An M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies is the standard professional degree for positions in universities, language institutes, community colleges, and adult education programs throughout the world.
Prepare for three teaching areas: K-12, adult & higher education, or volunteer/short term service.
Our faculty are internationally experienced, published, and maintain a broad network of global connections.
Our TESOL program attracts international students from East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe -- and our alumni teach around the globe.
Or reach out to us anytime at graduate.admissions@wheaton.edu.
As you pursue your master's degree in TESOL and Intercultural studies, you'll have an opportunity to apply what you're learning through internships and practicums. Plus, you'll engage with others through rich cross-cultural experiences in and outside the classroom.
Experience real-world training through a customized internship program aligned to your personal goals. Explore specific areas of teaching (business English, elementary ESL instruction, higher education) and areas of the world (Thailand, Bolivia, Hungary). Internship experiences include:
In practicum field placements, you will be observed by faculty and receive valuable mentoring feedback that fine tunes your teaching skills. Practicums involve 8-10 weeks of engagement in a Chicago-area or global classroom, including supervised teaching or co-teaching of an ESL class. It is possible to complete a practicum or internship in an online ESL classroom. Students who work part-time or full-time as ESL teachers can use their current teaching situations for the field placement.
Outside of supervised practicums, you'll also enjoy a rich range of cross-cultural activities in the Chicago metro area, including field trips to ethnic communities and opportunities for teaching and tutoring in a host of local ESL programs.
Earn elective credits while gaining real-world experience. If you’re especially interested in EFL you might want to participate in a summer internship program in countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Croatia, China, South Korea, Lithuania, and Vietnam.
Many students seek out opportunities with faith-based EFL programs offered at schools, camps, and agencies such as GEM English camps, TeachBeyond English camps and the Association of Christian Schools International.
The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies focuses on the teaching and learning of languages. A multifaceted discipline, this degree includes a mix of linguistics, education, communication, and related coursework.
Please see thegraduate course catalog for current requirements as well as the most up-to-date course numbers, titles, and descriptions.
Your program includes a mix of core requirements and electives. Courses include the following:
The Wheaton College Graduate School Student Financial Services team can help you understand how much your degree program will cost and what scholarships, loans, and aid may be available to you. Wheaton’s TESOL programs have partnerships with several agencies which provide significant tuition discounts.
Of special note, TESOL master's candidates are encouraged to apply for a Billy Graham Scholarship, a program designed to financially support international Christian leaders with their graduate studies.
Learn About Graduate Financial Aid
As student in the Wheaton TESOL program, Beata encountered God on a deeper level than she ever had before.
Today, as an ESL lecturer and program coordinator at University of Chicago Illinois, Beata draws from her personal experiences as an immigrant and a Christian to serve the many adult language learners who filter through her office. She knows what it feels like to be a stranger in a foreign land, whether that was coming to the States or immersing herself for the first time in an explicitly Christian academic environment like Wheaton. She’s grateful to play a part in helping others find their place in a new country and fulfill their responsibilities more effectively.
— Beata (Lasmanowicz) Keller '09“Wheaton’s TESOL degree comes with an emphasis on intercultural studies, which has always been a fascination of mine. In my current job, I get to learn little bits and pieces of other cultures daily, which is rewarding. While I share my own knowledge and experiences as an ESL educator, I also get to participate in really cool conversations and continue to learn so much from other people’s stories.”
Interested in helping others learn the English language? Consider pursuing your master's degree in TESOL and Intercultural Studies at Wheaton College. Request more information or start your application today.