The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) provides students a strong foundation in language acquisition, use, and pedagogy. We offer our students a strong foundation in theory with numerous opportunities for gaining practical teaching experience and developing individual research agendas.
Our program supports study abroad opportunities with a focus on service learning in numerous countries, including Spain, Mexico, and China.
Our successful graduates have received Fulbright English Teaching Assistant scholarships, English Language Fellowships, and obtained positions teaching overseas and here in the United States. Our faculty work hard to support our students as they develop their scholarship and teaching skills in preparation for a successful career in TESOL.
Because UCF offers a PhD in Education with a specialty in TESOL, students can begin their TESOL career at the undergraduate level and continue to a terminal degree at the doctoral level here on campus. We also offer an undergraduate TEFL Certificate, a graduate TEFL Certificate, and the Florida ESOL Endorsement.
Our professors have diverse research interests and thrive on working with students to develop their professionalism in the field. Current research trends in the department include vocabulary, assessment, community engagement, Russian ESOL, and sociolinguistics.
This graduate program is proud to partner with the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to provide returning volunteers an opportunity to expand their education.
The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA program requires 30-36 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree dependent on whether students select a thesis or nonthesis option. The thesis option consists of 30 credit hours that includes 24 credit hours of core courses, 3 credit hours of electives, and 3 credit hours of TSL 6971 - Thesis. The nonthesis option requires 36 semester hours and includes 24 semester hours of core courses and 12 semester hours of electives. All students, both thesis and nonthesis, must take a written final comprehensive examination covering the core TSL courses.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30-36 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
24 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- TSL5525 - ESOL Cultural Diversity (3)
- TSL6142 - Critical Approaches to ESOL (3)
- TSL6250 - Applied Linguistics in ESOL (3)
- TSL6350 - Grammar for ESOL Teachers (3)
- TSL6440 - Assessment Issues in TESOL (3)
- TSL6642 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition (3)
- TSL6640 - Research in Second Language (3)
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- TSL5345 - Methods of ESOL Teaching (3)
- TSL6940 - ESOL Practicum (3)
Thesis/Nonthesis Option
6 - 12 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option - 6 Hours- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
- TSL6971 - Thesis (1 - 99)
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- TSL5325 - ESOL Strategies (3)
- TSL5380 - Computers and Technology for ESOL (3)
- TSL5376 - Reading and Writing in a Second Language (3)
- TSL5940 - Issues in TEFL (3)
- TSL6252 - Sociolinguistics for ESOL (3)
- TSL5601 - Second Language Vocabulary Learning (3)
- TSL6374 - TESOL Listening, Speaking and Pronunciation (3)
- LIN5137 - Linguistics (3)
- EDF6886 - Multicultural Education (3)
- TSL6940 - ESOL Practicum (3)
- EDH6305 - Teaching and Learning in Colleges and Universities (3)
- SPA6474 - Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3)
- TSL5085 - Teaching Language Minority Students in K-12 Classrooms (3)
- ENC5276 - Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing (3)
- ENC5705 - Approaches to Teaching College Composition (3)
- EDF6401 - Statistics for Educational Data (3)
- TSL 5907 - Directed Independent Study 3 credit hours may also be taken
Nonthesis Option - 12 Hours- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 4 of the following:
- TSL5325 - ESOL Strategies (3)
- TSL5380 - Computers and Technology for ESOL (3)
- TSL5376 - Reading and Writing in a Second Language (3)
- TSL5940 - Issues in TEFL (3)
- TSL6252 - Sociolinguistics for ESOL (3)
- TSL5601 - Second Language Vocabulary Learning (3)
- TSL6374 - TESOL Listening, Speaking and Pronunciation (3)
- LIN5137 - Linguistics (3)
- EDF6886 - Multicultural Education (3)
- TSL6940 - ESOL Practicum (3)
- EDH6305 - Teaching and Learning in Colleges and Universities (3)
- SPA6474 - Assessment and Management of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations (3)
- TSL5085 - Teaching Language Minority Students in K-12 Classrooms (3)
- ENC5276 - Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing (3)
- ENC5705 - Approaches to Teaching College Composition (3)
- EDF6401 - Statistics for Educational Data (3)
- TSL 5907 - Directed Independent Study 3 credit hours may also be taken
Grand Total Credits: 30 - 36
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Background questionnaire
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only. For international students, the GPA calculation must equal a minimum 3.0/4.0 to be considered for admission to UCF.
Admission to the UCF MATESOL program is competitive, and meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree. We strongly recommend that applicants submit their applications and all materials well before the published due dates.
Application Deadlines
| Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MA | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | Apr 1 |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
