California State University Northridge

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Format: Online

Program Description:

As one of the nation's largest and most recognized teaching universities, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is now offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language through the College of Humanities Linguistics/TESL Program and the Tseng College.

CSUN's online TESL program is specifically designed for those who intend to teach English to speakers of other languages. Students explore the theoretical aspects and issues related to English instruction and also receive practical training in methods and strategies for teaching English in all four skill sets: reading, writing, listening and speaking. In addition, through courses in phonology and syntax, students gain an understanding of human language, its acquisition and its use. The combined focus on TESL pedagogy and linguistic theory provides both a strong foundation and the tools necessary for teaching English in a variety of levels and settings.

The online TESL program is taught by the same outstanding faculty from CSUN's Department of Linguistics who teach in the university's highly respected on-campus TESL program. All faculty in the online TESL M.A. program hold Ph.D.s. Their doctoral and other degrees are from widely respected institutions, including Cleveland State University; Cornell University; Louisiana State University; Temple University; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); University of Maryland; and University of Southern California (USC).

In addition to their expertise in English, all online TESL faculty members are fluent in one or more other languages, including Dutch, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Persian (Farsi) and Tagalog.

TESL faculty members have presented their research at many conferences, including the following:
•Acoustical Society of America
•American Association of Applied Linguistics
•Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar (ATEG)
•CATESOL (California TESOL Conference)
•International Conference on Computational Linguistics
•Linguistic Association of Canada and the United States
•Linguistics Society of America's Summer Institute
•National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
•Third International Conference on Iranian Linguistics
•University of Chicago Linguistics Society
•West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics
•Western Conference on Linguistics (WECOL)

Offered in the cohort format – in which students enter and move through the course of study as a group – this program provides guaranteed enrollment in all classes and facilitates career-long networking relationships with fellow students and faculty.

Designed for working professionals, this online program takes only two-and-a-half years to complete.

Accreditation:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Eligibility Requirements:

To be admitted to the online TESL master’s Program, applicants must possess (at the time of enrollment):
•Educational Background: Bachelor's degree from a an accredited university or college
•G.P.A.:
-3.0 cumulative GPA
-or 2.85 last 60 units GPA and GRE score with one section of the GRE test in the upper 50th percentile. GRE scores are not required if your cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher.
•English Proficiency Requirements for International Applicants: Applicants whose language of instruction was not English are required to take one of the following placement exams:
-TOEFL – Minimum scores accepted:
Internet-based test: 85
-IELTS – Minimum score of 7.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities I

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above