Return to: 4170 Department of Middle and Secondary Education
The Master of Arts in Teaching major in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Education provides initial teacher preparation in ESOL for individuals holding bachelor’s degree and who have an interest in English to speakers of other languages in P-12 settings. The course of study meets the requirements for professional certification at the initial level in ESOL and the requirements for a Reading Endorsement.
Program Admission
All applicants must meet the College of Education and Human Development’s requirements for admission to graduate study. Additional requirements specific to this program include:
- An undergraduate or graduate degree or the equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university.
- The academic preparation of applicants should include the coursework listed below. Students may be admitted to the program and allowed to complete their academic preparation concurrently. Academic preparation must be completed prior to recommendation for certification.
- Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (EXC 4020 or its equivalent)
- Students must meet a language requirement that is intended to ensure that all graduates have had the experience of studying a second or foreign language. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:
- Successful completion of one academic year of a university-level foreign language sequence (three quarters or two semesters of the same language), or
- Successful completion of two quarters or one semester of a non-Western language, or
- One year living/studying abroad as an adult, or
- The acquisition of English as a second language for non-native English speakers.
- Two letters of recommendation as follows: (a) an academic or professional letter, (b) a letter from someone who can evaluate the applicant’s personal qualifications, experience, and background in light of the potential to work successfully with students at the P-12 levels, or (c) a letter from a current work supervisor (if applicable).
- Documentation of previous work experience (resume).
Program Academic Regulations
Upon admission to a teacher education program, students will be contacted by the Office of Field Placements and Certification with instructions to claim enrollment in their program and submit a GaPSC Pre-Service Certificate Application. The pre-service certificate is required for placement in required field experiences or clinical practice.
Each student is advised by a committee of education faculty including representatives from the Department of Middle and Secondary Education and the Department of Applied Linguistics. The committee and the students complete a planned program of study in light of the needs of individual students.
Exit requirements for this program are:
- Completion of all program coursework with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.
- Successful completion of the teaching internships with a grade of “B” or higher.
- Successful presentation of a professional portfolio.
Certification
Students in this program will be eligible to be recommended for Georgia initial certification after earning passing scores on the GACE Program Admission Assessment, GACE Content Assessment for Teaching English as a Second Language, Georgia Educator Ethics - Program Exit (360) Assessment, and successfully completing:
- For Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) certification requirements, students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in EXC 4020.;
- EXC 4020, EPY 7080, TSLE 7250, TSLE 7260, TSLE 7440, EDRD 7600, EDRD 7630, EDRD 7650, EDCI 4650, EDCI 7660, EDCI 7670, EDCI 7680; and
- Presentation of a professional portfolio.
