UMBC offers a MA TESOL and a TESOL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.
Established in 1979, the TESOL program has a long history of preparing both prospective and experienced teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). It provides students with a strong theoretical and practical foundation in educational linguistics, language acquisition, ESL/EFL methods, assessment, cross-cultural studies, and curriculum development. Both the master’s degree and the certificate can be taken completely on campus in face-to-face classes, completely online from anywhere in the world, or as a combination of on campus and online classes.
TESOL Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC)
The TESOL PBC is a 4-course program. Please note that this is not an initial P-12 licensure program. The PBC does not require an internship. Students who do not have experience with English language teaching are encouraged to seek opportunities on their own to gain practical experience. PBC students who need a documented field experience may complete a zero-credit practicum through the UMBC Career Center.
2 courses (6 credits) are required:
- EDUC 688: Methodology of Teaching English as an Additional Language
- EDUC 666: Intercultural Communication and Sociolinguistics for TESOL
2 courses (6 credits) are elective and may be selected from the following list:
- EDUC 625: Teaching Reading and Writing to Beginning Learners of English
- EDUC 636: Language Assessment
- EDUC 644: Educational Linguistics
- EDUC 655: Teaching Reading and Writing to Intermediate and Advanced Learners of English
- EDUC 667: Structure of English for TESOL
- EDUC 672: Multilingualism
- EDUC 673: Technology, Language, and Intercultural Communication
- EDUC 677: Teaching and Assessing Second Language Speaking and Listening
- EDUC 689: Advanced Special Topics in Education
- EDUC 711: Approaches to English Language Teaching for Adults
All courses taken for the certificate can be applied to the MA TESOL upon admission to the master’s program if the student wishes to continue in the field of study.
Gainful Employment
This academic program is a participant in the U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment program.
MA TESOL Options
Students may complete the MA TESOL on campus, online or through a combination of on campus and online courses. The program is flexible so that students can study at their own pace. The master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) has four options:
- Master of Arts in TESOL – General
- Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis
- Master of Arts in TESOL with P-12 Licensure
- Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis and P-12 Licensure
Option 1: MASTER OF ARTS IN TESOL – GENERAL (36 CREDITS)
The general MA TESOL program consists of 12 three-credit courses.
8 required courses (24 credits):
- EDUC 601 – Human Learning and Cognition [3]
- EDUC 602 – Instructional Systems Development I [3]
- EDUC 625 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Beginning Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 644 – Educational Linguistics [3]
- EDUC 666 – Intercultural Communication and Sociolinguistics for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 688 – Methodology of Teaching English as an Additional Language [3]
- EDUC 794 – TESOL Project Seminar [3]
- EDUC 792S – TESOL Internship [3]
4 elective courses (12 credits) selected from among the following:
- EDUC 636 – Language Assessment [3]
- EDUC 655 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Intermediate and Advanced Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 667 – Structure of English for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 670 – Second Language Acquisition [3]
- EDUC 672 – Multilingualism [3]
- EDUC 673 – Technology, Language and Intercultural Communication [1-3]
- EDUC 677 – Teaching and Assessing Second Language Speaking and Listening 3
- EDUC 689 – Advanced Special Topics in Education [1-3]
- EDUC 711 – Approaches to English Language Teaching for Adults [3]
Option 2: Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis (39 CREDITS)
The MA TESOL with thesis consists of 11 3-credit courses plus 6 credits of thesis research.
Thesis students take required and elective courses, including in research theory and method, and write a thesis under the guidance of a supervisor and two or more committee members. Students may do thesis research in the United States or abroad.
