Education: Teaching English as a Second Language Concentration, M.A.

Required Courses

• ED 644 - Informal & Non-formal Education (3)
• ED 646 - Technology as a Tool for Global Outreach (3)
• ED 650 - Language & Culture (3)
• ED 651 - Modern Grammar & Linguistics (3)
• ED 652 - Methods of Teaching Language & Literacy (3)
• ED 654 - Materials, Design & Assessments for English Language Learners (3)
• ED 657 - Teaching Adult Language Learners (3)
• ED 661 - Language Acquisition & Development (3)
• ED 696 - TESL Practicum (3)
• And 6-9 hours of electives

Education Academic Policy for Master’s Programs

Students must complete a minimum of 33 hours of coursework in one of the concentrations to receive a Master of Arts degree in Education. A maximum of 15 hours of transfer credit is allowed. To maintain enrollment, the student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate coursework with no grade below a “C.” Only one grade of “C” is accepted toward the 33-hour program. Only one course may be repeated one time in the entire program. Students who are unable to maintain these academic standards will be dismissed from the program.

Outcomes

The educational outcomes are designed to prepare practicing professionals with the skills necessary to model professional practice, integrate educational theory with practice, assume leadership roles, and demonstrate knowledge of current educational research and practice. Graduate education outcomes assess skills in receptive and expressive communication, thinking strategies and skills, personal and social development, and depth and breadth of knowledge. Master’s degree-seeking students must meet the outcomes as identified for the particular area of concentration. All course requirements are tied to the Avila Learning Outcomes and the School of Education’s Conceptual Framework. Courses in the Teaching English as a Second Language and Teaching and Learning concentrations are also aligned with the Missouri Standards for Practicing Teachers and the InTASC Core Teaching Standards. Courses in the International Advocacy and Leadership concentration are also tied to the NAFSA Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions.

• Understand the nature of language and language learning.
• Understand the structure and use of English in different contexts.
• Understand culture and the role it plays in learning a second language.
• Consider a range of theories, approaches, methods and techniques for learning and teaching a second language.
• Analyze and critique past practices and current trends in second language learning, teaching, and evaluation.
• Apply the knowledge they have gained by teaching in a supervised setting.
• Work with teachers and students in a multicultural environment.
• Further develop personal skills in using the English language.
• Develop a personal philosophy of second-language learning and teaching.
• Understand the evolving nature of second-language learning and teaching and have strategies for dealing effectively with this change.

Assessment

Outcomes for the Master of Arts degree in Education are assessed through written examinations, key assessments, and performance evaluations. Individual course syllabi show in detail the way in which the course addresses and evaluates the graduate outcomes.

Alignment matrices showing the assessment of outcomes in each graduate concentration is located in the School of Education Office. Concentrations require capstone courses in which the outcomes are assessed in clinical settings.

Note

The Master of Arts degree in Education is a 33 credit-hour program with areas of concentration in International Advocacy and Leadership, Literacy, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and Teaching and Learning.