• School of Education

  • School of Education 

    Hamline University
    MS-A1720
    1536 Hewitt Avenue
    Saint Paul, MN 55104

    Phone: 651-523-2600
    Fax: 651-523-2489

    education@hamline.edu  

  • Master of Arts in English as a Second Language

    See and experience the world while being part of the exciting, rewarding field of ESL/EFL. A Master of Arts in English as a Second Language (MAESL) provides you with the skills needed to teach both in the U.S. and overseas. MAESL graduates are ESL teachers/leaders who understand systems of language, the language-culture relationship, how these affect learning, and integrating technology into instruction.

    FAQs for Korean Teachers >

    Benefits

    Licensure graduates: with an MAESL, graduates will qualify for university and community college ESL positions both in the US and abroad.

    TEFL graduates: students who finish the TEFL certificate or its equivalent generally go abroad and teach English for a limited period of time. After they return, many have a desire to continue to improve professional skills and learn more about language theory and linguistics. With an MAESL they will qualify for university and community college ESL positions both in the US and abroad.

    Teachers of Adult ELLs: an MAESL allows our Adult ESL Program graduates to teach ESL in community colleges, where many immigrant students start their advanced education in the United States.

    Acquired skills and knowledge

    Teachers who graduate from the MAESL program will:

    • Have a strong background in language systems and how they relate to instruction 
    • Understand the relationship between language and culture and how it affects learning 
    • Become reflective practitioners 
    • Be able to pose questions related to their instruction and systematically investigate those questions 
    • Have the knowledge they need to take leadership and advocacy roles in schools 
    • Be able to incorporate technology in their instruction

    Who may enroll

    Individuals who have completed a licensure or certificate program, or those who have experience teaching ESL. No more than 16 graduate credits may be transferred from another institution into the MAESL, and transfer credits will be evaluated and approved on a case by case basis. If you are planning on completing the TEFL or Adult ESL certificates or the K-12 Licensure strand at Hamline University, we recommend that you first apply to and complete the specified program before you apply to the MAESL. Credits completed at Hamline for TEFL, Adult ESL Certificate or K-12 Licensure apply to the MAESL. Candidates with strong academic backgrounds and no ESL teaching experience may apply for conditional admission. Students enrolling to complete their first license in K-12 should apply to the MAT program. Upon completion of the ESL license, students may apply to be admitted to the MAESL program.

    Degree options

    The following outline shows the three different degree options for the MAESL.

    TEFL STRAND: 41 CREDITS
    A. Completion of the TEFL program or its equivalent (8 cr).
        Practicum experience required for the degree is fulfilled through this course.
    B. Completion of the following ESL courses:
        1. ESL 7519, ESL 7650, ESL 7660, ESL 7502, ESL 7610 (16 cr)
        2. ESL 6638 Assessment of the Adult ELL (2 cr)
        3. ESL 6636 Course Design for Adult ESL classes (2 cr)
    C. Completion of the following upper division coursework:
        1. ESL 8010 Phonetics and Phonology (2 cr)
        2. ESL 8020 Advanced Linguistic Analysis (3 cr)
        3. ESL 8490 Research Methodology (4 cr)
        4. Capstone (4 cr)

    ADULT ESL CERTIFICATE STRAND: 41-43 CREDITS
    A. Completion of the Adult ESL Certificate (8 cr)
        The Adult ESL Certificate includes ESL 6631, ESL 6634, ESL 6636, and ESL 6638
    B. Completion of the following ESL courses:
        1. ESL 7519, ESL 7650, ESL 7660, ESL 7502, ESL 7610 (16 cr)
        2. ESL 6612 Effective Advocating for English Language Learners (2 cr)
    C. Completion of a practicum experience (2-4 cr)
    D. Completion of the following upper division coursework:
        1. ESL 8010 Phonetics and Phonology (2 cr)
        2. ESL 8020 Advanced Linguistic Analysis (3 cr)
        3. ESL 8490 Research Methodology (4 cr)
        4. Capstone (4 cr) 

    K-12 LICENSURE STRAND: 41-43 CREDITS
    A. Completion of the following K-12 Licensure courses:
        ESL 7519, ESL 7650, ESL 7660, ESL 7753, ESL 7755, ESL 7776, ESL 7502, ESL 7610 (25 cr)
    B. Completion of an approved elective with a literacy, technology or cultural focus (2 cr)
    C. Completion of ESL 6612 Effective Advocating for English Language Learners (2 cr)
    D. Completion of a practicum experience (1-6 cr)
    E. Completion of the following upper division coursework:
        1. ESL 8010 Phonetics and Phonology (2 cr)
        2. ESL 8020 Advanced Linguistic Analysis (3 cr)
        3. ESL 8490 Research Methodology (4 cr)
        4. Capstone (4 cr)