6 required courses (18 credits):
- EDUC 601 – Human Learning and Cognition [3]
- EDUC 602 – Instructional Systems Development I [3]
- EDUC 625 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Beginning Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 644 – Educational Linguistics [3]
- EDUC 666 – Intercultural Communication and Sociolinguistics for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 688 – Methodology of Teaching English as an Additional Language [3]
3 professional specialization courses (9 credits) selected from among the following:
- EDUC 636 – Language Assessment [3]
- EDUC 655 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Intermediate and Advanced Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 667 – Structure of English for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 670 – Second Language Acquisition [3]
- EDUC 673 – Technology, Language and Intercultural Communication [1-3]
- EDUC 677 – Teaching and Assessing Second Language Speaking and Listening 3
- EDUC 689 – Advanced Special Topics in Education [1-3] (e.g., ESOL and Special Education, Dual Language Instruction)
- EDUC 711 – Approaches to English Language Teaching for Adults [3]
Thesis Requirements
2 research specialization courses (6 credits) selected from these or other theory/method courses from other departments chosen in consultation with an advisor:
- EDUC 645 – Quantitative Research Methods I [3]
- EDUC 672 – Multilingualism [3]
- EDUC 684 – Qualitative Research Methods in School and Community [3]
- EDUC 771 – Research Designs in Education [3]
6 credits of thesis research:
- EDUC 799 – Master’s Thesis Research [2-9] (typically taken twice at 3 credits each)
Note: Thesis supervision is not normally available during the summer session
Option 3: Master of Arts in TESOL with P-12 Licensure (42 CREDITS)
The MA TESOL with P-12 licensure consists of 11 3-credit courses as well as 100 days of clinical experience in public elementary and secondary schools over two semesters following Maryland State Department of Education requirements, one 3-credit internship and one 6-credit internship.
Required courses (33 credits):
- EDUC 601 – Human Learning and Cognition [3]
EDUC 602 – Instructional Systems Development I [3] - EDUC 625 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Beginning Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 636 – Language Assessment [3]
- EDUC 644 – Educational Linguistics [3]
- EDUC 655 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Intermediate and Advanced Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 666 – Intercultural Communication and Sociolinguistics for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 667 – Structure of English for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 670 – Second Language Acquisition [3]
- EDUC 688 – Methodology of Teaching English as an Additional Language [3]
- EDUC 794 – TESOL Project Seminar [3]
Required internships (9 credits):
- EDUC 791S – Practicum for P-12 ESOL Certification [3]
- EDUC 792L – Internship for P-12 ESOL Certification [6]
To earn a Maryland teaching license, students must also pass state-mandated teacher examinations. For more information see Maryland Praxis requirements.
Option 4: Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis and P-12 Licensure (51 credits)
The MA TESOL with licensure and thesis is comprised of the requirements for both.
Required courses (30 credits):
- EDUC 601 – Human Learning and Cognition [3]
- EDUC 602 – Instructional Systems Development I [3]
- EDUC 625 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Beginning Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 636 – Language Assessment [3]
- EDUC 644 – Educational Linguistics [3]
- EDUC 655 – Teaching Reading and Writing to Intermediate and Advanced Learners of English [3]
- EDUC 666 – Intercultural Communication and Sociolinguistics for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 667 – Structure of English for TESOL [3]
- EDUC 670 – Second Language Acquisition [3]
- EDUC 688 – Methodology of Teaching English as an Additional Language [3]
Required internships (9 credits):
- EDUC 791S – Practicum for P-12 ESOL Certification [3]
- EDUC 792L – Internship for P-12 ESOL Certification [6]
Thesis Requirements
2 research specialization courses (6 credits) selected from these or other theory/method courses from other departments chosen in consultation with an advisor:
- EDUC 645 – Quantitative Research Methods I [3]
- EDUC 672 – Multilingualism [3]
- EDUC 684 – Qualitative Research Methods in School and Community [3]
- EDUC 771 – Research Designs in Education [3]
6 credits of thesis research:
- EDUC 799 – Master’s Thesis Research [2-9] (typically taken twice at 3 credits each)
Note: Thesis supervision is not normally available during the summer session
Internships
TESOL General Internship: The general internship is a clinical field experience in a setting consistent with the student’s professional aims and career goals. It provides the student with the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired in the program’s courses. The internship requires a minimum of 40 hours of teaching in an instructional setting. It can last from 3 to 6 months and can be done in the United States or abroad. The internship cannot be tutoring or online teaching. Prior approval of the program and internship coordinator is required. The TESOL program has collaborations with institutions in countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Students can be paid for work done during the internship.
P-12 Licensure Internship: Students who follow the P-12 ESOL licensure option are required to complete 6 credits of clinical field experience in P-12 public school ESOL programs, typically at UMBC’s partner schools in the Baltimore/Washington area at both elementary and secondary levels. The internship requires spending 100 days in public schools (20 days during the 3-credit phase I internship and 80 days during the 6-credit phase II internship) plus attending seminars each semester where aspects of the internship experience are discussed and analyzed through reflective practice.
Thesis Research
Students who follow a thesis option write a thesis under the guidance of a supervisor and several faculty committee members. Thesis students may do their research in the United States or abroad. Students who have gone on to doctoral programs have found the thesis experience helpful.