We welcome international students to apply to the MA TESOL and offer special services and activities for international students who are accepted to study at UMBC.
The basic program requires 12 courses to complete. Full-time students can complete the program by taking 3 courses each fall and spring and 1 or 2 courses in the summer. This would enable them to finish in a year and a half. Part-time students taking 2 courses per semester would need 2 and a half years to complete the program. Students interested in taking the certification option should expect to take at least an additional semester to complete the program. The internship experience requires a full academic year, and course loads in addition to the internship should not be too demanding. Students choosing the thesis option should plan on taking an additional semester to complete the program.
To help international students adjust to the new academic environment, an experienced graduate student will act as an International Student Liason between international students and the MA TESOL to assist students with concerns they might have, including:
Although housing is ultimately the responsibility of each individual student, the TESOL Office will work with and assist international students in finding roommates and housing both before they leave their home countries and after they arrive at UMBC.
General information for international applicants to UMBC is available here. See the TESOL admissions page for details about what is required by the program specifically. Support for international applicants is also provided by UMBC International Education Services. Applications are submitted online through the UMBC Graduate School.
We urge you to take the TOEFL as soon as possible. Admissions decisions cannot be made until the UMBC Graduate School has received the official TOEFL score from Educational Testing Service (ETS).
NOTE: Official TOEFL examination score reports must be sent directly to the UMBC Graduate School from Educational Testing Services (ETS). Photocopied score reports are not acceptable.
The ETS code number for UMBC is 5835.
TOEFL: A minimum of 213 on the computer-based test or 80 on the internet-based test is required.
IELTS: A minimum of 6.5 is required.
For non-native speakers of English who are interested in working toward Maryland state ESOL certification, near-native oral proficiency in English is required. A specific application for the certification internship must be submitted.
Each international student must certify that he/she has sufficient funds (exclusive of travel expenses) for university tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living expenses. For more information see the International Education Services webpage.
An official transcript from each college/university you have attended must be sent directly to the UMBC Graduate School.
© TESOL Program, Department of Education, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore MD 21250
Phone: +1 410 455-3061 • tesol@umbc.edu
