TESOL Professional Development Program
Program Mission
The TESOL Professional Development Program (TESOL PDP) at Florida Atlantic University is funded by the
U.S. Department of Education. Its overall aim is to improve the academic performance of K-12 language
minority children by improving teacher, administrator, and teacher educator training in all areas
served by FAU’s Jupiter, Boca Raton, and Davie campuses.
Competitive and limited scholarships are available for individuals who are successfully
admitted into the MATESOL/BE program in fall 2012. Priority given to individuals who have successfully
completed 5 state approved ESOL courses.
Master of Arts in TESOL and Bilingual Education
Program Description
The Master of Arts in TESOL and Bilingual Education is a 36-credit hour degree program that does
not currently lead to certification in any area, but prepares for:
- English-speaking certified teachers for positions as elementary, middle, or high school ESOL
teachers;
- certified teachers who are bilingual for positions as elementary, middle, or high school
bilingual/dual language education teachers;
- school administrators for positions as K-12ESOL/bilingual education program directors;
- other individuals interested in the fields of TESOL and Bilingual Education for positions as adult
education ESOL instructors, higher education ESL (English as a second language) instructors and
program directors (intensive and non-intensive); EFL (English as a foreign language) instructors
overseas; ESOL/bilingual education teacher trainers; and ESOL/bilingual education consultants
(accent reduction coaches, ESOL textbook reviewers and writers, workshop facilitators, proposal
writers, and bilingual education program evaluators).
Program graduates will also have educational opportunities to enter specialist and doctoral programs
in a variety of fields associated with colleges of education and liberal arts: TESOL, Bilingual
Education, Second/Foreign Language Education, Applied Linguistics, and Curriculum and Instruction.
ESOL Endorsement Training for K-12 Teachers
We offer 5 state-mandated courses leading to ESOL endorsement for category 1-4 Florida educators. The
following are requirements for each category:
- Category 1:language arts, reading, and ESE teachers- 15 credits
- Category 2: Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and Computer Literacy teachers- 3 credits
- Category 3: a teacher who is not in Category 1, 2 or 4: 3 credits
- Category 4: Administrators & Guidance Counselors- 3 credits
The graduate level TSL 5345 Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and
Bilingual Education is strongly recommended for category 2-4 educators who need a 3 credit course.
Upon completion of these courses, completers should contact their school district and the Florida
Dept. of Education to inquire about the process and documents needed to show proof of completion of
the ESOL endorsement.
ESOL Training for School Administrators
TESOL PDP offers a 3 credit course, TSL 6700: Language Policy and Planning in Education, designed
for school administrators to fulfill Florida’s 60 hour ESOL requirement for administrators. This
course will be offered every Spring semester.
IMPORTANT LIVETEXT INFORMATION
Students must have an active Livetext account within: the first four (4) weeks of
the fall or spring semester, within the first three (3) weeks of summer session,
or after the first class of a fast track course.
If you have not purchased your LiveText account by this date a hold may be placed on
your academic records.
Visit the LiveText Assessment Tool website
to learn more and to register.
