If you attend full time, it will take you two years (four semesters) to complete the program. If you are pursuing a B.A. in linguistics from MSU, you may be eligible for the linked program, in which case, the M.A. degree can be completed in three semesters. It is also possible to attend as a part-time student, but you must finish within six years. The six-year period begins with the semester of the first course you plan to apply to the degree.

Yes, with permission of the instructor, Lifelong Ed students can take M.A. TESOL classes. You can transfer up to 9 credits from Lifelong Education if you are eventually accepted into the M.A. TESOL program although taking courses through Lifelong Education does not imply acceptance into the program. We usually recommend that you begin by taking either LLT 807 or LLT 895. For further information, contact Lifelong Education. It is advisable to discuss your interests and objectives with the M.A. TESOL program director before requesting an instructor’s permission to enroll in a course.

Students begin the TESOL program in the fall in order to follow a logical sequence of courses. For example, LLT 895 is a prerequisite for LLT 896; LLT 895 is only offered in the Fall semester, and LLT 896 is offered in the spring. Exceptions are rarely made, but please contact the TESOL Director if you wish to start in the spring. 

If you have taken graduate courses at another university that you would like to count toward your M.A. degree, you must speak with the Director of the TESOL Program and provide them with a copy of the syllabus for each course when you took it. If they approves, you may transfer up to 9 credits. If you have credits in a course for which they do not have an equivalent, but it is clearly related to TESOL, you may be able to count such a course as an elective.

In some cases, students have taken courses that they cannot or do not wish to transfer, yet are equivalent to an M.A. TESOL course requirement. In this case, a course will be waived without transfer credit and may be replaced with an additional elective.

The practicum requirement can be waived if you can provide documentation of having had the equivalent of two years full-time supervised teaching experience.

Many of our graduates who have been interested in working abroad have found full-time positions teaching overseas. Some graduates have gone on to direct programs, coordinate EFL education, or work full-time in U.S. institutions. Full-time positions in Michigan, as in the rest of the US, are highly competitive. As with most things, the ability to find a good position often depends on how much you put into your education and whether you are prepared to go that extra mile by participating in activities such as giving conference presentations, working on teacher-education research projects, designing curricula and materials etc. There are many opportunities for such extra curricular CV-enhancing activities in the M.A. TESOL program.

The TESOL program has a mix of domestic and international students, including Fulbright scholarship recipients. In terms of undergraduate work, some students have backgrounds in English, a foreign language, linguistics, psychology, or education. If you have an unrelated undergraduate major, it is generally helpful to demonstrate at least some experience in language teaching in your application such as tutoring English learners.

Teaching Assistantships are available through the English Language Center (ELC). The application process for an assistantship is separate from the application for admission to the M.A. program. In addition to a stipend, assistantships include a tuition waiver of 9 credits per semester. Applications for assistantships must be received by the ELC by February 1st for the following Fall semester and are available through a link on the ELC website. To be considered for an assistantship, applicants must first be accepted by the M.A. TESOL program; therefore, your application materials should be submitted to the graduate program well in advance of the February 1st deadline for the assistantship application. Because funding support is not guaranteed, applicants are also encouraged to explore other sources of funding for their graduate studies. A few fellowships are also available through the Center For Language Teaching Advancement. Finally, there are occasionally assistantships available through the department, and all applicants are automatically considered for these. Information on financial aid for US citizens can be found in the Office of Financial Aid.

Information is available from the Office of the Controller – Student Accounts.

We only offer an M.A. degree in TESOL. Students may take individual courses through Lifelong Education with the permission of the instructor but this will not result in any kind of certificate. The English Language Center offers an online certificate. 

Contact University Housing.

No, it is not possible to complete the program by taking evening courses. Nearly all M.A. TESOL courses are offered during the day. LLT 896, the TESOL Practicum, is an evening course.

MSU’s institution code is 1465. The department code is 04 (linguistics).

Please refer to this list on the Admissions page.

https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/international/language-requirements