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Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
with a Concentration in
Teaching English to Speakers of Other languages (TESOL)

The M.A.T. with a concentration in TESOL program is designed for individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree in a liberal arts discipline closely associated with a teaching area (e.g., biology, history, mathematics, psychology, chemistry, English, etc. but not business administration, nursing, engineering, etc.) and want to complete teacher licensure.  The degree requires GPSYC 160: Human Development Across the Life Span, ENG 308: Introduction to Lingustics, EDUC 300: Foundations of American Education, READ 366/566: Early Literacy Development and Acquisition with a 1 credit practicum, foreign language proficiency (6 credits at intermediate level) and 39 graduate hours of TESOL course work. Applicants' undergraduate transcripts are reviewed to identify necessary prerequisite coursework and to verify content knowledge requirements.

Application for the M.A.T. with a Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Initial Licensure Program is a three-step process.

Step 1:  Transcript Review and Interview

Schedule a meeting with a TESOL adviser to review your undergraduate transcripts, discuss your interest/goals in completing the MAT in Education with a Concentration in TESOL, and review your resume to determine eligibility and any prerequisite courses needed. Candidates may need to complete prerequisite competencies required by the Commonwealth of Virginia for licensure. Bring the following items:

• Undergraduate transcripts to show earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university (unofficial transcripts are sufficient for initial review process)
• Undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or higher
• A professional resume

Step 2:  Applying to Graduate School

Complete the on-line application for obtaining the graduate degree—Master of Arts in Teaching with a Concentration in TESOL (M.A.T. in Education with a Concentration in TESOL).

Required for application:

• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller's Analogy Test scores at the 25th percentile or higher for both verbal and quantitative sections
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Two-three page essay: describe relevant work, life experiences,  and professional goals related to TESOL and assisting English language learners
• Two professional references

NOTE:  Your application to the Graduate School, if accepted, will likely be “conditionally” accepted.  After all conditions have been met, including acceptance into Teacher Education (Step 3), your status can be upgraded to “unconditional.” Conditions are specified in your acceptance letter and include receipt of satisfactory Praxis 1 scores. All must be met before registering for the 2^nd semester of classes or beyond 12 credits.  It is your responsibility to let your advisor know when you have been accepted.  Print the Graduate Status Change Request, add your name and student ID#, and bring it to your advisor/program coordinator for a signature.

Step 3:  Applying to Teacher Education

After you have been admitted to the Graduate School and have received your student ID, you should apply for admission to Teacher Education.  Your application to Teacher Education through JMU’s Education Support Center (ESC) is the first step in the process of obtaining your Virginia State Teaching License.

Required for application:

• Undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or higher
• Passing scores on Praxis 1
• Completion of online application form http://www.jmu.edu/coe/admissions/application.shtml
• Advisor’s signature on printed copy of application. Bring the printed form to your advisor and return signed form to the Education Support Center (ESC)
• Completion of ESC packet that you will receive within a few weeks of submitting the initial application form. The packet contains reference forms and writing sample information. Applicants may submit the same essay and reference letters from the Graduate School application.

Notes:

• If you are not a JMU graduate, you must provide a copy of your final undergraduate transcript to the Education Support Center after you have submitted your application.
• Submit transcripts of all additional content courses, those specified as “conditions” in your Graduate letter of acceptance, to the Education Support Center.
• Candidates need to show completion with a grade of C or above in GPSYC 160, ENG 308, and EDUC 300, READ 366/READ 566 with practicum or equivalent courses.
• Candidates must demonstrate modern foreign language proficiency at the intermediate level by completion of 6 credits of coursework at that level with a grade of C or above OR by successful completion of a foreign language examination approved by the English Language Learning Academy (ELLA).

MAT in TESOL Course of Study:  39 Graduate Credits

Contact Information:

Dr. Stephanie Wasta
Program Coordinator

wastasa@jmu.edu

395 South High Street
MSC 6913
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Phone: (540) 568-5210
FAX: (540) 568-2589