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Master of Arts in Teaching English
as a Second Language (TESL)
 The TESL curriculum provides students with both theoretical
background and practical
training in teaching English as a
second language. Students take course work in
theoretical and
applied linguistics and in teaching methods. This degree is the
professional credential most widely recognized for, and most
commonly required of,
individuals preparing for a career in
teaching English as a second language. The TESL
program at
the University of Idaho endorses and conforms to the ESL
teacher preparation
recommendations in the TESOL
Guidelines for the Certification and Preparation of
Teachers of
English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Credit and Grade Requirements
The total credit requirement (exclusive of those credits earned in fulfilling the
language
requirement outlined below, or teaching certification requirements if
desired) is a
minimum of 33 semester hours, at least 24 of which are to be earned at
the University of
Idaho. By the time they receive their M.A., students must have a
grade-point average of
3.0 or better.
Course
Requirements
Of the 33 credits:
at least 12 credits are to be taken from approved
courses in
language and linguistics,
9 credits from approved courses in pedagogy,
and 12 credits from approved electives in English and
Education.
At least 21 credits must be earned in courses numbered
500 and above.
NOTE 1: Eng 441—Introduction to the Study of
Language, or an equivalent course
in linguistics, is a prerequisite or corequisite of
these courses. It does not
count toward the 33 credits for the degree.
NOTE 2: Courses with asterisks are considered CORE
courses, of special
importance in the degree program (and the comprehensive exam). They
are not required but are strongly encouraged.
NOTE 3: Students who have little or no experience
teaching formal TESL classes
are encouraged to take a practicum or to arrange an
appropriate
internship. Any students desiring teaching practice are welcome to take
as
many practical-experience courses as they wish, but only 6 credits from
among the
following courses may be counted toward the MA-TESL
degree: Eng 505, Eng 515,
Eng 597, Eng 598/498.
A. Language and Linguistics—At least 12 credits
from the following
courses:
Introduction to English Syntax (Eng 442 or 510)
*Phonology (Eng 510) Semantics (Eng 510)
*Contrastive Linguistics (Eng 517)
Linguistic Analysis (Eng 519)
Typology (510)
*Advanced English Grammar (Eng 518)
Topics in English Linguistics (WS 543)
B. Pedagogy—9 credits from the following courses:
*Current Issues in TESL (Eng 510)
*TESL Methods: Basic Oral/Aural Skills (Eng 513)
TESL Methods: Reading, Writing, and Special Purpose
English (Eng 514)
TESL Teaching Practicum (Eng 515)
Educational Psychology/Educational Measurement (Ed
312/313 or 526)
Methods of Teaching Content Reading (Ed J463/J563)
Measurement and Evaluation (Ed 572)
C. Electives—12 credits from courses above not
used to fulfill A or B,
or from the following:
Language Variation (Eng 443/510)
Psycholinguistics (Eng 448)
History of the English Language (Eng 496)
M.A. Research/Thesis (Eng 500; 6 cr.)
Workshop [for teaching assistants] (Eng 505)
Language and the Teaching of Writing (Eng 506)
Studies in Linguistics (Eng 510)
Intercultural Communication (Eng 516)
Topics in English Linguistics (WS543) [at Washington State
University]
Language Requirement
Native speakers of English in the TESL program must complete or have completed
two years
of college work (or equivalent) in a modern foreign language. They must
have studied a
foreign language for at least a semester (or equivalent) within five
years preceding the
awarding of the degree.
Students in this program who are not native speakers of
English are excused from
the above language requirements by virtue of their experience in
learning English,
but all such students are strongly urged to take an advanced composition
course in
order to strengthen their control of written English.
Options
Students may fulfill the requirements for the degree either by taking 33 credits of
coursework and the comprehensive examination, or by taking 27 credits of
coursework, the
comprehensive examination, and 6 credits of M.A. research/thesis
credits in conjunction
with writing a thesis.
TESL Examination
In the second year students take a comprehensive examination on linguistics,
pedagogy and TESL theory, and teaching methodology. Students must score a
grade of B or higher on all
parts of the exam. One retake of all or either part of the
exam is permitted.
This page was last revised
Friday, 17 June 2005.
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