MATESL Graduate Degree

Within the Division, the degree available to graduate students is the Master of Arts in the Teaching of English as a Second Language (MATESL) degree. The MATESL program offers two separate curriculum options or tracks. One option, the pedagogical track, is designed for candidates whose principal interests lie in language pedagogy and related research. This track not only prepares students to be effective classroom teachers, it also provides them with the solid theoretical background in second language acquisition and pedagogy essential for work in the areas of teacher supervision, materials development, curriculum design, and testing and evaluation. The second option, the research track, assumes a good grounding in language pedagogy equivalent to that offered in the pedagogical track. This track is research oriented and provides an opportunity for students to focus their efforts more intensively on original research into specific facets of applied English linguistics, second language acquisition, and pedagogy as they relate to the teaching and learning of English as a second or international language. Both tracks provide a strong stepping-stone to doctoral work.

Although the overall course requirements for these two tracks differ somewhat, applicants to both tracks must satisfy prerequisites for entry into the program. All applicants for admission to DEIL must have taken a college level introduction to linguistics and must have at least two years of a foreign language. In addition, those applying to the pedagogical track must have also taken a basic course in language teaching methods and materials, and a basic course in descriptive English grammar. Those wishing to follow the research track must have also taken a survey course in applied linguistics. These prerequisites may be satisfied by courses taken after becoming a student at the university, if necessary; however, credit for courses taken to satisfy curriculum prerequisites does not count toward the 10 units necessary for the MATESL degree itself.

Curriculum Options:Two Tracks

Application Process

Financial Aid

For more information on the MATESL program and courses, click here.