Overview
TESOL Program Offers Multiple Routes for Graduates to Become Teachers, Administrators, and Advocates
The Hufstedler School of Education (HSOE) at Alliant International University offers certificate, master's and doctoral programs in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). The 15-unit TESOL graduate certificate program - offered on Alliant's Fresno, Irvine, and San Diego campuses, and online - provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively teach English in a variety of English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) settings.
Students who enroll in this program include not only teachers and other educators but also professionals from businesses that want to gain the skills needed to communicate with and teach speakers of other languages. The certificate can be completed in nine to twelve months.
The master's degree program offers a balance between theory and practice through a combination of TESOL methodology, linguistics, and education courses. Students gain firsthand experience in classrooms through the school's Partners for Success program by collaborating with local schools and community college districts. The program is designed for both prospective and experienced ESL and EFL educators. The TESOL master's program is offered on the Fresno, Irvine, and San Diego campuses, as well as online, with a three-course summer residency. The master's program meets the course work requirements for the TESOL graduate certificate.
The doctoral program produces scholar practitioners with expertise in seven key areas - TESOL theory and methodology; teacher training; design, implementation, evaluation, and administration of second-language programs; curriculum and materials development; cultural, sociolinguistic, and psycholinguistic factors of second-language acquisition; applied research; and the integration of technology in second-language teaching. Students may perform fieldwork and conduct research in the ESL program at the San Diego or Mexico City campuses.
Alliant Leads the Way with Its Cross-Cultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Program, On Campus or Online
Alliant is one of the first universities approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to offer the California Teachers of English Learners (CTEL) program. Alliant's HSOE is offering a CTEL program leading to the Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) certification in accordance with CCTC regulation.
The CTEL program consists of 12 semester units (4 courses) of graduate study. Candidates complete the program in two 10-week terms. For the convenience of working professionals, the courses may be taken online with face-to-face meetings at the beginning and end of each term. School districts may also request a cohort model combining on-site and online instruction.
Dedicated Educators Teach Students to Understand Multicultural Approaches with the Professional Practitioner Model
The Hufstedler School of Education and its expert, dedicated faculty members train professionals to make a difference in the lives of others through teaching, counseling, leadership, advocacy, global cooperation, administration, management, and community work.
HSOE infuses its curricula with multicultural content and emphasizes student achievement, assessment, neuropsychology, instructional technology, mentoring of diverse populations, and comprehensive community service. At the core of its professional practitioner model is the cohort structure, which supports learning while students are enrolled in advanced studies and provides a professional support system of colleagues throughout their career.
TESOL Graduates Go into Teaching, Government Service, or Non-Profit Management, Working Globally on Educational Goals
The international reach of its graduates explains how Alliant ranks first in international students in various nationwide surveys. Alliant was ranked highly, as well, for awarding doctorates to minority men and women. Alliant International University has students from almost every state plus 400+ international students from almost 70 countries, including Botswana, Portugal, Iceland, Greece, Cameroon, and Turkey.
TESOL graduates go on to careers including many in education and educational policy, prepared by their Alliant education and training to make a difference. Graduates begin careers as professors at the college or university level or as directors of teacher-training programs in the United States and abroad. They administer regional, state, and national programs focused on the needs of English language learners, and work in top administrative positions in international organizations and government agencies that address national and international language policies.
Work-Study, Jobs, and Assistantship Stipends Combine with Various Grants, Loans, and Scholarships to Fund a TESOL Degree
Most students interested in school-based financial aid pursue college work-study. Students work as teaching or research assistants to core faculty members, and can work on campus in a number of departments including admissions and field placement. Stipends are available for assistantships, and all of these earning opportunities can be combined in various creative ways with loans, grants, and scholarships to fund an Alliant education.
TESOL Cities Offer Choice of Living Styles, Plus Cultural and Recreational Opportunities to Balance the Rigorous Study
The Fresno campus is friendly and warm, true to its Central Valley location. Blessed with nearly perfect weather year-round, the area overflows with orchards and agricultural activity. Conveniently located adjacent to Fresno's Yosemite International Airport, the Fresno campus is situated in one of the fastest-growing cities in California, at the doorway to the Sierras.
The Irvine campus is conveniently located in the Orange County city, and caters to the needs of working adults with evening classes and free on-site parking. Small classes offer personalized learning, and quiet classrooms, computer labs, and a comfortable student lounge create a solid learning environment. An hour south of Los Angeles and easily accessible via two major freeways and the John Wayne Airport, Irvine is within easy driving distance of Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
Located in what is often called "America's Finest City," the San Diego campus is right at home in a multicultural, dynamic, and metropolitan city with a laid-back, small-town feel. The area is filled with a huge selection of activities and attractions, from the famous Sea World to pro sports, and is a short drive from U.S.-Mexico borders.
