Program: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), M.S.Ed. - University of Southern Maine

Apr 03, 2025

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Become equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel as a TESOL professional and scholar with the Master of Science in Education in TESOL program from the University of Southern Maine (USM). The program provides graduates with skills and knowledge in the areas of theory, research, and practice in the field of TESOL and prepares graduates for careers in TESOL education and scholarship. This MSEd program is grounded in theories of second language acquisition and applications to classroom environments with culturally and linguistically diverse learners and teaches both pedagogical theory and best practices that can be applied right away in a classroom environment. It is the only graduate teaching degree of its kind in Maine and is designed to support learners worldwide across a variety of teaching contexts.

The program offers courses in different delivery modes, such as online, and on campus.

There are two pathways for the TESOL program:

A format that offers blended and on-campus courses are offered in 15-week blended format and 7-week online asynchronous format.
An accelerated online MSEd in TESOL with a special tuition rate offers courses in 7-week asynchronous format year-round.

This program does not lead to initial PreK-12 ESL teacher certification in Maine. It does lead to a Maine PreK-12 ESL endorsement for educators who are already certified to teach in Maine in another content area or grade level.

Program Requirements (30 credits)

First Tier Courses (21 credit hours)

Second Tier Courses (9 credit hours)

Transfer Credit Policy

Previously completed graduate courses may be approved for transfer into a graduate program within the Literacy, Language, and Culture programs if credits for the courses were earned no more than five years prior to matriculation, with grades of B or better.

For previous work completed through the University of Maine System, up to twelve credits may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. Up to six graduate credits completed at institutions outside of the University of Maine System may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. A syllabus for each course submitted for transfer credit from outside the University of Maine System must be provided upon application.

Transfer of more than twelve University of Maine System credits or six non-University of Maine System credits may be approved by the program coordinator and faculty. These credits may include certificate of graduate study program courses and professional development in-service graduate courses. Requests for the transfer of credits taken more than five years prior to matriculation may also be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator and faculty.