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- Master of Arts in Teaching — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Master of Arts in Teaching — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
This program is designed for aspiring or current teachers who want to teach English and other languages to learners from elementary to university in a variety of educational settings in the United States or internationally.
Language educators are in demand across the world, providing exciting intercultural opportunities in the United States and abroad. Prepare to become an equity-minded language educator who embodies effective teaching, critical inquiry and social justice.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Teaching — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MAT-TESOL) program will equip you to provide systematic and effective language instruction.
Through this program, you will:
- Earn a degree from a school with a strong reputation for quality education.
- Study in one of the most exciting cities in the world, where more than 150 languages are spoken.
- Hone your teaching skills by practicing at a school site.*
- Have the option to complete the requirements for an English Language Development or Languages Other Than English teaching credential.*
Curriculum
The MAT-TESOL program curriculum meets two learning goals designed to support your understanding of important concepts and mastery of teaching skills. The purpose of the MAT-TESOL program is to develop equity-minded language educators who embody a dedication to closing opportunity gaps and addressing injustices related to languages and language learners around the world.
| Goal | Objective |
|---|---|
| Transformative teaching |
|
| Critical inquiry |
|
Clinical Practice
To support your development as a teacher, you will practice applying theories and instructional methods by conducting observations and tutoring or teaching in a variety of learning environments. Beginning in the first semester of the program, begin tutoring a language learner, while using course concepts to reflect on the experience. In the second semester, you will complete clinical practice activities under the mentorship of an experienced teacher at a school site. Your school placement will be approximately four hours a week during regular school hours.
As you film your teaching experiences and upload the videos for evaluation and discussion, you will gain supportive feedback on your practice as well as insights from faculty and classmates. You will be encouraged to take risks, try new teaching strategies and sharpen your teaching skills in a supportive environment.
Student Engagement Co-Curriculum
Within the teaching curriculum is the embedded support of the MAT-TESOL Student Engagement Co-Curriculum. Complementing our teaching curriculum, community building and supportive resources takes center stage. Immersive events like cultural celebrations and faculty spotlights provide opportunities for students to connect. For those inclined towards research, structured workshops and conference support are available. Career-focused activities, including guest speakers and resume workshops, equip students for diverse job markets.
Credential Track
If you meet eligibility requirements, you may optionally pursue a California preliminary single subject teaching credential in English Language Development (ELD) or World Languages: Languages Other Than English (LOTE), which will authorize you to teach in California public schools.
Single subject world language: English Language Development (ELD) teaching credential
Individuals with an ELD teaching credential are qualified to teach students who are developing their English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The credential authorizes you to teach in K-12 California public school classrooms.
Single subject world language: Languages other than English (LOTE) teaching credential
Individuals with a LOTE teaching credential are qualified to teach a specific language (Mandarin, Spanish, French, etc.) as a world language in K-12 California public school classrooms.
In order to be recommended to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for a California preliminary teaching credential, you must fulfill a series of requirements. These requirements include:
- The basic skills and subject matter requirements (the subject matter requirement will test your fluency in the language you want to teach).
- Student teaching in semesters two and three* for four full days every week. You may need to travel more than 20 miles to complete additional student teaching at an eligible site.
- An additional four units and one additional semester of study.
If you plan to work in another state, contact the state directly to identify any alternate requirements.
If you are admitted, you will receive more information about how to apply to the credential track during your first semester in the program.
Scholarships
As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for several USC Rossier scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $20,000. There is no need to submit a separate application for these scholarships. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. Priority consideration is given to those who apply in rounds one and two.
View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.
Financial Aid
The USC Office of Student Financial Aid provides information regarding various types of financial aid and financing options.
To be considered for financial aid, you must apply for the FAFSA. After you apply, the financial aid office will determine your financial need and inform you of the federal or private loans that are available to you.
Review Process
Your application to USC Rossier will be evaluated using a holistic review process. Academic preparation, professional work experience, personal achievement and commitment to the USC Rossier mission are each considered. No single attribute or characteristic guarantees admission to USC Rossier.
