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Earn your Master's degree at JMU
Our program prepares future educators to understand and implement more equitable and effective ways of working with English Language Learners in a variety of contexts.


Description of Program
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. This program draws on theories of linguistics, research on social and cultural variables that influence second language acquisition, and the knowledge required to facilitate second language learning. The TESOL program will prepare future educators to understand and implement equitable and effective ways of working with English Language Learners in a variety of contexts, including content/general education classes, sheltered-ESL classes and pullout classes. Completion of this MAT program leads to eligibility for a Virginia teaching license for PreK-12 English as a Second Language.
The degree requires the following:
- PSYC 160. Human Development Across the Life Span, or equivalent
- WRTC 103. Critical Reading and Writing, or equivalent
- MATH designated course
- ENG 308. Introduction to Linguistics, or equivalent
- EDUC 300. Foundations of American Education, or equivalent
- READ 366/READ 566. Early Literacy Development and Acquisition (with a 1 credit practicum, TESL 384/TESL 553)
- Foreign language proficiency (6 credits at intermediate level)
- 39 graduate hours of TESOL course work
Applicants' undergraduate transcripts are reviewed to identify necessary prerequisite course work 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.
Degree Offered
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Concentration
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)