Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) MA

The MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) program is designed especially for teachers, paraprofessionals, and pre-service teachers who have English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classrooms and want to know how to better serve those students. Educators working with individuals, small groups, or whole classes of ELLs will benefit from this program. Teachers who have a teaching license from the Colorado Department of Education may use this opportunity to seek a MA TESOL.

This program prepares teachers to better understand and support their students who are learning English as a second or additional language. Courses focus on understanding the stages of language and literacy development as well as methods and materials of instruction and assessment that support multilingual learners. Coursework focusing on the English language strengthens the foundational language knowledge of teachers. Additionally, coursework stresses the importance of family and community engagement for the multilingual students.

The MA TESOL degree requires 10 courses (30 credit hours). 

The first 8 courses (24 semester hours) are applicable to the Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Endorsement (CLDE) through the Colorado Department of Education. The last 2 courses are the core/research classes that complete the MA in TESOL.

Courses are offered on a cohort basis, beginning every even-numbered summer semester.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Financial Aid Priority Date: March 1

1. Complete the UCCS Graduate Application.
   • All applicants (international & domestic) pay the application fee
   • Obtain one letter of reference
   • Submit one transcript from all institutions of higher education previously attended
   • Prepare a career goal statement
   • Current résumé (please include relevant paid work and volunteer experience where applicable)
   • Complete a background check or provide an unofficial copy of teaching licensure. *International applicants only complete the background check if they have lived in the United States for more than one year. To complete a background check, please see instructions below:
     • Visit the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's website.
     • Click on 'Individual'
     • Pay the $6.00 fee to receive the results
     • Save a copy of the background check and turn it in with your admissions materials.
   • Interview with the department faculty member
      
2. Once application materials are in, you will need to interview with a faculty advisor for the program.

**If you have questions about the program before or during the Admissions process, or would like more programmatic information, please contact us at (719) 255-4996 or education@uccs.edu

Career Goal Statement

Please describe why you have applied to your respective program and want to be a professional educator. Please be sure to include personal and professional information that supports this decision. Your statement should be at least two pages in length, double-spaced. Make sure to include your name and the program you are applying to in your goal statement.

Official Transcripts
Domestic students: Have one official transcript of all higher education course work ever completed to date (undergraduate and graduate GPA must be included on transcripts), sent from the institution you attended directly to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Office of Admissions (electronically or by postal services). 
Postal Services: 

• UCCS Office of Admissions 
  1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
  Colorado Springs CO 80918-3733
   
• Electronically: ugapp@uccs.edu
   

Additional Resources for International Applicants: 
English Proficiency must be demonstrated by providing evidence of an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, a TOEFL score of 550-(paper-based) or 80-(internet-based).

Applicants with any post-secondary course work from an international higher education institution that is recognized by their country’s Education Ministry must submit a course-by-course foreign degree evaluation by a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services http://www.naces.org/members.htm), AACRAO (http://aacrao.org/) or World Education Services/WES https://www.wes.org/).

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities.