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JONATHAN SINGER, Chair
LINDA OLIVA, Associate Chair
DOAA RASHAD, Graduate Program Director

Degrees Offered

M.A., P.B.C. (Degree Types )

Faculty

John Nelson, Ph.D. (McGill University) (Program Co-Director), ESOL/FL testing and evaluation, TESOL methods, English grammar
Sarah J. Shin, Ph.D. (University of Michigan) (Program Co-Director), Bilingualism, TESOL methods, heritage language education, language policy
Jiyoon Lee, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania), ESOL/FL testing and evaluation, second language acquisition
Mary Tabaa, M.A. (UMBC) (Online/Off-Campus Coordinator); English grammar, linguistics, instructional design
Renee Burgos, M.A. (UMBC), Intercultural communication
Elizabeth ChewLin, Ed.D., TESOL methods
JoAnn (Jodi) Crandall, Ph.D. (Georgetown University), Content-based language learning, second language literacy, language teacher education, first and second language writing, ESL in the community college
Heidi J. Faust, M.Ed. TESOL (Associate Director of TESOL Professional Training Programs, UMBC); Intercultural communication, TESOL methods
Michael Glennon, M.A. (McDaniel College), Educational technology, instructional design
Colleen Grisham, M.A. (UMBC), Reading and writing instruction
Laura Hook, M.A. (UMBC) (Maryland State Department of Education), TESOL methods, Project Seminar
Chuck Hodell, Ph.D. (Instructional Systems Development Program, UMBC), Instructional design
Adriana Medina López-Portillo, Ph.D. (Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, & Intercultural Communication, UMBC), Intercultural communication, intercultural training, Mexican cultural studies
Ana Oskoz, Ph.D. (Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, & Intercultural Communication, UMBC), Technology in the foreign language classroom, second language acquisition, language teaching and curriculum development
Doaa Rashed, M.A., Second language acquisition, ESOL/FL testing and evaluation
Maria Reamore, M.A., Internship supervision and instruction, reading and writing instruction
Sara Rosen, M.A. (Boston University), Internship supervision and instruction
Ron Schwartz, M.A., Intercultural communication, Project Seminar
Hollis Stein, M.A. (former ESOL Program Supervisor, Prince George’s County Public Schools), Internship Seminar Phase 2
Ray Terhorst, M.A. (UMBC), TESOL methods, educational technology
Yeji Yoon, M.A. (UMBC), Instructional design, Project Seminar

Program Description

UMBC offers an MA in TESOL and a graduate ESOL Certificate.  Established in 1979, our TESOL program is designed to train both prospective and experienced teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). It provides students with a strong theoretical and practical foundation in applied linguistics, language acquisition, ESL/EFL methodology, testing, cross-cultural studies and curriculum development.  Both programs can be taken completely in face-to-face classes on campus, completely online, or with a combination of face-to-face and online classes.

MA in TESOL Options

• Option 1: Master of Arts in TESOL - General
• Option 2: Master of Arts in TESOL with K-12 Certification
• Option 3: Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis
• Option 4: Master of Arts in TESOL with Thesis and K-12 Certification

Students may complete the programs either online or face-to-face. Our programs remain flexible so that students can study at their own pace.

Career Opportunities

An ESOL concentration prepares students for a wide variety of teaching and related careers including:

• Teaching English as a second or foreign language in universities, community colleges and language institutes across the U.S.;
• Administering and/or teaching in K-12 ESOL and bilingual programs in public and private schools in Maryland and throughout the U.S.;
• Working with refugee and immigrant groups in adult education programs;
• Working with ESL/EFL programs around the world through international universities, private language schools, and public educational systems.

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the TESOL M.A. Program and the ESOL Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program must meet the general requirements for admission to the University of Maryland Graduate School, Baltimore County.

• To be considered, the applicant must have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• International students must have a minimum of 213+ on the computer-based TOEFL, 80+ on the internet-based TOEFL, or 6.5+ on the IELTS.

Applications

Admission to the TESOL MA Program is on a competitive basis. Applicants should have:

• an undergraduate degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA,
• 3 references,
• 153+ on the GRE verbal test or a 297+ composite score (verbal + math)
• a statement of purpose that shows interest in the field,
• Second language speakers of English must also have a TOEFL score of 213+ on the computer-based test or 80+ on the internet-based test or an IELTS score of 6.5+

Admission to the Certificate Program is also on a competitive basis. Applicants should have:

• an undergraduate degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA,
• 2 references,
• 153+ on the GRE verbal test or a 297+ composite score (verbal + math) OR 527+ on the Praxis I test OR current Maryland state teaching certification
• Second language speakers of English must also have a TOEFL score of 213+ on the computer-based test or 80+ on the internet-based test or an IELTS score of 6.5+

The Program’s application review process is on-going, following the admissions deadlines set by the Graduate School. The Program’s Admissions Committee meets to decide periodically throughout the review cycle. Favorable consideration is given to applications received early in the review cycle. Applicants who are not admitted during the review cycle will be notified. In some cases, they will be asked if they want to be considered in the next review cycle. An applicant’s file is considered complete and ready for review when all documents have been submitted.
Decisions for admission into the ESOL Program for the fall semester are made by the following dates:

    International applicants - February 28
    Domestic Applicants - April 15 (preferred) or August 1

Decisions for admission into the ESOL/Bilingual MA Program for the spring semester are made by the following dates:

    International applicants - October 31
    Domestic applicants - October 31

Courses

See Course Descriptions  

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