Admission requirements

Applicants must meet all of the SFSU Graduate Division's general admission requirements. Admission to the M.A. TESOL program is based on evaluation of the following:

• The quality of the applicant's previous academic record, which must show completion of a B.A./B.S. degree from an accredited 4-year college with a GPA (grade point average) of no lower than 3.0 (B) in the last 60 units of undergraduate (and post-baccalaureate) study.
  
  
• A statement of purpose which indicates why graduate work in SFSU's M.A. TESOL program is appropriate for the applicant's current academic interests and future academic and professional goals.
  
  
• For applicants whose native language is not English: a recent computer based TOEFL (CBT) score of at least 240 (or Internet-based score of 95, paper-based score of 590), with an essay rating of a least 4.5 (Internet-based writing score of at least 24). The TOEFL is not required for non-native English speakers who completed their B.A. in the U.S. or another English-speaking country. Applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement will NOT be admitted; there is NO conditional admission. A TOEFL score of 240 is considered to be very minimal; applicants who demonstrate stronger English proficiency with a higher TOEFL score (and higher essay rating) will have a better chance of being admitted. The M.A. TESOL Program does not accept the IELTS.
  

Application deadlines

Deadlines for filing applications are as follows:

For Fall Semester: March 1. Applications are accepted beginning October 1.

For Spring Semester: October 1. Applications are accepted beginning August 1.

Students are urged to submit applications early. No application can be processed until all documents (including official transcripts of previous course work) are on file. Late applications may result in students not being accepted in time for Priority Registration, which will make it difficult to get into classes.

Additional information available online

Graduate admissions, including frequently asked questions (FAQs) about applications: http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/

Admission status: http://www.sfsu.edu/online/appstat.htm

M.A. degree requirements: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin/current/gradpol.htm

Fees:
http://www.sfsu.edu/prospect/fees.htm

Financial aid: http://www.sfsu.edu/~finaid/

Information for international students: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin/current/internat.htm

SFSU home page: http://www.sfsu.edu -- for other information, e.g., registration, records, academic calendar, the current course schedule, housing, directions to campus, and parking & transportation

Other helpful Web pages and downloadable documents: http://www.sfsu.edu/~matesol/Webinfo.doc


Routine inquiries about application procedures may be addressed to the Graduate Programs Assistant (Cynthia Losinsky) in the English Department: (415) 338-2660, english@sfsu.edu. Specific questions about the program may be directed to the M.A. TESOL Program Coordinator, Professor Barry Taylor, at the following e-mail address: matesol@sfsu.edu.

Information for prospective applicants

Prospective applicants are invited to download M.A. TESOL program information.

Application procedures

1) Apply online at: http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/prospective-form.htm.

Paper applications are no longer accepted. If you have do not have Internet access, send a message to the Graduate Admissions Office explaining the problem and requesting a paper application: (gradstdy@sfsu.edu, 415-338-2234, 415-338-2232, address below).

2) Request two official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities you have attended, including all community/junior colleges. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. Request each college/university to mail the official transcripts to you in 2 separate sealed envelopes. Do not open or tamper with the sealed envelopes. Your application cannot be evaluated until all transcripts are received; late receipt of transcripts causes serious delays in application processing.

3) Send the following items to the appropriate office.

PACKAGE A
Send the following materials in one package to the Graduate Admissions Office:

Graduate Admissions Office, ADM 254
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132

(1) If you did not pay the application fee when you applied online, send a check made payable to SFSU for $55.00 (U.S. dollars) for the application processing fee.

(2) One set of official transcripts from all colleges attended (including community/junior colleges), in sealed envelopes mailed from the colleges.

(3) International applicants who are non-native speakers of English must also have official TOEFL scores sent (institution code: 4683, department code: 14) and submit a certified financial statement.

PACKAGE B
Send the following materials in one package to the English Department:

Department of English
Attn: M.A. TESOL Admissions
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

(1) A copy of your current résumé.

(2) One set of official, sealed transcripts from all colleges attended.

(3) A thoughtfully written statement of purpose (1-2 pages, typed, single-spaced) explaining why you wish to study in the M.A. TESOL program at SFSU. You can include the following:

• Your past and current academic interests
  
  
• Previous and current work/volunteer experience and how you became interested in teaching English as a second/foreign language
  
  
• Reasons for choosing graduate work in TESOL and for choosing the M.A. program at SFSU
  
  
• Future career objectives

Information for Visiting Scholars

The M.A. TESOL Program at San Francisco State University accepts applications from Visiting Scholars wishing to spend a full academic year (August through May) at San Francisco State University attending classes, conducting research, and/or working on a special project. For more information, please read Application Procedures to Become a Visiting Scholar.