Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Initial Licensure), MAT


Offered through: College of Graduate Studies 

The goal of the program is to offer professional training for teachers of English Learners. The program has two tracks: Licensure and Non-licensure. 

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) licensure program is designed for college graduates seeking an initial license as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, PreK-6 and 5-12 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This licensure program provides much-needed theory, practices and strategies for preparing public-school teachers to work with English learners in Massachusetts public schools.
 

Learning Outcomes: Departmental Outcomes  , Master’s Core, TESOL Standards, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standards, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and SMK Standards and WIDA Standards

Admission Requirements


  • A completed MAT application from the College of Graduate Studies
  • A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • A 2.75 undergraduate GPA based upon four years of course work or a 3.0 undergraduate GPA based upon course work completed during the junior and senior years
  • For international applicants for whom English is a second language, an acceptable TOEFL score
  • Three letters of recommendation (at least two letters from academic references)
  • Official copies of transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work

Program of Study


In consultation with an advisor, candidates will undertake the appropriate course work and activities including the following:

  • Candidates must, prior to the student teaching experience, submit documentation that demonstrates digital literacy for teaching. This documentation can be any one of the following:
    • Google Educator Level I Training (about 13 hours online); requires $10 test fee
    • Google Educator Level II Training (about 13 hours online); requires $25 test fee
    • Apple Teacher Training (about 16 hours online for 8 badges); no fee
    • Professional development workshops within last five years equivalent to 15 hours; certificate(s) of participation required
    • Digital literacy course work, undergraduate or graduate approved by the DGCE Chair
  • complete SPED 510 - Teaching Exceptional Children in Schools  or SPED 202 - Introduction to Special Education  (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of “B”
  • complete an appropriate child and adolescent developmental psychology course 
  • have passed the English as a Second Language MTEL®

Exit requirement


The successful completion of a project defense is required. Please see the Graduate Academic Policies  section of this catalog for additional information.

Total minimum credits: 33