Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language

The Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is comprised of 30 units from the courses below. International applicants need a minimum TOEFL score of 570 (230 for the computer-based test). Applications with slightly lower TOEFL scores will also be evaluated.

Foundations | 9 Units

Education of Bilingual Children: Theory and Practice
Examination of key aspects of bilingual cross-cultural education: theories of first and second language development; legal basis and evaluation; school programs for second language learners; effective instructional strategies; empowerment and deficit issues. May require fieldwork outside of class time at an approved school site, arranged with Course Instructor.

Sociology of Language
Examination of some of the complex interrelationships between language and society including co-variation of linguistic and social phenomena; societal views of language varieties and language variation; stability and change in language functions; bilingualism and diglossia; and language maintenance and language shift.

Select one of the following:

Discourse, Pragmatics and Language Teaching
Examination of several approaches to discourse analysis and pragmatics with application to the teaching of language arts, foreign languages and ESL. Emphasis mainly on oral communication with some work in approaches to teaching writing.

Language and Culture
Examination of the relationship between language and culture from a cross-cultural perspective. Focus on aspects of culture reflected in language and language use.

Applied Linguistics
Discussion of the concepts, principles, theories and research in selected major areas of linguistic studies. Focus is on language structure and language use (including the structure of English) and first- and second-language development.

Structure of American English
An increased awareness of the phonology, morphology, and syntax of contemporary American English through observation of the structure of language. Traditional and structural and generative transformational grammar, phonology, usage, and dialect are major topics.

Methods | 9 Units

Methodology of Educational Research
An introduction to the process and methods of educational research articles and to developing a preliminary plan or proposal for research in the field.

Practitioner Research
Practitioner Research provides background in the theory and practice of conducting inquiry-based research in one's own classroom, school or educational setting with the objective of developing a plan of action. This course is designed to train students to identify a problem at their site, to investigate this problem through a review of the literature, and to conduct a field project using appropriate research methodology.

Teaching English as a Second Language
Examination of theory and methods of instruction for English language development and theory and methods of specifically designed academic instruction delivered in English. Language and content area assessment are also covered.

Preparation and Evaluation of ESL Instructional Materials
Discussion of the various commercial materials available to the ESL teacher: books, tapes, machines, kits, etc. Focus on evaluation of these and teacher-prepared materials.

Culture | 3 Units

Select one of the following courses:

Pan-African Language and Culture
Educational equity demands that there be a systematic effort to provide an understanding of the linguistic, cultural and communication history of African descent Americans. This course seeks to provide some first steps toward that understanding.

Cross-Cultural Literacy
Examination of culture; its nature and manifestations, and the changing demographics and cultural diversity that make up California. Attention is given to aspects of culture that teachers should learn about their students, ways to learn about their students' cultures, and ways teachers can use cultural knowledge, cultural contact, and cultural diversity in California, and the U.S.

Introduction to the Study of Immigration, Migration, Refugees and Exiles
Study of immigration, migration, refugee status and their international dimensions. This course will seek to embark upon a more functional, applied understanding of who we are and who they are, as well as how we may enhance the educational experiences of newcomers from all parts of the world.

Technology and Diverse Learners
This course focuses on the use of computer technology for diverse learners in the United States. Students will explore issues surrounding the use of computers to enhance learning for all students. Through critical reading, the use of software, and hands-on activities, students will study the relationship between technology and equity, the way technology is changing culture, gender equity, inclusion, and educational computing as a social practice. The class is both theoretical and practical. Students are required to have access to the Internet outside of class time. Knowledge of basic computer software is recommended but not required.

The Young Adult Novel: A Multicultural View of Society
Introducation and analysis of a body of literature deemed appropriate for adolescent readers, focusing on its development, significant writers in the field, and viewing the many voices and views of societies presented. Focus on genre, strategies, current issues, and censorship.

Asian Americans: History, Culture and Contemporary Issues
Study of the historical background and the early immigrant experience in the U.S.; their culture-traditional and contemporary; the socio-economic, political, educational and legal development of major Asian immigrant groups, including their contributions to American society; changes and adaptations made; and contemporary issues. Covers Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Asian Indian and the Vietnamese refugees.

Latinos: History, Culture and Contemporary Issues
Study of the cultural, political, economic, educational and historical aspects of the life of Latinos in the United States, their historical experience and their contributions to American society.

The Educator as Author: Writing for Children and Adolescents
In a highly literate society writing conveys leadership and power. Modeling is a very effective teaching tool. By becoming authors themselves, educators can best inspire and guide their students to discover the joy and self-realization inherent in writing. They can also contribute to the wealth of literature for children and young adults in contemporary topics and issues of cultural identity, peace, equality and social justice.

Teaching Through Literature for Children and Adolescents
The good literature written for children and adolescents is one of the greatest educational gifts society has to offer any child in our schools. The awareness of the significant role good literature can play in the curriculum has continued to grow. This course offers an opportunity to learn how literature can be best used to support multiple educational goals.

Multicultural Literature for Children and Adolescents: Poetry and Plays
An analysis of the best poetry and plays for children and adolescents, reflecting the values of the various cultures who make up the pluralistic American society.

Multicultural Literature for Children and Adolescents: Narrative
An analysis of some of the examples of narrative for children and adolescents reflecting the values of the various cultures who make up the pluralistic American society.

Literature in Education
Learning to analyze the subtle messages in text facilitates uncovering the complexity of reality. In this course the analysis of narrative written for all ages and various cultural perspectives provides insight to the ever present questions of identity and the search for justice.

Reading the Multicultural Picture Book: A Study of Art, Story, and Voice
This course examines the practice of reading storybooks as works of art, stories, and the voices of author(s), illustrator(s), and readers. Grounded in the fields of aesthetics, literary theory, art appreciation, the course challenges educators to consider how the picture book is a unique literary art form that promotes diversity and social justice.

Contemporary Authors and Illustrators
This course will provide an opportunity for content and critical analysis of the body of work of a selected group of prominent, contemporary authors and illustrators in the field of children's and young adult literature. Students will become acquainted with major works as well as corollary readings and criticism on each writer and/or artist.

Contemporary Issues in Literature for Children and Young Adults
This course will examine contemporary issues in the field of children's literature, including creative and marketing perspectives, censorship and publishing trends. The course services to further the goal of bringing children and books together through the collaborative efforts of authors, illustrators, storytellers, publishers, booksellers, students, teachers, and librarians to promote innovative programs using multicultural children's literature as a creative tool to encourage literacy and critical thinking.

Race Ethnicity and Cultural Identity
Critical examination of concepts of ethnicity beginning with the origin and development of notions of assimilation through melting pot notions to concepts of a pluralistic society. The roles that ethnicity and cultural identity play in education in particular, and society in general, will be explored. Basic definitions of Culture, Ethnicity and Identity will be developed.

Education for Inclusion
Exploration of Paulo Freire's philosophy of education and the educational history and needs of oppressed populations in the U.S. and other nations.

African American Educational History in the United States
Course provides factual, functional information regarding the educational history of African ancestry Americans in the contiguous United States. Prior African educational history will be discussed to provide a framework for the consideration of the educational status of Black Americans today. African education in the diaspora, specifically the American Diaspora. Contemporary scholars perspectives on African American educational history and the conditions extant will be explored.

Electives | 6 Units

To be selected in consultation with the advisor.

Master's Field Project | 3 Units

TESL Field Project
Development of a comprehensive project in teaching or research.