Starting in the Fall 2022 semester, students can complete the MSU MA TESOL degree through the Japan Center for Michigan Universities. Anyone interested should contact (email) both Charlene Polio at polio@msu.edu and Christopher Garth at cgarth@jcmu.org and then apply through the regular MSU graduate admissions portal.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about this program.
Admissions
Information and applications can be found on the MSU admissions page. Please note a few differences to the application procedure for students at JCMU.
- We will accept applications until July 1, 2022 for fall, but the sooner we know how many students are interested, the more courses we can offer, so please get your applications in earlier if possible.
- There are no graduate assistantships available for anyone not on the MSU campus. US citizens and residents can apply for regular financial aid.
Fee structure
All students participating in the TESOL courses at JCMU, regardless of citizenship or residency status, will pay the pre-established JCMU Program Fee in lieu of traditional MSU tuition. If a student decides to take classes on the MSU campus, they will pay the tuition rate appropriate to their status (i.e., resident, non-resident, or international).
Course requirements
The course requirements for students in Japan are the same as for students at MSU, but note that not all electives will be available to students in Japan.
How courses will be offered
The number of courses and how they are offered will depend on the number of students enrolling in the program but there will be different formats.
- Courses taught in-person at JCMU during the fall and spring
- LLT 895 (ESL Classroom Practices) and LLT 896 (Practicum in Teaching ESL) will be available in-person in Japan.
- Students may be able to attend these courses virtually with permission.
- Hybrid sections with some asynchronous assignments and discussion sessions on Zoom
- These courses will be taught by faculty at MSU with discussion sessions led by faculty or teaching assistants.
- Intensive summer courses
- Each summer, one or two courses will be offered in August. There will be online work followed by two weeks of daily classes. Non-degree seeking students can apply for courses as offered under Michigan State University’s Lifelong Education guidelines. (link: https://reg.msu.edu/roinfo/enrreg/lifelongeducation.aspx) Students in the MSU MA TESOL program in East Lansing are eligible to take courses at the Hikone campus in the summers at the JCMU tuition rate. Please speak to your advisor for more information. Enrollment space may be limited for some courses.
- Fully online courses with faculty at MSU
- The availability of these courses will depend on 1) our ability to offer at least one online graduate course per semester at MSU; and 2) the number of students taking classes from Japan.
Because offering courses at JCMU is a new option, we will continually be working on ways to offer courses to best meet the needs of students wishing to complete the MA from Japan. If at any time a student feels that the course offerings provide a significant hurdle to completion, the student should contact Charlene Polio or Chris Garth.