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The M.A. degree in TESOL blends linguistic science with the art of classroom practice. It prepares students both intellectually and experientially so that as professionals they are capable of making wise and informed choices among different language teaching approaches, methods, and techniques. In addition, students will understand how differences among individual students, teaching and learning situations, and social structures influence decisions they will be called upon to make as teachers or other language professionals. The M.A. in TESOL program provides a firm and broad foundation in current theories of language and language learning and graduates will be prepared to take on careers as teacher educators and curriculum or assessment specialists as well as classroom teachers.

There are two options for completing the M.A. in TESOL degree: a thesis option and a non-thesis option. In both cases 36 credit hours are required. Both options include five components: a group of core courses totaling 15 credit hours, a selection of language skills-related courses totaling 6 credit hours, a teaching specialty course (3 credit hours), free electives totaling 6 credit hours, and research training (6 credit hours)--either a thesis (thesis option) or additional course work from a selected group of focus courses with a substantial research component (non-thesis option).