TESOL Admission Requirements

The Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Master's level program will prepare teacher candidates to be certified to teach English language learners (ELLs) in public and private schools. This program prepares students to teach children and adolescents for whom English as an additional language. this program will lead to New York State TESOL PreK-12 teacher certification by offering two pathwasy to NYS teacher certification and a Master's of Science in Education (MSEd) degree with a concentration in TESOL. In addition, this program offers the MSEd degree with a concentration in TESOL to individuals not seeking NYS teacher certification but who are seeking the MSEd degree to work with English language learners (ELLs) in a range of public and private settings (i.e. community-based NGOs, etc.). These options are outlined below as Tracks 1, 2 and TESOL Non-Cert.

General Admission Requirements for All Tracks

Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree in a liberal arts and sciences major, or 36 approved credits in a liberal arts and sciences concentration, and an overall grade point average (GPA) at or above 3.0 (B). Applicants whose GPAs fall below the required minimum may submit a letter of appeal to the admissions committee; however, such appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. Candidates appealing for admission must present documentation demonstrating their ability to succeed in the program and may be required to take up to 24 credits in undergraduate liberal arts or sciences courses, as prescribed by the program coordinator, in which they must earn grades no lower than 3.0 (B). Candidates must have completed at least 12 semester hours of a language other than English.

International candidates must hold a credential that we evaluate to be comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the United States. Official documents must be issued by the degree-granting institution.

International students must have full command of academic English at the graduate level in order to be successful throughout their studies. All applicants from non-English speaking countries where English is not an official langauge are required to take an English proficiency examination and meet minimum scores set by CSI in order to be considered for admission. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams can be used to meet this requirement.

Applications are accepted for fall and spring semesters. All applications must include two academic or professional letters of recommendation, a one- or two page personal statement that discusses the academic, teaching, and/or work experiences that have led them and prepared the applicant to pursue graduate study in education. All applicants must complete the graduate application form and participate in an individual interview.

Track Specific Requirements

Track 1

Track 1 leads to a Master of Science in Education degree and to NYS Teacher Initial Certification in TESOL. Candidates must complete the courses required for a New York State initial certificate in early childhood, childhood or adolescence education or its equivalent from another state. Official transcripts and a copy of the certificate must be submitted when it is received from the New York State Department of Education. The candidate must also take the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or an approved equivalent examination and request the submission of official scores to the College. The CSI Code is 2778. Applicants should apply directly to the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to take the examination.

Track 2

Track 2 leads to a Master of Science in Education degree and to NYS Teacher Initial Certification in TESOL. NY State Initial Certification in another license area (early childhood, childhood, adolescence education) is NOT required for admissions. However, candidates must have an introductory academic experience in the following areas: A) special education; B) learning and development; C) social foundations of education; and D) literacy education, linguistics, or English Education. Applicants may be admitted as conditionally matriculated students while they complete these educational requirements. The candidate must also take the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or an approved equivalent examination and request the submission of official scores to the College. The CSI Code is 2778. Applicants should apply directly to the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to take the examination.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MSED - Master of Science in Education

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