Total Credit Hours: 36          Degree Format: Online

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The MAT in ESOL is a 36 semester hour, fifth-year program beyond the bachelor’s degree in which candidates may earn a master’s degree (MAT) and become eligible for initial teaching certification in English as a Second Language. This program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Graduates will also earn the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement for Georgia certified teachers. 

The MAT is for candidates seeking initial certification only! Teachers with current certification in any subject matter are not suitable for this program.

The MAT in ESOL can be completed on a fully online basis.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Ransom Gladwin, email: rgladwin@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5948

Department of Modern and Classical Languages Website

Beginning Fall 2024, the MAT in ESOL degree program will be a concentration under the MAT in Foreign Language Education (FLED). All of the content for the ESOL curriculum will remain the same as it has in the past. 

 

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 15
  • Spring Semester: November 15
  • Summer Semester: March 15

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

  • Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
  • Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale.  Applicants not meeting the required GPA requirement (Pathway #1) may be eligible for admission by an alternative pathway (see below).

VSU Medical Form

  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence 

(For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)
  • This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
  • This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
  • Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
  • Complete list of accepted documents and information on residency. 

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

  • Applicants must meet at least one of following three GPA pathways for program admission: 

  • Pathway #1 (traditional): Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Pathway #2: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND must be employed full-time at a Georgia public school and hold a Georgia provisional certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student and must earn a 3.0 GPA in his/her first semester in the program.

  • Pathway #3: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following sub-pathways:

  • Alternative Pathway 3a: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or

  • Alternative Pathway 3b: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or

  • Alternative Pathway 3c: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission

  • This 36-credit-hour master's degree program requires extensive field experiences and college course work. Although this program is online, face-to-face field experiences in diverse settings are required for successful progression in the program. The final semester of the program required full-time experience in a classroom aligned to the candidates’ selected area of certification.

  • Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.

  • (Georgia House Bill 671 (met by earning a B or better in SPEC 7000) is a prerequisite for the program. This is a GAPSC requirement for certification.

  • EDUC 2999 must be taken in the first semester of the degree program.

 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The M.A.T. in ESOL is a fully online program. Federal homeland security guidelines state that student visas cannot be issued for online programs.

Prospective students whose first language is not English and those who completed coursework or degrees outside the U.S., please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or completion of Level 6 at VSU’s English Language Institute with a B average or better– Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, or complete Level 6 of VSU’s English Language Institute with a B or better. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
  • Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

  • Regular Status
  • Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office. For additional program details contact Mrs. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu 
phone: 229-333-5925.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Candidates must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their anticipated graduation date.
  2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the candidate’s advisor, the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  2. No more than 9 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into the MAT Education - ESOL.  Transfer credit will be evaluated by the academic department after the student is admitted. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old prior to completion of the degree.
  3. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: students will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. 
  4. If dismissed from the program, a student must not be enrolled for a minimum of two semesters.  Application for readmission by be initiated during the second semester.  Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page

 

Total Credit Hours: 36          Degree Format: Online

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The MAT in ESOL is a 36 semester hour, fifth-year program beyond the bachelor’s degree in which candidates may earn a master’s degree (MAT) and become eligible for initial teaching certification in English as a Second Language. This program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Graduates will also earn the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement for Georgia certified teachers. 

The MAT is for candidates seeking initial certification only! Teachers with current certification in any subject matter are not suitable for this program.

The MAT in ESOL can be completed on a fully online basis.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Ransom Gladwin, email: rgladwin@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5948

Department of Modern and Classical Languages Website

Beginning Fall 2024, the MAT in ESOL degree program will be a concentration under the MAT in Foreign Language Education (FLED). All of the content for the ESOL curriculum will remain the same as it has in the past. 

 

ADMISSION DEADLINES

  • Fall Semester: July 15
  • Spring Semester: November 15
  • Summer Semester: March 15

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

  • Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
  • Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

  • Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale.  Applicants not meeting the required GPA requirement (Pathway #1) may be eligible for admission by an alternative pathway (see below).

VSU Medical Form

  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence 

(For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)
  • This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
  • This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
  • Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
  • Complete list of accepted documents and information on residency. 

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

  • Applicants must meet at least one of following three GPA pathways for program admission: 

  • Pathway #1 (traditional): Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Pathway #2: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND must be employed full-time at a Georgia public school and hold a Georgia provisional certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student and must earn a 3.0 GPA in his/her first semester in the program.

  • Pathway #3: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following sub-pathways:

  • Alternative Pathway 3a: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or

  • Alternative Pathway 3b: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or

  • Alternative Pathway 3c: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission

  • This 36-credit-hour master's degree program requires extensive field experiences and college course work. Although this program is online, face-to-face field experiences in diverse settings are required for successful progression in the program. The final semester of the program required full-time experience in a classroom aligned to the candidates’ selected area of certification.

  • Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.

  • (Georgia House Bill 671 (met by earning a B or better in SPEC 7000) is a prerequisite for the program. This is a GAPSC requirement for certification.

  • EDUC 2999 must be taken in the first semester of the degree program.

 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The M.A.T. in ESOL is a fully online program. Federal homeland security guidelines state that student visas cannot be issued for online programs.

Prospective students whose first language is not English and those who completed coursework or degrees outside the U.S., please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or completion of Level 6 at VSU’s English Language Institute with a B average or better– Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, or complete Level 6 of VSU’s English Language Institute with a B or better. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
  • Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

  • Regular Status
  • Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office. For additional program details contact Mrs. Renee Whitmer, email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu 
phone: 229-333-5925.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Candidates must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their anticipated graduation date.
  2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

  1. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the candidate’s advisor, the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  2. No more than 9 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into the MAT Education - ESOL.  Transfer credit will be evaluated by the academic department after the student is admitted. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old prior to completion of the degree.
  3. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: students will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. 
  4. If dismissed from the program, a student must not be enrolled for a minimum of two semesters.  Application for readmission by be initiated during the second semester.  Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page