Admission Criteria

Applications for admission to the M.A. in LOTE and TESOL program are made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who do not fully meet admission requirements may be required to complete prerequisite courses concurrently with completion of the program requirements. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 or higher GPA;
2. Prior course work in a target language (see Foreign Language Content Requirements below);
3. Personal statement describing the applicant’s intent and rationale for entering the program;
4. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in the teacher education program course work;
5. TOEFL score of 80 or above (for international applicants); and
6. Interview with the coordinator of the program.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Candidates may wish to apply even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.
 

Foreign Language Content Requirements

Students admitted to the M.A. in LOTE and TESOL program should possess a bachelor’s degree in Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Mandarin, French, Italian, Spanish, German or Russian, or a minimum of 30 s.h. in college-level course work above level four.

Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree in a foreign language and are native speakers or skilled and proficient in languages other than English may demonstrate their knowledge in an alternative manner. Candidates can earn a maximum of 30 semester hours of credit toward the content core by passing both the oral and written proficiency portions of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) examination. An additional 6 credits can be taken at the undergraduate level. The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Written Proficiency Test (WPT) must both be taken and passed to receive the credit. M.A. candidates must also take the New York state Content Specialty Tests (CSTs) in LOTE and TESOL.

Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 37

Field Experiences

Field experiences are required in each of the following courses:

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language : 25 clock hours with English Language Learners, grades 1-6
• LYST 213A - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for ESL Teachers : 30 clock hours in varied settings
• SED 267 - Teaching English to Adolescent and Adult Speakers of Other Languages : 25 clock hours with English Language Learners, grades 7-12
• SED 291L - Internship in Secondary World-Language Education : 50 supervised clock hours in the foreign language classroom, grades 7-12
• SPED 264 - Inclusion in Today’s Schools : 20 clock hours in settings with students with special needs in high-needs schools, including placement with economically disadvantaged children (grades preK-12)

A minimum of 150 clock hours of college supervised field experience is required.
 

Graduation Requirements

Graduation from the program requires the completion of:

1. All course work for the M.A. in LOTE and TESOL Program with an overall GPA of 3.0; no grades below B in required courses.
2. All foreign language content requirements.
3. 37 s.h. of course work.
4. A portfolio illustrating the student’s educational course work and professional accomplishments.
5. All course work taken in satisfaction of the program requirements must have been completed within a five-year period.

Footnote*

Course requires participation/observation in designated schools.