Foreign Language/ ESL Education Concentration
Master of Science Degree – Track I
Admission and Program Information
The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences has the distinction
of having a nationally-ranked Teacher Education program, and is NCATE
(National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) accredited.
Consequently, prospective applicants to the Foreign Language/ESL Education
M.S. degree program follow these standards. http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageid=3384 (world
languages) and http://www.gisd.k12.nm.us/standards/esl/4-8tesol.html(
ESL), and are expected to have the following credentials to be considered
for admission.
Track I Master’s in Foreign Language/ESL Education (ESL focus):
- A bachelor’s degree in English, Linguistics, or in a World Language, or a major in one of these content areas
- Superior (ACTFL standards) proficiency in English listening, speaking, reading, writing skills http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3318
- A cumulative GPA or 3.2 (required) or higher (preferred)
- Previous experience with linguistically and culturally-diverse populations
- Previous tutoring/teaching experience is desired.
- Previous study of a world language is desired.
Track I Master’s in Foreign Language/ESL Education (Foreign Language focus):
- A bachelor’s degree in Classics, French, German, or Spanish or a major in one of these content areas
- Superior (ACTFL standards) proficiency in the target language http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3318
- A cumulative GPA of 3.2 (required) or higher (preferred)
- Previous study abroad in the target language country is highly recommended.
- Previous tutoring/teaching experience is desired.
Admission Procedures:
- Admission to the Track I master’s program in FL/ ESL Education begins with the submission of two applications---one application to The University of Tennessee’s Graduate School:
Domestic students:http://gradstudies.utk.edu/gradforms.shtml
International students:http://web.utk.edu/~gsinfo/intl.htm
and one application to the department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) http://web.utk.edu/~tpte/documents/application_ms.html
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the Track I master’s degree program in FL/ ESL Education, but the candidate must complete the following requirements/submit the following documents with his/her TPTE departmental application:
Required materials to accompany the TPTE departmental application:
- Three academic letters of reference http://web.utk.edu/~tpte/apply.html
- A formal research paper (in English)--- APA ’01 format, preferred
- A statement of career goals and research interest(s)
- A personal interview with the FL/ ESL faculty (for local applicants) or a DV of the applicant describing his/her academic background, tutoring/teaching experiences, career goals and research interest(s)
All prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and preferably one year in advance to ensure sufficient time for the processing of all application materials for a fall start-up date. International students should begin this process even earlier, if at all possible.
Programs of Study:
FL/ ESL Education ( ESL focus)
FL/ ESL Education (FL focus)
Contact information:
Prospective students seeking additional information on the Track I master’s program in FL/ ESL Education should contact the following faculty:
Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley for FL and ESL Education: pdwiley@utk.edu
Dr. Clara Lee Brown for ESL Education only: cbrown26@utk.edu
Contact the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education
A204 Jane and David Bailey Education Complex
1126 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee
37996-3442
Phone: 865-974-6228
Fax: 865-974-6302
tallmon@utk.edu

