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Become a Leader in Language Teaching

You understand the importance of teaching and you’re ready to make a positive impact on learners around the world. Pursue your master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and take the next step in your development as a teacher of English.

What Will You Learn?

The master’s in TESOL program at IUP is research-driven and will prepare you to teach English as an international language.

  • Gain valuable direct classroom experience. Working with faculty members, you will observe and teach plurilingual students.
  • Learn in community. The program is based on a cohort model. Over the course of two academic years, you’ll take required and elective courses with a group of fellow TESOL master’s students.
  • Explore the bigger context. Study how English as a global language is situated in the sociopolitical context. Together, we’ll investigate issues of power and how these forces are connected to learning and teaching English as a second language.

Imagine Your Future

By earning your master's in TESOL, you’ll be well prepared for a variety of rewarding opportunities—and, you’ll stand out in a competitive market. Here are just a few possible paths after graduation.

  • Secure a teaching position abroad or in a US community college.
  • Enter a doctoral program in applied linguistics, composition, curriculum and instruction, or writing/rhetoric.
  • Join a publishing company specializing in English as a Global Language and utilize your expertise developing texts and materials.
  • Become a leader in a nonprofit or government agency.

Classes and Requirements

The MA TESOL consists of 36 credit hours, immersing you in the complexities of English as a global language.

What You’ll Study

  • First year, fall semester: Requirements are Introduction to TESOL; ESOL Teaching Methodology, Materials, and Instructional Technology; and Introduction to Research in Applied Linguistics and TESOL.
  • First year, spring semester: Second Language Acquisition; Second Language Literacy; and Cross-Cultural Communication.
  • Second year, fall semester: Observation in Teaching English plus two electives.
  • Second year, spring semester: Practicum in TESOL plus two electives.

Choose your electives based on your interests. Possibilities include: Global Englishes; Language Teacher Identities; Research and Practice in the Teaching of College Composition; and Language and Social Context.

Full Academic Catalog Listing

The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.

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Pathway Options

Choose the format that works best for you and launch a fulfilling career teaching English as a second language.

Early Admission for IUP Undergraduates

Early admission is possible. Learn more about the early admission process.

One-year Certificate

Explore the one-year TESOL graduate certificate of recognition program.

Teach and Learn

If you’re interested in teaching while studying, it’s possible to take courses for two consecutive semesters; seek a teaching position outside the US; and return to IUP within two years to finish the master's in TESOL program.