to fulfill your professional career or further educational aspirations. Please include additional information you feel important for the graduate committee to know about you. If you are currently registered in a graduate program at this or another university, please explain why you wish to leave. The personal statement must be submitted electronically as part of the admissions application.
Cohort Scheduling
Because the University of Delaware’s M.A. in TESL degree is designed as a cohort program that fosters cooperation and collegiality among candidates, the admissions committee generally admits students only for the Fall semester. Requests for a Spring admission will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with requests being directed in writing to Dr. Scott Stevens (sstevens@udel.edu) by October 1. If the request is approved, complete applications for Spring admission must be received no later than November 1.
Tuition
For information about graduate tuition, visit CEHD’s graduate tuition page. The UD Class of 2020 is eligible to receive a special tuition rate of $650 per credit. For more information, please contact CEHD Assistant Dean of Student Services, Christina Johnston.
Students may view sample schedules for the certification and non-certification tracks below.
Students may also download an overall timeline for completing the MA in TESL program.
Students may download the TESOL/NCATE Standards for the Recognition of Initial TESOL Programs in P-12 ESL Teacher Education.
Program Faculty
The faculty and staff affiliated with the TESL program are:
M.A. in TESL Alum Named Delaware Teacher of the Year
Kimberly Stock credits her time at UD for helping to shape her practice as an English Learner teacher: “As a professional educator who had already earned one masters degree, I really believe that the classes that I took from the University of Delaware were just as challenging, if not more, than those I had taken elsewhere. It was extremely rigorous work and honestly the professors that I took classes from had real world experience teaching English Learners.”
