/College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Linguistics

Frequently Asked Questions

For Prospective Students:

If you already have NYS certification in some area other than TESOL, and your goal is to acquire TESOL certification, then you should enroll in the 30 credit  program.  If you do not hold any NYS certifications, and your goal is to teach PreK-12 ENL in the U.S, then the 48 credit program would be appropriate for you.

Your request for Letters of Recommendation are generated through Slate at the time of the application.   LOR requests are to be sent through Slate to the recommender through an automated e-mail; the recommender can then reply electronically.    

If your goal is to become certified to teach ESOL (English to speakers of other languages) in New York State schools (preK-12), and:

1. you do not already hold teacher certification in any area:
48-credit program leading to an MA in TESOL with Certification (preK-12).
Requirements for this program are here: M.A.-TESOL Education with New York State Teacher Certification (preK-12).
2. you already hold teacher certification in some area other than ESOL:
30-credit program leading to the MA in TESOL.
Requirements for this program are here: M.A.-TESOL. Upon completion of the 30-credit MA program, you will apply directly to New York State for alternate route certification. For more information,  look for ‘Alternate Route Certification’.

If your goal is to teach English outside the US, or to speakers of other languages in a setting other than NYS public schools:

30-credit program leading to the MA in TESOL. 
Requirements for this program are here:  M.A.-TESOL 

Beginning 12/2021, GRE scores are no longer required for admission to the MA TESOL program. 

Submit scores electronically using SBU program code 2548 and Linguistics Department code 2903. You may submit your application before you receive your scores, although your application will not be considered complete until we have received your scores. Your scores must be received electronically by the department no later than the the application deadline.

Once you are admitted, you will receive email instructions for submitting your Affidavit of Support, Financial Documents, Passport Information, or any bank statement documentation. Please do NOT send these documents to the Department of Linguistics. 

Assistantships, fellowships, and tuition scholarships are normally not available for MA students, although there may be special opportunities for US citizens of African-American, Hispanic, or Native American background. Students are encouraged to explore opportunities for funding from other sources.

The Graduate School allows a maximum of 12 credits to be transferred. The transferred courses cannot have been applied to another degree, must be at the graduate level, and must have been taken for a letter grade (i.e., not pass/fail, etc.). You need to have earned a B or better in the course. After admission to our program, a student may petition to have a course accepted for transfer credit. We generally ask that you include a course syllabus and other materials indicating the course content with your petition, along with an official transcript. All requests for transfer credit need to be processed through the Linguistics Department's Graduate Program's Coordinator: Michelle Carbone

Please review the Graduate School's policy on transfer credit: Graduate Bulletin

Certain classes ( LIN 524, 529, 578, and 579) are open ONLY to students who have been admitted to our program. For other classes, it may be possible to register with permission of the instructor. You are free to contact the instructor of the class concerning the possibility of registering, but you should keep in mind that space in our classes is limited and we give priority to our admitted students. The maximum number of credits taken as a non-matriculated or SPD student that can be applied to your MA TESOL degree is 12.

If you already have NYS certification in some area other than TESOL, and your goal is to acquire ESOL certification, then upon completion of the MA TESOL program, you must apply directly to NYS for "Individual Evaluation for an Additional Classroom Certificate" (Initial Certificate). All teachers must go to the NYSED website (www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert) to register and create a profile on TEACH Online. We are happy to assist individuals with their certification questions to the extent we can; however, please remember that your certification is your responsibility. Applications for alternate route certification can be evaluated ONLY by the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives. 

For more information on certification, please contact:
NYSED Teacher Certification Hotline: 518-473-7100 (M-F 9-4:30)
Western Suffolk BOCES: 631-549-4900
Eastern Suffolk BOCES: 631-687-3020
Nassau BOCES: 516-396-2368

For more information on the foreign language requirement for TESOL certification, see this document.

Yes, you can still apply, but on the Program Supplement page of the application you will need to list what  foreign language(s) you have taken. All foreign language courses need to be documented by receipt of your transcript or exam score.

Completion of one year of a foreign language is required at the time of graduation for those holding a teaching certification prior to matriculating in the MA TESOL program. Completion of two years (4 semesters) of a foreign language is required at the time of graduation for those eaning their initial teaching certification in TESOL. Note that four semesters of foreign language courses at college level are required in order to apply for TESOL certification (primary or secondary) in the State of New York.

Foreign language courses do not need to all be in the same language and can be met by CLEP Exam, high school or college level courses, or a Challenge Exam. Follow this link for more information. 

The following link provides information on our off-campus SUTRA programs that will allow you to apply for a Certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/spd/graduate/tesol/