Accelerated BA English (Linguistics) to MTESOL
English offers an accelerated degree program in MTESOL, often referred to as 4+1. The 4+1 program provides motivated undergraduate students in the Linguistics concentration the flexibility to begin taking classes toward their master's degree during their undergraduate degree program.
The master's degree program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is for individuals who wish to build a career in the international field of English language teaching. Through this program, students will develop scholarly and professional understanding in four main areas that are central to TESOL: language, learning, research methods, and teaching methods.
Graduates of the MTESOL program have been successful in finding employment in a variety of TESOL-related positions locally, nationally, and internationally. When students list their degree and other credentials on a CV or other documents, it is important that they use the official degree name: MTESOL, Master of TESOL, Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Using a similar but incorrect name such as "MA in TESOL" or "MA in ESL" creates not only confusion but may be interpreted as falsely representing credentials.
For more information:
Accelerated Program Coordinator: Samantha Franze
Undergraduate Advisor
MTESOL Program Director: Matthew Prior
Director of Internships: Ruby Macksoud
The Accelerated Program Pre-Application form requires the following steps (junior year - second semester):
- Meet with your undergraduate academic advisor to express your interest and verify that you meet the following criteria: Be a BA English (linguistics) major, with 75 credit hours*, a 3.5 GPA in the major, and a 3.0 GPA overall.
- Fill out the Accelerated Program Pre-Application form found on the Department Forms webpage and email it to the Accelerated Program Coordinator. You will need your undergraduate advisor's signature on the form.
- You will be notified when you have been marked in the system as a "Candidate" to the accelerated program.
- Complete and return the signed 4+1 Agreement Form to the Accelerated Program Coordinator before courses begin.
Accelerated Program Pre-Application form is due by May 1 for fall and December 1 for spring.
Graduate Applications require the following steps (senior year - first semester):
- In the first semester taking shared courses for the accelerated program, you will complete a graduate application to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, MTESOL program on the Tempe campus. Such an application requires students to submit an online application to Graduate Admissions (https://webapp4.asu.edu/dgsadmissions/Index.jsp) along with the following documents:
- A one-page, single-spaced statement of purpose. This document should explain how the ASU MTESOL program fits with the applicant's long-term goals.
- A resume.
- One letter of recommendation from a Linguistics faculty member in the English department preferably from a 300 or 400 level course.
- Note: apply for the semester you plan to begin the graduate program (the semester after your proposed undergraduate graduation semester).
- The MTESOL admissions committee will review your file and let you know whether you have been admitted to the accelerated BA/MTESOL program shortly after the submission deadline.
The graduate application for the MTESOL program must be submitted by October 1 for fall (the graduate applications for the following fall opens on September 1) and March 1 for spring (the graduate applications for the following spring opens on February 1).
*90 credits MUST be completed by the beginning of the accelerated program (first semester of senior year).
International Students:
Proof of English Proficiency is required for our Master’s programs and can be satisfied in one of two ways:
- At least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- One of the following results on a standardized English proficiency test: (a) 100 (iBT) or 600 (PBT) or higher on the TOEFL; (b) 7.0 or higher on the IELTS. The MTESOL program will also accept a 68 or higher on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA).
I-20
It is important to remember that once you graduate from the undergraduate program and begin the graduate program, you will have to receive a new I-20. Please stay in close contact with the International Students and Scholars Center: 480-727-4776 or issc@asu.edu
Students will complete all requirements for the BA English (linguistics concentration) and for the MTESOL degree. Done separately, these degrees involve a total of 150 credit hours (120 for the BA, then 30 for the MTESOL); however, the accelerated program involves 12 credit hours that are shared between the bachelor's and master's programs, so the total number of credit hours to complete the accelerated program is 138.
Below is a timeline detailing how the program would work from the point of applying to graduation.
| Time | Actions |
| junior year -- second semester | Submit the Accelerated Pre-Application form to become a candidate for the accelerated program. Sign the Agreement Form after becoming a candidate. Meet with an undergraduate advisor and turn in the pre-application and agreement form to the Accelerated Program Coordinator. |
| senior year -- first semester | Apply by the deadline for the graduate program by submitting a graduate application (see the "Admission" tab for further information). Take the following courses: 1. LIN 510 Linguistics (3cr.) - students must receive an override from their undergraduate advisor Meet with an undergraduate advisor and the Accelerated Program Coordinator. The shared ENG 400 level linguistics elective must be approved by the Accelerated Program Coordinator. Note: The courses in bold are credit hours that will be shared between the bachelor's and master's programs. |
| senior year -- second semester | If admitted to the graduate program, continue to take the shared courses for the accelerated program. Take the following courses: 1. LIN 520 Second-Language Acquisition Theories (3cr.) - students must receive an override from their undergraduate advisor Meet with an undergraduate advisor and the Accelerated Program Coordinator. The shared ENG 400 level linguistics elective must be approved by the Accelerated Program Coordinator. Note: The courses in bold are credit hours that will be shared between the bachelor's and master's programs. |
| MTESOL -- first semester | Take the following courses: 1. LIN 501 Approaches to Research (3cr.) Meet with the Accelerated Program Coordinator. |
| MTESOL -- second semester | Take the following courses: 1. LIN 584 Internship (3cr.)^ Meet with the Accelerated Program Coordinator. |
* These two electives may consist of other LIN or APL courses, or with the director’s approval, ENG/FMS courses, or courses outside the English department (e.g., education, school of international letters and cultures, speech and hearing science, psychology). MTESOL students must also demonstrate or provide evidence of competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English to satisfy the Language Requirement. Please note that since accelerated students are on a compressed time schedule, we do not recommend taking ENG530/531 to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
^Students must take LIN 584 Internship even if they took ENG 484 Internship as an undergraduate. Note: One course in which students can get practical teaching experience is LIN584-MTESOL practicum internship. This is a required course, so all students must take it once; but, students also have the option of taking it more than once, in which case the additional time(s) it is taken could count as an elective(s). Questions about LIN484/LIN584 can be directed to the English department’s internship director (Ruby.Macksoud@asu.edu).
To begin taking coursework for the accelerated program, students must have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours towards their BA. Please note that only six credit hours of 400-level coursework can be applied to the Master’s degree program.
Important Notice to Current International Students: In order for international students to maintain good standing for their VISAs, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester (i.e., 3 classes), 6 of which should be face-to-face classes.