About the Program 

Eastern Michigan University is recruiting current K-12 teachers to earn an endorsement, undergraduate minor, or Master of Arts degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). A special rate of $400 per credit hour will be given to those participating, as well as fee waivers, resulting in an approximately 50% reduction in cost for the graduate certificate or MA in TESOL. Those pursuing the MA in TESOL may apply for unsubsidized federal loans for their portion of tuition (see EMU’s Financial Aid webpage) or arrange a payment plan during each term. Teachers can also consider applying to their districts for tuition assistance through Title II/III funds and check their eligibility for federal loan forgiveness.

Social studies and English teachers in grades 6-12 may apply to participate in a research study, providing they teach three or more English learners and can implement curriculum and assessments related to argument writing. These participants are eligible for 100% tuition awards for their graduate credential/MA in TESOL coursework. Some teachers will be randomly assigned to a one-year delayed/control group status and collect data while they begin their coursework, and then join the program of professional development for two years. Others will be directly assigned to enter the two-year program of professional development, which will be in addition to their graduate coursework.

The professional development initiative will be embedded within the program model of the National Writing Project’s forty-plus years of teachers teaching teachers. This social-professional approach to building professional capital and improving student outcomes is validated by both research and the experiences of nearly 100,000 NWP teacher-consultants nationwide who have made NWP their professional home. Participants will be welcomed into a regional, state, and national NWP network where they can learn from and contribute to a community of dynamic teachers and researchers, Pre-K University. 

Graduate classes in the program will be offered in a variety of formats to accommodate full-time professionals: one evening per week, Saturdays, summer coursework, online and hybrid classes, EMU’s Ypsilanti campus. Cohort I and II will also have the opportunity to earn 5 credits during a two-week Study Abroad program in Ulcinj, Montenegro, working with K-12 students in a scenic Eastern European town on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.

 

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For full program requirements, admissions criteria, and other information about the TESOL programs at EMU, please visit EMU's TESOL Program site or the Eastern Michigan Writing Project (EMWP).