About this Program
Old Dominion University offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The program prepares graduates to teach English in colleges, private schools, adult education programs, language institutes, and international settings, and to pursue doctoral study in applied linguistics.
The TESOL track focuses on how first and subsequent languages are learned, taught, and assessed across real-world contexts, including how language is used by native and second-language speakers as an interactional, social, and cultural practice. The program is offered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia, through the College of Arts & Letters Department of English.
Program Highlights
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Comprehensive TESOL curriculum. The TESOL track offers focused training in teaching English for academic and specific purposes (EAP/ESP), discourse analysis, intercultural communication, and research-based language analysis and instruction.
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Faculty-led research and practice. TESOL/Applied Linguistics faculty research areas like sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, discourse analysis, language assessment, teacher education research.]
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International teaching preparation. Graduates teach English at universities, international schools, language institutes, and adult education programs in the U.S. and abroad. The TESOL curriculum prepares graduates for Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships, JET Program placement, EPIK Korea, and direct-hire positions at international schools.
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On-campus delivery. The full M.A. is offered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia, with course schedules designed to accommodate teachers and working professionals.
Featured Courses
Requirements
ODU's M.A. in Applied Linguistics with TESOL concentration prepares graduates for teaching, research, and language-services careers across private, post-secondary, adult education, and international settings.
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
International Teaching Pathways
The TESOL credential is recognized internationally. ODU graduates teach English at universities, international schools, language institutes, and adult education programs in countries around the world. Common international teaching pathways for TESOL graduates include:
- Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. U.S. State Department-sponsored teaching placements in 70+ countries. Competitive but well-suited to recent TESOL graduates.
- JET Program (Japan). Japanese government's English teaching program; large-scale annual recruitment of native English-speaking instructors.
- EPIK and TaLK (South Korea). South Korea's public school English-teaching programs.
- International schools. English-medium K-12 international schools recruit certified ESL/EFL teachers globally, often paying premium salaries plus housing and benefits.
- University ESL/EAP programs. Universities worldwide hire TESOL master's graduates for academic English programs preparing international students for degree study.
- Language institutes and private tutoring. Adult language schools, corporate ESL programs, and private tutoring networks across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ODU tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Assistantships
The Applied Linguistics graduate program offers a small number of assistantships to select students. Contact the Department of English for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
ODU's M.A. in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a graduate program offered through the Department of English in the College of Arts & Letters. The program prepares graduates to teach English in colleges, private schools, adult education programs, language institutes, and international settings. It is delivered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
A TESOL certificate is a short-form credential (often 100-150 contact hours) that prepares people to teach English at language institutes, in tutoring contexts, or for short-term teaching abroad. A TESOL master's degree is a full graduate program covering linguistics, second language acquisition, language assessment, methods and materials, and research methods. A master's is required for most university-level teaching positions, ESL endorsement pathways in many states, and doctoral study in applied linguistics. ODU's M.A. is a master's degree, not a certificate.
Yes. The TESOL credential is internationally recognized. ODU graduates teach English at universities, international schools, language institutes, and adult education programs in countries around the world. Common pathways include Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships, JET Program (Japan), EPIK (South Korea), international schools, and university ESL/EAP programs.
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