The M.A.T. in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a graduate program beyond the bachelor's degree. Successful candidates will earn an M.A.T. and become eligible for initial certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages in Georgia. Graduates will also earn the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement for Georgia certified teachers, speech and language pathologists, or school counselors.
Selected Educational Outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the learner.
- employ instructional strategies and research methodologies appropriate to the discipline and the learners.
- demonstrate effective planning skills.
- employ effective assessment techniques in evaluating learners and programs.
- maintain an ongoing program of professional development.
- meet all the standards for initial teacher certification set forth by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services.
Selected Outcomes Assessments
Students in the M.A.T. -- ESOL program:
- demonstrate content knowledge through passing the state-required GACE content assessment.
- demonstrate content knowledge, skills in planning, assessment, instructional strategies, use of technology, classroom management, differentiation, advocacy, and self-teaching reflection through the edTPA portfolio.
- demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge and knowledge of evidence-based strategies through development of lesson plans identifying use of research-validated procedures and effective content pedagogy (edTPA).
- demonstrate skills in assessment, instructional strategies, use of technology, and monitoring and modifying instruction during observed teaching episodes evaluated by a university supervisor and classroom mentor teacher.
- demonstrate their ability to positively impact P-12 learning through a teacher work sample.
- demonstrate appropriate teaching dispositions through self-assessment and university supervisor and mentor teacher disposition assessments.
Admission to the Program
Prior to admission to any graduate program at Valdosta State University, applicants must first submit a completed application to the Graduate School. A completed application packet includes official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, completed application form, fee, and any additional program requirements submitted by the admission deadline. Students will be eligible to enroll with a completed degree from an accredited program and a 2.75 GPA or higher in their undergraduate or graduate work (a minimum of 6 credit hours of graduate courses is required) or qualify for admission by alternative pathways (see below). To be considered for the preferred term, all required materials must be received by the Graduate School no later that the close of business on the deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to allow adequate time for document submission and to ensure receipt of documents.
Admission Deadlines
Fall Deadline: July 15
Spring Deadline: November 15
Summer Deadline: March 15
Requirements for the M.A.T. in English to Speakers of Other Languages
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite: SPEC 3000 | ||
| Required Core Courses | 36 | |
| EDUC 2999 | Teacher Education Requirements | 0 |
| ESOL 6010 | Applied Linguistics for ESOL Teachers | 3 |
| ESOL 6020 | Cultural Perspectives for ESOL Teachers | 3 |
| ESOL 6030 | Methods and Materials for Teaching ESOL | 3 |
| ESOL 6040 | Assessing English Language Learners (Ells) | 3 |
| ESOL 6050 | Teaching English Grammar for ESOL | 3 |
| FLED 6000 | World Languages and TESOL Methods P-8 | 2 |
| FLED 6010 | P-8 Classroom Laboratory | 1 |
| FLED 7000 | Curriculum and Instruction of World Languages & TESOL | 2 |
| FLED 7010 | 6-12 Classroom Laboratory | 1 |
| FLED 7500 | Theory and Practice in Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ESOL 6780 | Supervised Internship – Clinical Practice | 9 |
| or ESOL 6790 | Student Teaching - Clinical Practice | |
| ESOL 6800 | Clinical Practice Seminar | 3 |
| Total Hours Required for the Degree | 36 | |
| 1 | ESOL 2999 must be successfully completed the first semester of the degree program. |
Note: Up to 9 hours may be transferred into the degree.
To graduate, the student must attempt the Georgia required content pedagogy, content, and educator ethics exit assessments.
To obtain the P-12 certification, the student must obtain passing scores on the Georgia required content pedagogy, content, and educator ethics exit assessments.
Requirements for the M.A.T. in ESOL
Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track
Students in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track in ESOL interested in continuing their graduate education may apply for the Master of Arts in Teaching in ESOL program in their senior year or upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Students in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track in ESOL will not be required to take additional admission tests but must meet all other graduate admission requirements. Students who have completed the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track in ESOL will complete an additional 27 hours of graduate classes to meet the degree requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching -- ESOL of 36 hours. Upon application to the Graduate School, students who have made a “C” or less in any of their graduate courses taken as undergraduates will be subject to the Master of Arts in Teaching -- ESOL Special Retention Policy.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2999 | Teacher Education Requirements | 0 |
| Select two of the following not completed as an undergraduate: 2 | 6 | |
| Cultural Perspectives for ESOL Teachers | ||
| Methods and Materials for Teaching ESOL | ||
| Assessing English Language Learners (Ells) | ||
| Teaching English Grammar for ESOL | ||
| FLED 6000 | World Languages and TESOL Methods P-8 | 2 |
| FLED 6010 | P-8 Classroom Laboratory | 1 |
| FLED 7000 | Curriculum and Instruction of World Languages & TESOL | 2 |
| FLED 7010 | 6-12 Classroom Laboratory | 1 |
| FLED 7500 | Theory and Practice in Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ESOL 6780 | Supervised Internship – Clinical Practice | 9 |
| ESOL 6800 | Clinical Practice Seminar | 3 |
| Total hours required for the degree | 27 | |
| 1 | ESOL 2999 must be completed successfully in the first semester of the degree program. |
| 2 | Students must complete all required core courses that they did not complete as undergraduates in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track. |
