Admission Deadline for Fall 2025: January 15, 2025
Early applications will be given precedence in funding. Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis – please contact the EAL program director directly if you wish to be considered for Fall admission during the late spring/summer.
How to Apply
To apply, you must complete the University of Arizona Graduate College online application. Follow these steps:
- Create a GradApp account
- Complete your GradApp profile under "My Account".
- Select "Apply to a Program" from the sidebar.
- Choose "Degree Seeking" under application type and "Teaching English as a Second Language (MA)" under program of study.
- Choose the semester during which you wish to enter the program.
- Your application should now be initiated under "My Active Applications."
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is selective and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Admission requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above in relevant fields (e.g. in social sciences, humanities, and education, but especially English and foreign languages).
International applicants whose native language is not English need a total TOEFL score of at least 79 ibt, or an IELTS 7, or CESL endorsement. Most successful applicants have a TOEFL score of 95 ibt or above.
Application Checklist
Statement of Purpose
Include a two- to three-page statement of purpose. This statement should describe your teaching, leadership, and cross-cultural experiences as well as your career and/or academic goals.
Letters of Recommendation
The email addresses of two or three referrers for letters of reference, which should be professors who can speak to your abilities to do graduate coursework, and/or employers who can speak to your abilities or potential as an ESL/EFL teacher. The UA Graduate School will then send them emails asking them to upload the letters. Be sure to contact each referrer beforehand and ask him/her to address to the best of their knowledge, in the letter, your:
- cross-cultural knowledge and sensitivity,
- teaching performance or potential,
- academic performance and potential, and
- leadership activities and potential.
Transcripts
Scans of unofficial or official transcripts from each academic institution attended. You will have to send official transcripts, after you are admitted, directly to the Graduate College:
Graduate College
The University of Arizona
Administration 322
PO Box 210066
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
Curriculum Vita
Include a curriculum vita or equivalent outlining your education, scholarship, employment, and academic achievements.
Writing Sample
A six- to ten-page writing sample on an academic topic. We use this to evaluate your writing ability, not your knowledge of any particular field.
GRE Scores
GRE scores are not required for admission to the program, but applicants who wish to apply for funding are encouraged to submit them.
Funding Support
If you are interested in funding, send Program Director Jon Reinhardt an email with your request.
English Language Proficiency
If you are an international student whose first language (or one of your first languages) is not English, please self-report TOEFL scores. The scores should also be submitted officially to the Grad College. The university code is 4832.
TOEFL scores are not required of international applicants who consider themselves native speakers of English.
For more information on English proficiency please visit the Graduate College.
International Applicants
Students requesting non-immigrant visas (I-20 or DS-2019) must certify that they possess adequate financial resources to support themselves while in residence at The University of Arizona. If students will have members of their families (i.e. spouse or child/ren) accompany them to the United States additional funding will be required. Financial guarantee documents must be dated within six months of the term of admission and must be addressed to The University of Arizona.
See Graduate College requirements for international students.
Contact Us
M.A. Teaching English as Second Language Program
University of Arizona
Department of English
1423 E. University Blvd.
Modern Languages Building Rm. 445
Tucson, AZ 85721-0067 U.S.A.