The TESOL master's program prepares you to teach English in college classrooms and other instructional settings where English is a second, foreign, or international language. Through in-depth, interdisciplinary coursework and field-based practice, our program equips you to identify and analyze learner needs, design language curricula, and deploy a variety of evidence-based teaching and assessment practices. At the heart of the TESOL M.S.Ed. program’s interdisciplinary course of study is a recognition that English-language education serves an array of academic, social, and political functions around the world.
As a student in the M.S.Ed. in TESOL program, you’ll participate in a broad range of coursework connecting theory with practice. Courses stress a deep understanding of English language teaching as it relates to the political and social climate of today’s world. The combination of theoretical and practical knowledge prepares graduates to teach English language in university, government, and community settings around the world.
Transfer courses accepted2 (as electives only)
The TESOL M.S.Ed. program prepares language educators to tailor their approach to their students’ unique needs. The interdisciplinary course of study emphasizes the motivations and needs of international scholars and professionals, learners in countries where English is a second or foreign language, and immigrants who settle in English-speaking nations.
Experiential learningPracticum teaching in English as a second language (ESL) classes through the PEDAL program at Penn GSE and at our wide range of community partner organizations
Licensure offeredQualify for ESL Program Specialist Certificate in the State of Pennsylvania
Culminating experienceTESOL Seminar (includes a service project of 30 hours of ESL teaching)
The M.S.Ed. TESOL program immerses students in rigorous coursework, field-based teaching practicums, and a 30-hour ESL teaching service project.
In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of educational linguistics and TESOL, courses cover methods of teaching, evaluation and assessment, and curriculum and materials development. Additional courses provide a thorough grounding in linguistics, which includes work in the structure and development of the English language, first- and second-language development, and sociolinguistics. Course content is based on research into the nature of language learning and teaching, the needs of specific populations of language learners, language and intercultural studies, and pedagogical approaches.
In addition to two practicum courses, students have the opportunity to engage in fieldwork as a tutor, intern, and teacher in a number of core and elective courses. Student teaching is supported by one-on-one mentoring as well as group discussions designed to stimulate inquiry and reflection around issues of language teaching and learning. Students are required to teach English as a second language for the culminating service project.
* Course can be waived with Faculty approval and replaced with additional TESOL related electives.
Note: These suggested plans of study are for full-time students; students enrolled part-time will work with the program manager and faculty to determine the best plan of study for their situation.
Please note The ESL Specialist Certification is not accepting applications for the current application cycle.
The University of Pennsylvania is a state-approved certification program for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s English as a Second Language Program Specialist certification.
To be eligible for the ESL Program Specialist certification, you must:
OR
Successful completion of the program will include:
Upon completion of the program, candidates must register and submit an online application in the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Teacher Information Management System. Candidates will apply for the Program Specialist credential, with the subject being English as a Second Language.
Students interested in ESL/Bilingual Education certification in states other than Pennsylvania should consult with the appropriate state certification department to inquire whether or not their M.S.Ed. in TESOL coursework meets certification requirements in the respective state.
For more information, please contact Erica Poinsett.
Community engagement and service-learning are integral to the TESOL M.S.Ed. specialization at Penn GSE. Service-learning fieldwork allows students to bridge the theoretical concepts learned in coursework with practical skills and experiences gained outside of the classroom. Our interactive map showcases TESOL student teaching and fieldwork sites in Philadelphia. To learn more about our work in the community, contact Hannah Brenneman at hbrenn@upenn.edu.
In PEDAL, TESOL students create and instruct communicative English lessons. As part of the TESOL program's dedication to experiential learning, all first-year TESOL students work as PEDAL assistant teachers during the course EDUC 542: TESOL Classroom Fundamentals. Second-year TESOL students can apply to be lead teachers in the PEDAL classrooms to gain more experience and fulfill their EDUC 528 and EDUC 563 practicum requirements. PEDAL lessons focus on the types of communication that English language learners encounter when navigating daily life in and around Philadelphia. Virtual classes allow us to open our Zoom classes to adult learners anywhere in the world who want to practice and improve their daily English language skills.
Hannah Brenneman
Associate Director of Fieldwork & Service-Learning
(215) 746-8237
hbrenn@upenn.edu
Katherine O'Morchoe
Program Manager
(215) 898-5212
omorchoe@gse.upenn.edu
Suzanne Oh
Program Assistant
(215) 898-6998
suzanneo@gse.upenn.edu
Our graduates teach English to immigrants who settle in English-speaking nations. They prepare international scholars and professionals to communicate with English-speaking colleagues around the world. And they lead classrooms in countries where English is a second or foreign language. A number of our alumni enroll in doctoral programs to pursue in-depth research in fields such as applied linguistics and education.
Please visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages for specific information on the application requirements, as well as information on tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships.
Contact us if you have any questions about the program.
Graduate School of Education
University of Pennsylvania
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-6415
admissions@gse.upenn.edu
finaid@gse.upenn.edu
Erica Poinsett
Program Assistant
epoinset@upenn.edu
Please view information from our Admissions and Financial Aid Office for specific information on the cost of this program.
Penn GSE is committed to making your graduate education affordable, and we offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.