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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA)

2025-2026 DRAFT GRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2025 through 31 May 2026

Please see the Graduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.

Program Description
Learning Outcomes
Required Courses
Admission
Advancement to Candidacy

See also:
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Certificate)

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is available at select international campuses.^ Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages (MA in TESOL) at Webster University is designed for individuals who seek to develop the English skills of non-native and multilingual speakers living in either English-speaking or non-English-speaking communities. The program allows candidates to develop a solid theoretical background in critical aspects such as culture, language structure, first and second language acquisition theory, curriculum and materials development, teaching methodology, assessment and research, while preparing them to become effective language teachers.

Students completing the MA in TESOL may qualify to earn a graduate certificate in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) where the certificate is available. To gain the certificate, MA students must pay a second graduation fee. The TEFL certificate is designed for students interested in teaching outside of the United States in both adult and K-12 settings. Students seeking this graduate certificate must have earned a recognized baccalaureate degree and meet the admission and acceptance criteria, as outlined in the graduate program’s Academic Policies. Students may receive the Webster University TEFL certificate by completing a minimum of 21 credit hours.

Learning Outcomes

Program Goals – Seven core courses required of all MA in TESOL students have been aligned to address a set of five standards developed by specialists in coordination with the organization Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. These standards are known as the TESOL Standards. The five learning outcomes below are assessed through a series of summative assessments at the end of each of these core courses.

Students will be able to describe the relevant features of language that learners need to acquire (TESOL Standard 1 - Knowledge About Language)
Students will be able to describe the academic and personal characteristics of language learners and educators in order to determine culturally relevant instructional choices (TESOL Standard 2 - Sociocultural Context of Learners and Teachers)
Students will be able to design and implement standards-based instruction using evidence-based strategies and approaches (TESOL Standard 3 - Planning and Implementing Instruction)
Students will be able to analyze and interpret various language assessment tools and data in order to strengthen language instruction and/or content instruction through the target language (TESOL Standard 4 - Assessment and Evaluation)
Students will be able to model and reflect upon professionalism and leadership in language instruction, collaboration, and advocacy (TESOL Standard 5 - Professionalism and Leadership)

Required Courses

Required Core (21 credit hours)

TESL 5030 Linguistics for Language Learning and Teaching* (3 hours)
TESL 5230 Theories of Foreign and Second Language Acquisition* (3 hours)
TESL 5139 Instructional Methods for Language Classrooms* (3 hours)
TESL 5220 Lesson Planning and Curriculum Development for Language Classrooms* (3 hours)
TESL 5311 Language Assessment* (3 hours)
TESL 5350 Sociolinguistics* (3 hours)
Three credit hours of Practicum selected from:
- TESL 5040 Practicum in English Language Classroom (taken at the end of the program)* (1-3 hours)
- TESL 5041 Tutoring of English (1 hour)
- TESL 5042 Initial Practicum in English Language Classrooms) 1 hour)

*Course contains a summative assessment for data collection purposes.

Electives (12 credit hours)

TESL 5310 Teaching English Grammar (3 hours)
TESL 5730 Materials Development in Language Classrooms (3 hours)
TESL 5740 Teaching English for Academic Purposes (3 hours)
TESL 5750 Special Institute in TESOL (3 hours)
TESL 5760 Teaching English for Specific Purposes (3 hours)
TESL 6250 Thesis (3-12 hours)
and TESL 6900 University Thesis Requirements (0 hours)

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119

Additional Requirements

Requirements for admission to the MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages program include:

Receipt of official transcripts from the baccalaureate granting institution.
Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Non-native speakers need to present evidence of a passing score from an approved English Language Proficiency assessment (International students – see graduate catalog).

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.

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