Master of Arts in English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Concentration

On this page:

• Why Choose Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Concentration in English?
• Careers
• Real-World Experience
• Success Stories
• Academics and Curriculum
• Admission
• Financial Aid

Why Choose Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Concentration in English?

A Master of Arts degree in English meets today’s global challenges by equipping graduates with a range of professional options, including: teaching college English or English as a second language, technical and professional writing, work in the non-profit sector, and doctoral study leading to the Ph.D. degree. Students pursuing Wright State's M.A. in English may choose from one of three concentrations: Literature, Rhetoric and Writing, or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

The Master of Arts in TESOL provides training in language theory, pedagogy, and applied linguistics, with the opportunity to combine this knowledge with the basic skills necessary to teach writing. The TESOL endorsement (added to licensure in Ohio) may be completed within the TESOL Master of Arts.

Careers

View the English program profile for sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections. 

Real-World Experience

Students in the TESOL concentration, TESOL certificate programs, TEFL certificate, and Master of Arts program in TESOL must complete a semester-long internship before graduating. Most students are placed with a professor in Wright State’s intensive English program LEAP. Some students work with professors elsewhere. Internship supervisors must have a Master of Arts degree in TESOL.

Success Stories

Shen Yao

Shen Yao grew up in Xi’an, China, the home of the Terracotta Warriors. Shen considers himself lucky to have started learning English in the third grade, awakening dreams of becoming an English teacher.

More Success Stories

Academics and Curriculum

All students in the graduate program complete 33 to 36 hours of graduate study and a graduate portfolio, which includes a targeted revision of a seminar paper. Before graduating, a candidate for the Master of Arts degree in English must

• Submit a Culminating Project of work for evaluation; and
• Present selected contents of that project at a designated English Department event.

View the Master of Arts in English program information and requirements in the Academic Catalog.

Timeline

Prior to Start

Meet with TESOL advisor to review program of study.

Fall Semester

1st Year

• Start program

2nd Year

• Meet with TESOL advisor to review portfolio requirement and assign advisor for revised seminar paper
• Meet with revised seminar paper advisor before the 10th week
• Fill out and submit Advising Report Form before the end of the semester

Spring Semester

2nd Year

• Submit portfolio with the revised seminar paper in the 9th week of the semester
• Include signed Program of Study form required for the M.A. Culminating Project
• Include copy of Advising Report Form required for the M.A. Culminating Project

Admission

Graduate study in English is essentially a professional study. It is demanding and requires ability and commitment. For this reason, minimum admission standards for M.A. in English are higher than those of the Graduate School. The average GPA of students admitted to the program is 3.33, with grades in English averaging 3.5. Applicants may be granted regular or conditional admission. Students admitted conditionally are not eligible for teaching assistantships or graduate tuition scholarships in their first year of study. International students must meet the department’s English proficiency requirement.

Regular Admission Requirements

• An overall GPA of 3.0 or better in undergraduate course work OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.7 but with a 3.3 or better for the last 60 semester hours (93 quarter hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree
• A satisfactory writing sample (a thesis-driven paper of at least five pages engaging with and responding to secondary sources and written on a topic in English or in a related field; this may be a paper previously submitted for an undergraduate class)
• A GPA of 3.2 in any undergraduate degree with strong evidence of excellence in language skills

Non-native speakers of English seeking regular admission to any graduate program in English must also meet one of the following minimum language proficiency requirements: TOEFL 100 (80 for conditional admission), IELTS 7.5 (6.5 for conditional admission), PTE-A 68 (53 for conditional admission), satisfactory completion of LEAP level 4 TOEFL substitution, or earned a degree in the United States. Applicants may be interviewed by a representative of the department to determine language proficiency and to be advised on improving language competencies.

Conditional Admission Requirements

• An overall GPA of 2.7 or better in undergraduate course work OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5 but with a 3.0 or better for the last 60 semester hours (93 quarter hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree
• A satisfactory writing sample (a thesis-driven paper of at least five pages engaging with and responding to secondary sources and written on a topic in English or in a related field; this may be a paper previously submitted for an undergraduate class)
• A GPA of 3.2 in any undergraduate degree with strong evidence of excellence in language skills

To be considered for conditional admission non-native speakers of English must also present a score of TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, PTE-A 53, or be enrolled in the LEAP Program for the TOEFL substitution. These applicants may also be interviewed by a representative of the department to determine language proficiency and to be advised on improving language competencies.

How to Apply

Apply to the Graduate School.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available. Eligible students should apply for both the Graduate Teaching Assistantship and the Graduate Tuition Scholarship.