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 offer an undergraduate TEFL Certificate, an undergraduate Minor in Applied Linguistics, and a graduate TEFL Certificate.
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 Applied Linguistics, technology in teaching, 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
Application Deadlines
Most students complete the nonthesis option so that they can focus more on coursework related to specific aspects of TESOL, pedagogy, or education. The thesis option is appropriate for those students wishing to research current issues in the discipline or eventually pursue a doctoral program in TESOL or related language field. By the end of the second semester, students wishing to pursue the thesis option should speak with the program director to seek approval and a recommendation for a thesis committee chairperson.
Our courses are focused on theory into practice and, therefore, often have a service-learning, practical, or applied project as an integral part of the curriculum. The TSL 6640 - Research in Second Language is required and should be taken in the first semester of study. A final cumulative course, TSL 6642 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition, is also required. TSL 5325 - ESOL Strategies will help students prepare for their comprehensive exam.
All students must take a comprehensive written examination covering the core TSL courses. This examination is normally taken in the last semester of graduate work and will be reviewed by members of the TESOL Graduate Committee. A student may take the comprehensive examination only twice, and a second examination will not be given in the same semester in which the first attempt occurred.
