Program Details
Program Details
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Bachelor of Science
James Madison University
Program Details
Bachelor of Science, Major in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science, Major in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
James Madison University
The TESOL major enables students to become knowledgeable about the theories of linguistics, research on social and cultural variables that influence language acquisition, the knowledge required to facilitate and assess language instruction in content areas, and laws governing the education of children for whom English is not their native language.
Academic experiences in the TESOL major include coursework and field experiences to assist future educators as they gain knowledge and understanding of theories of language acquisition and cultural competence, models of instruction, policies and laws, and learner characteristics as they relate to the teaching and acquisition of English as a new language. Students completing all requirements for the TESOL major are prepared to serve as teachers of students for whom English is not their native language. Completion of this four-year program leads to eligibility for a Virginia teaching license for PK-12 English as a Second Language.
Students must choose a minor based on interest and consultation with their adviser. A variety of minors can enhance the skills and knowledge of an ESL teacher. The Liberal Studies Minor is included as one of the options to ensure a solid foundation in core content-related courses.
This minor requires certain courses within the General Education curriculum that are designed specifically to fulfill subject area competencies for Virginia teachers. If students choose a minor other than the Liberal Studies minor, they must select from minors that are no more than 18 credit hours.
All teacher education admission requirements are submitted through the Education Support Center, located in Memorial Hall, room 7230. Students must be fully admitted into teacher education before they can register for certain designated undergraduate education courses.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | This degree requires a high level of time management skills as it balances course performance with in-field teaching experiences each semester. Having time to devote during K-12 school hours each day is essential. Being prepared to meet the needs of K-12 students at assigned times is imperative. While scaffolding and support is provided in every course, time management and initiative to ask for help if needed are vital for student success. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Students should complete courses equivalent to the following JMU education courses prior to transferring: EXED 200 Foundations of Exceptional Education, EDUC 200 Foundations of Schooling in the United States, and EDUC 310 Teaching in a Diversity Society.
|
| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | TESOL majors might decide to take Praxis in another content area (for example, a foreign language), and if passed, they will be able to be certified in this area as well. In addition, if students are interested in a master's degree, JMU offers a two-year program in Equity and Cultural Diversity. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | TESOL majors will have the opportunity to work with multilingual students at all three grade-levels (elementary, middle, and high school), assisting them in both academic content areas and the English development. Student teaching experiences encompass a whole semester with half of it spent at the elementary and the other half at the secondary level. Both practicum and student teaching experiences are structured and supervised by a university supervisor. All TESOL graduates who have sought a job within the field of TESOL are employed in the field after graduating. |
Program Credit Requirements
Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between James Madison University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completion of an approved transfer associate degree will guarantee fulfillment of JMU's General Education requirements. https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/VCCStransfer/ASDegrees.shtml |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB, CIE and CLEP for all students with eligible scores, which may be different than at your prior institution. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to the JMU student record. Credit for prior learning (CLEP) is awarded on a per case basis for Adult Degree (Individualized Studies Majors) and RN-BSN students only and in consultation with the department of expertise, with the exception of military service credit. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
Number of Transfer Students
2436
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
54% (2024-2025)
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 89% of classes have less than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public University in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Transfer applicants applying through the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying to JMU. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Associate of Science in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate in Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Elementary Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Health and Physical Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Secondary English Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Secondary Math Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Secondary Science Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, Secondary Social Studies Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Education, World Languages Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| New River Community College | Associate of Science in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Architecture Technology, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Automotive Technology, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Education, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Associate of Science in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Hybrid |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate in Science - Education | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - Education Degree Elementary Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - Education Degree Middle/Secondary Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - Education Degree Special Education Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| University of Lynchburg | BA in Educational Studies - Disability Studies Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Lynchburg | BA in Educational Studies - Elementary Education Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Lynchburg | BA in Educational Studies - Health and Physical Education Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Secondary Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| George Mason University | Special Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| George Mason University | Elementary Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| George Mason University | Physical Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Old Dominion University | Early Childhood Education-BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | Special Education-BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Old Dominion University | Elementary Education-BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Old Dominion University | Career & Technical Educ-BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Ferrum College | B.S. in Health and Physical Education (PreK-12) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Randolph College | Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Science in Education Degree | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary English Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Integrative Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary Mathematics & Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Education Studies (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Inclusive Early Childhood Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BS in Education-Secondary Educ in Career and Technical Education - Agricultural Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BS in Education-Secondary Educ in Career and Technical Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BS in Education in Elm Ed in Elementary Education (PK-6) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BA in Education-Secondary Educ in English Language Arts Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BA in Education-Secondary Educ in History and Social Sciences Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BS in Education-Secondary Educ in Mathematics Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | BS in Education-Secondary Educ in Technology Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Science in Education Degree | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Major in Elementary Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Central Virginia Community College | AS in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Rappahannock Community College | Associate of Science in Science Degree with a Criminal Justice Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Rappahannock Community College | Associate of Science in Science Degree with a Psychology Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Rappahannock Community College | Associate of Science in Science Degree with a Social Work Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1081.00 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-9042.00 | Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-9043.00 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education | Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-3011.00 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2021.00 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2012.00 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2022.00 | Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2011.00 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete