USA College of Education - Online Education-ESOL

The Department of Leadership and Teacher Education offers two options for ESOL certification entirely over the Internet:

Option 1:

Master of Education Degree leading to Certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages, P-12

Option 2:

Alterative Master of Education Degree leading to Certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages, P-12

These programs prepare students to evaluate English language learners, plan effective lessons for advancing language fluency and acquisition, design curricula that align with state and federal content standards for advancing academic language fluency, and understand linguistic development in grades P-12.

For students who already hold a Class "B" certificate in a teaching field, the Master of Education option will help lead them to Class "A" certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages P-12.

Those who already hold a Masters Class "A" certification may complete additional coursework to lead to Class "A" certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Those who are interested and hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than education (and therefore do not hold a Class "B" certificate in a teaching field) may complete coursework that leads to certification through the Alternative Master of Education option.

The online format offers students the flexibility and convenience of taking graduate courses at home, at the office, or wherever they have access to the Internet. These programs are designed to provide contact with the professor, interaction with other students, and access to the University Library and other services.

Satisfactory progress in the program will be predicated on a combination of factors such as academic success, demonstration of competence in requisite skills, adherence to ethical standards, and appropriate interpersonal functioning. Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory competence with any of these critical areas of professional performance may be terminated from the program. Core faculty will evaluate students on a continuing basis to determine students' satisfactory progression through the program.

Application Deadlines

Applicants for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program are reviewed throughout the year. Deadlines for all application materials (specified below) are:

Fall admission – June 15
Spring admission – Nov. 1
Summer admission – April l

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general Graduate School standards, requirements for admission are:

1. A completed application for admission to the Graduate School.

2. One official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

3. Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional abilities. In addition, the letters should reference the applicant’s dispositions necessary to help P-12 students learn.

4. A two-page narrative from the applicant indicating the applicant’s goal(s) and purpose(s) for pursuing the field of English for Speakers of Other Languages, and the dispositions that make the applicant a good candidate for helping P-12 students learn.

5. Valid Certification: For the master’s degree, baccalaureate-level or master's level professional educator certification in a teaching field

6. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), including the written component (required of all applicants, regardless of degrees and certificates previously earned).

7. Submission of resume with chronology of professional employment.

8. International students are required to have a passing score for TOEFL and an evaluation of the foreign credentials from an approved foreign credential evaluation service.

Applications, transcripts, letters, and all supporting materials should be submitted to the Office of Admissions, 2500 Meisler Hall, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002 by the deadlines noted above. Final admission decision involves evaluation of the following: grade-point average, scores on the GRE, letters of recommendation, applicant's statement of career goal(s) and purpose(s), professional experience, and program enrollment and availability.

Prospective students who hold a teaching certificate at the "B" or "A" level may apply for admission and complete the requirements as outlined at: http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/forms/esla.pdf.

Additional Requirements for Those Seeking Certification Through the Alternative Masters Program Option

Prospective students who do not hold a teaching certification at either the "B" or "A" level may apply for admission to the Alternative Masters of Education Program by first having transcripts evaluated for the prerequisites necessary to begin the program, as outlined on page 2 of the program sheet at http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/forms/eslata.pdf.

A prerequisite check may be requested through completion and submission of the Request for Screening for Alternative Graduate Programs, which can be found at http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/forms/revisedscreenreq.pdf.

Upon transcript evaluation prospective students will be informed of prerequisites that may need to be completed prior to admission to the Alternative Masters of Education program.

Technology Requirements

Students entering this program must have access to a computer that contains the Microsoft Office® suite. Specifically, the programs should include Microsoft Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher. An academic price is available to students and teachers at a substantial savings through the University of South Alabama Bookstore (1-888-JAGS-RAH). Because students will be required to spend a great deal of time searching the Web, a high-speed Internet connection is highly recommended.

Option 1: Master of Education Degree leading to a Certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages, P-12
(33 semester hours)

	Program Requirements		Students entering this program must have valid baccalaureate-level or master's level professional educator certification in a teaching field. Program requirements include: 1. Completing a minimum of 33 semester hours as outlined below, with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 ("B") on all work attempted. A minimum grade of "B" is required for all ELT courses, and a satisfactory performance is required in each of the internship experiences. 2. Passing a written comprehensive examination. 3. Passing the PRAXIS II, #0361 test for Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages. 4. Completing a field experience that includes one semester of learning about the application of teaching methods and a second semester of internship in working with English language learners in the P-12 setting.
	Teaching Field Core (15 semester hours)		ELT 525 Foundations of Teaching ESOL (3 hours) ELT 545 Cross-cultural Studies for Teachers of ELLs (3 hours) ELT 553 Language Assessment & Evaluation of ELL Student (3 hours) ELT 558 Applied Linguistics for Teachers of ELLs (3 hours) ELT 530 Methods & Materials for Teaching ESL ELT 595 Internship in ESOL (3-5 hours) ELT 595 Internship in ESOL
	Instructional Support (15 semester hours)		EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning (3 hours) EDM 510 Microcomputing Systems in Education (3 hours) EDF 515 Multicultural Education (3 hours) IDE 510 Educational Research and Evaluation (3 hours) EEC 522 Elementary School Curriculum (if preexisting certification is in secondary education) -OR- SED 552 The High School Curriculum (if preexisting certification is in elementary education) (3 hours) SPE 500 Nature & Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth (All certification programs require an introductory special education course SPE 500 if not completed at the undergraduate level. This is in addition to the 33 semester hour requirement.)

Option 2: Alterative Master of Education Degree leading to Certification in English for Speakers of Other Languages, P-12
(45 semester hours)

	Eligibility		To be eligible for this program, students must have a bachelor's degree and must have completed the prerequisites as outlined on page two of the course sheet, having undergone a formal evaluation of all undergraduate transcripts for valid prerequisites and prerequisite equivalents. Please note: Official GRE test scores, satisfactory performance on all three components of the APTT, and a clear SDE background check are required for admission.
	Program Requirements		Students entering this program must have valid baccalaureate-level or master's level professional educator certification in a teaching field. Program requirements include: 1. Completing a minimum of 33 semester hours as outlined below, with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 ("B") on all work attempted. A minimum grade of "B" is required for all ELT courses, and a satisfactory performance is required in each of the internship experiences. 2. Passing a written comprehensive examination. 3. Passing the PRAXIS II, #0361 test for Teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages. 4. Completing a field experience that includes one semester of learning about the application of teaching methods and a second semester of internship in working with English language learners in the P-12 setting.
	Teaching Field Core (18-21 semester hours		ELT 525 Foundations of Teaching ESOL (3 hours) ELT 545 Cross-cultural Studies for Teachers of ELLs (3 hours) ELT 553 Language Assessment & Evaluation of ELL Student (3 hours) ELT 558 Applied Linguistics for Teachers of ELLs (3 hours) ELT 530 Methods & Materials for Teaching ESL ELT 595 Internship in ESOL (3 hours) ELT 595 Internship in ESOL (3-6 hours)
	Instructional Support (24-27 semester hours)		EPY 502 Psychological Principles of Learning (3 hours) EDM 510 Microcomputing Systems in Education (3 hours) EDF 515 Multicultural Education (3 hours) EPY 525 Assessment & Research in Education (3 hours) RED 541 Literacy in the Content Areas (3 hours) EEC 522 Elementary School Curriculum (3 hours) SED 555 Curriculum and Teaching in Secondary School (3 hours) SED 559 Advanced Instructional Technique (3 hours) SPE 500 Nature & Needs of Exceptional Children and Youth (0-3 hours) (All certification programs require an introductory special education course SPE 500 if not completed at the undergraduate level. This is in addition to the 45 semester hour requirement.)

2012 - 2013 Planned Course Offerings

	FALL (2012)		SPRING (2013)		SUMMER (2013)
	EDM 510 IDE 510 EPY 502 SPE 500 EDF 515 ELT 525 ELT 558 EPY 525		EDM 510 IDE 510 EPY 502 SPE 500 EDF 515 RED 541 ELT 553 ELT 545		EDM 510 IDE 510 EPY 502 SPE 500 EDF 515 RED 541 ELT 558 EPY 525

For currently available online courses, please visit the Course Catalog. For more information about the programs leading to certification in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages, contact Dr. Susan Ferguson, (ferguson@usouthal.edu), University of South Alabama, College of Education, Department of Leadership and Teacher Education, UCOM 3117, Mobile, AL 36688.

© 2012 University of South Alabama - Mobile Alabama 36688-0002 / 1 (251) 380-2738
Date last changed: February 14, 2013 1:18 PM
http://www.southalabama.edu/coe/alumni.shtml