Randy Wood, Interim Dean
College of Arts and Sciences
Donna Summerlin, Chair
Language and Literature Department
David Broersma, Director
MA in TESOL Program
Purpose and Philosophy
The MA in TESOL at Lee is a fully online graduate program in TESOL designed to prepare leaders in the field of TESOL for service in a wide range of settings. Many MA in TESOL programs offer only a basic level of knowledge in TESOL, but the program at Lee University is for students who already have a foundation in TESOL, through coursework or experience.
The MA program can be completed in a calendar year-beginning in the summer and finishing in May the following year. It can also be taken at a slower pace if desired. The program is offered online, so it is maximally flexible for students who are already working or live distant from the Cleveland campus.
Goals
The overall goal of the program is to provide an advanced understanding of the field of TESOL and preparation for leadership roles in the field.
Student Outcome Goals
MATESOL graduates from Lee University will be able to:
- Demonstrate mastery of advanced linguistic topics.
- Act in a culturally sensitive manner in a variety of intercultural contexts with an understanding of the political, social, and cultural implications of English as a world language.
- Analyze and apply findings from in-depth explorations into comparative linguistics and comparative language education systems to the development of curricula and language programs.
- Prepare language assessment instruments and analyze data to make informed decisions about placement, diagnosis, classroom instruction, and program evaluation.
- Integrate faith and learning in the field of TESOL in an international internship or domestic internship working with populations from outside the U.S.
- Lead in the field of TESOL and participate in professional development activities in the field.
- Plan, conduct, and analyze action research in TESOL classrooms.
Admission
- Students with a bachelor’s degree in TESOL or at least 18 credit hours of TESOL Courses may apply for acceptance into the MA in TESOL program. Students who do not have a background in TESOL previously, may still apply, but they will need to complete the TESOL Certificate prerequisite, which can be completed in one summer online.
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of credit earned at all institutions of higher education.
- A preferred GPA of 2.75 in undergraduate studies.
- An essay of 500 words describing future goals in the field of TESOL.
- An interview, either virtually or in person, with the Director of the program or a designated faculty member, and two letters of recommendation from professors familiar with your work or a supervisor from a teaching context.
Completion Requirements
- 31 graduate-level credit hours
- MA in TESOL Final Project
- A minimum 3.0 GPA throughout the program
- The degree must be completed within 6 years of its inception. Exceptions to this will be evaluated by the faculty committee of the MA in TESOL.
Non-degree Seeking and Special Students
Students may register for non-degree or special status without being formally admitted into the program. Such students may take a total of nine credit hours from courses offered in the program.
Transfer Credit
A student may transfer up to six credit hours from an approved graduate institution. The courses must have been in areas related to the curriculum of the program and must be approved by the Director of the MA in TESOL. To remain in compliance with university graduate program standard, any grades considered for transfer must be a “B” or better.
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