Teaching English as a Second Language - M.A.

Major Requirements

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The thesis option is not available to students declared in the TESL Education concentration. Thesis candidates must register for ENG 69199 for a total of 6 credit hours toward the degree (will count in major electives). If the thesis has not been defended after 6 credit hours, candidates will continuously register for ENG 69299 each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met. Credit hours for ENG 69299 do not count toward the degree.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

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Students may use up to 6 credit hours in appropriate graduate courses from other departments with approval of department advisor toward the major electives.

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Students may choose these courses if not chosen above.

TESL Education Concentration Requirements

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ENG 51525 and ENG 53392 must be taken concurrently.

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Students complete 100 hours of field work as teacher assistants in area schools, which enable them to gain collaborative clinical experience as P-12 teachers.

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Prior to enrollment in ENG 53392 and ENG 68592, students must be evaluated satisfactorily on non-academic  dimensions, including completing background checks and modules. Further information is available in the Office of Graduate Student Services.

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During students' full-time student teaching assignment, they are assessed on professional dispositions, understanding of codes of ethics and professional standards appropriate to TESL and work with English language learners. In the school context, students are assessed data literacy and analysis; use of research and assessment data; leadership and collaboration; utilization and support of appropriate technology for the discipline; and understanding of laws related to English language learners.

• As the culminating requirement for the M.A. degree, all students must complete either a portfolio, comprehensive exam or thesis, see information below.
• All students in the M.A. degree cannot be concurrently enrolled in the Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language graduate certificate. Students who have earned the certificate may be permitted to apply 12 graduate credit hours from the certificate toward the M.A. degree.

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Culminating Requirement

Portfolio

The intent of the portfolio is to provide M.A. candidates the opportunity to present their professional development, to integrate theory and practice, and to point to future career directions in teaching English as a second language. The portfolio is typically completed during the candidate's last semester of study. The portfolio is designed to selectively demonstrate superior examples of the candidate’s work in a number of areas. The documents in candidates’ portfolios are typical of the kinds of documents often required for submission on the job market. They also reflect candidates’ academic development in the course of the M.A. program.

To establish their portfolio committee, candidates should take the following steps:

• Request the participation of committee members near the beginning of the semester in which the candidate intends to submit the portfolio.
• Coordinate with both committee members to determine a date for the portfolio defense.

Candidates should submit the completed portfolio to the committee one week prior to defending it. During the defense, candidates should give a brief (10 minute) presentation highlighting the strengths of the portfolio. The committee will then examine the student on the elements of the portfolio and suggest revisions. Portfolio defenses may not be scheduled during finals week.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination, taken in the penultimate or final semester, is an opportunity for M.A. candidates to synthesize and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the field of teaching English as a second/foreign language. The exam is a series of three written parts on materials covering courses that students completed during their program of study. One of the areas of examination must be ESL/EFL pedagogy-related.

The semester prior to the exam, students should contact three faculty members whose classes they would like to be examined in from within the program. Examiners will provide the candidate with possible exam questions.

The exam will be scheduled over a three-day period. Exams may only be taken in the fall or spring semester, and they may not be scheduled during finals week. Each of the three parts of the exam will take four hours to complete.

Faculty members supplying questions from the exam will evaluate the student's response. Students who pass all three parts of the exam will have completed the culminating requirement for the degree. Students who fail one or more of the parts of the exam must take the exam again during the next semester.

Thesis in Applied Linguistics

Note: The thesis option is not available to students declared in the TESL Education concentration.

The thesis enables candidates to carry out in-depth primary and secondary research on a problem current in the field identified by the student in collaboration with a program faculty member who will serve as thesis advisor. The thesis is typically completed in students' final two semesters. The thesis option is only encouraged for academic scholars and must meet faculty and dean approvals. In order to complete a thesis, students must submit an approval from through the college in the semester prior to the semester in which they plan to graduate.

Candidates must obtain approval from the thesis advisor prior to scheduling the defense. A completed printed copy of the thesis must be circulated to the committee members two weeks prior to the defense. During the defense, the candidate should briefly outline the research and findings in a 10-minute summary presentation. The committed will then examine the student on the elements of the theses and suggest revisions.

The student is responsible for checking college deadlines for filing completed defense forms and the thesis itself. Failure to do so will result in a failure to graduate in the semester the student intends. In any event, thesis defenses may not be scheduled during finals week or during the summer term.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer the Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.