We seek applicants who will add to our vibrant learning community and whose goals, values and experiences align with the USC Rossier mission and program goals. We adhere to the university’s non-discrimination policy, and are committed to providing equal opportunity for all students.
As an applicant for this program, you will be automatically considered for limited USC Rossier scholarships, with priority consideration given to applicants who apply by the priority and regular deadlines. There is no need to submit a separate application. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. All USC Rossier scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the MAT-TESOL program are employed in a variety of roles, including:
- PhD pathway
- Foreign Language Teacher
- ESL Teacher
- K-12 Single Subject Teacher
- College/University-level Language Instructor
- International English Language Teacher
- Curriculum Coordinator/Developer
- International Program Coordinator/Administrator
- International Student Admission Counselor
- Online Language Instructor or Business Developer
Other Pathways
- Special Education Teacher
- MBA pathway
- Marketing and Digital Media industry
- Pharmaceutical Sales industry
Program Details
Degree Awarded
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Estimated Length
17 months
Units
24
Program Cost
$2,267 per unit (estimated)
Modality
- On Campus
Next Deadline
February 15, 2025
See all deadlines
Start Date
August 25, 2025
Class Times
Various times during the day and evening, Monday through Friday
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From Our Alumni
"I have a lot to say about Rossier. My experience was just unforgettable. There are programs you wouldn’t go back to, but Rossier is not one of them. I would definitely go through Rossier again, do this program again. That’s why I applied for the EDL program here. It was a beautiful time, beautiful moment. I really enjoyed getting to know my classmates, my professors.”
Aaron Leialoha Lopez, MAT '20
Adjunct Professor of English at Pasadena City College
"My time at the MAT-TESOL program was transformative. The comprehensive curriculum and dedicated faculty provided me with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field of teaching a second language. The program prepared me well for the challenges of teaching diverse learners in multicultural settings."
Cathy Wang, MAT '15
Chinese Language Teacher/EL Teacher for the Redondo Beach Unified School District
"USC's MAT TESOL program helped me to be prepared for an entire new world of teaching well before the rest of the world recognized that we would be moving online. My professors were diverse and flexible, and helped open my eyes to pedagogically sound, student-focused teaching. I had a great experience with USC and am proud to be a Trojan!"
Brent Warner, MAT '13
Associate Professor at Irvine Valley College
"From my experience, MAT-TESOL was a teaching program that focused on equipping the students with both the ESL/EFL teaching theories and also the common California teaching methods. The professors had diverse backgrounds within the California teaching framework that promotes equity and diversity in the CA education field. Overall, I enjoyed learning and practicing the teaching methods fairly different from my experience and navigating through the goal of education and the role of a classroom teacher with my professors who are also teachers."
Holly Yi Gao, MAT '23
Mandarin Teacher at Venice Senior High School
"While studying here, I received wholehearted support from the faculty, staff, and fellow students in the MAT-TESOL program at USC. Through engaging courses and interactions with faculty, I gained a comprehensive understanding of teaching frameworks, practical skills, and theories related to multilingual education. Additionally, the global network of alumni provided valuable job information that greatly aided in my career planning."
Xinyue Shui, MAT '20
Doctoral Student of Literacy, Culture, and Language Education at University of Iowa
Faculty
Our professors are dedicated to supporting your growth and sharing practical experience from years in the classroom.
Nooshan Ashtari
Expertise
- Technology and Education, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Heritage Language Development, Teacher Training, Reading in Second Language Acquisition, Accents and Multilingualism, Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics
Jenifer Crawford
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Teacher Education
Expertise
- Equity • Racial and Social Justice in Language Education • Racial Discourses • Multilingual & Multiracial Parent Engagement • Technology for Equity in Language Education • Critical & Culturally Sustaining Multilingual Pedagogies
Matthew Dame
- Part-Time Master Lecturer
- Teacher Education
Expertise
- Critical Reflection • Authenticity • Heritage Language Learners
Robert A. Filback
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Higher Education
Expertise
- International and comparative higher education, learning design and program development, online and digital Learning, English language education and policy, fostering creativity and innovation
Program Outcomes
90%
of MAT-TESOL alums said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career
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