TESL-CER - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate, M.P.S.

For Full Standing: The minimum admission requirements are:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

2. Satisfactory undergraduate grade point average, a minimum of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

And, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

1. 3.0 grade point average in their undergraduate major course of study

2. A score of 146 on the verbal portion of the GRE® General Test (GRE) and 144 quantitative portion.

3. A combined score of 290 on the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections and a 3.5 on analytical writing.

4. Five (5) or more years of professional work experience demonstrated through a portfolio.   

The portfolio is to include:

• a resume;

• a 500- to 600-word essay detailing the reasons for wanting to enter the MPS program and discussing how the program will help the applicant achieve personal and professional goals; and

• two (2) sealed letters of professional reference.

Other items that an applicant may include in the portfolio include a description of professional responsibilities, professional achievements and professional awards/recognition's. The portfolio material must be submitted as a packet, not mailed separately. 

International students must meet English language proficiency requirements by providing a TOEFL score. Minimum IBT of 71 or an approved equivalent exam and equivalent scores. International applicants with an IBT below 79 must complete 6 hours of grammar/reading/communication course work. The 6 hours are in addition to the 30 hours required for the Master's degree. Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee your admission. Admission decisions are based on departmental review, using a combination of factors including an interview to evaluate dispositions for professionals in the chosen concentration. Students may be admitted with provisional status if they do not meet all of the criteria above but do meet the minimum requirements of the graduate school and are approved for provisional status by the departmental admissions committee. Provisional status will limit students to a maximum of 9 hours before the departmental admissions committee makes a recommendation for full admission. To advance from provisional to full admission a student must earn a 3.0 GPA on the 9 hours of graduate study in the concentration and be approved by the departmental admissions committee.

Note: All international students who attend TTU, who are enrolled on the Department of Homeland Securities F-1 or J-1 visa status must complete all midterm and final exams in a proctored setting on the Tennessee Tech University campus in Cookeville, TN.