Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The Master of Arts in TESOL prepares educators to meet the needs of English learners in classrooms both in the United States and abroad. We specialize in English teaching in K-12 and adult education contexts. The program offers the knowledge, skills and practices needed to effectively design instruction, teach and assess English learners, and advocate for multilingual/ multicultural students. The teaching of English around the world is one of the fastest-growing international professions and offers worldwide English teaching opportunities to qualified graduates. Courses in teaching methods and supervised fieldwork opportunities provide a broad overview of theories of language acquisition and social/cultural influences on language learning, and strengthen the mastery of classroom techniques.

Admission to the Program

In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5;
2. A maximum of 9 semester units or equivalent quarter units may be transferred from other colleges and universities.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be advanced to candidacy, a student must have:

1. Achieved classified standing by completing EESL 5050 and EESL 5300 with the grade of B or better;
2. Between the time of completing 3 units and 18 semester units of applicable course work the student is required to apply for classification; after achieving classification, then candidacy;
3. Secured approval of candidacy from the College of Education;
4. Filed an approved graduate program for completion of the degree. This must be prepared in consultation with an advisor and approved by the program coordinator;
5. Students who completed their bachelor's degree in an English-dominant country must have two semesters or three quarters of study in one or more world languages (not English) at the post-secondary level;
6. Students who completed their bachelor's degree in a non-English-dominant-country must have two semesters or three quarters of study in one or more world languages (not English) at the post secondary level or take COMM 1006 .

Requirements for Graduation

1. A minimum of 30 semester units of acceptable graduate-level work, with a minimum of 26 units completed in residence at this university;
2. A grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) in all course work taken to satisfy the Master of Arts degree requirements, and grades of “C” (2.0) or better in all courses in the program;
3. Successful completion of EESL 6980.
4. The graduation writing requirement is met upon successful completion of 3 above;
5. Completion of the Candidate Assessment Portfolio (CAP). Details of the CAP approval process are outlined in the program information materials. The CAP must be completed prior to enrollment in EESL 6980.

The program may not include more than 9 semester units in approved extension and transfer courses from other colleges. California State University, San Bernardino will not consider for transfer credit course work from an institution which will not accept that work in its own advanced degree program.

Note: Enrollment in any course in the program is subject to approval of the program coordinator.

Degree Requirements (30 units)

(Program Code: TESL)

Culminating Experience (0 units)

The written comprehensive examination is designed to test the student’s knowledge of the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The examination is offered once each quarter and during the summer session. The student may enroll in the examination no earlier than the last quarter in which course work is taken. The student may take the examination (or any part of it) up to three times. Approval to retake the examination may be, at any time, contingent upon completion of additional designated courses.