Foreign Language Education, MEd

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Master of Education (MEd) - Foreign Language Education

The MEd with specialization in foreign language education is a professional degree for individuals wishing to pursue advanced study in the field of teaching and learning foreign languages combined with trends, issues, a practice-based approach to new, current methodologies, and research in education in general. This option is tailored to the needs of practicing or returning foreign language teachers who wish to learn about recent developments in the field of foreign language education. This degree is also suitable for international students who wish to learn more about foreign language instruction (e.g., English as a foreign language) in their home countries. Some course work in a particular foreign language at the graduate level is also possible within this option. This option does not provide courses or clinical experiences for initial teacher certification. The degree consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours and may be completed on a part-time basis. Six credits earned while pursuing the MEd from an approved, graduate study-abroad program may be counted toward this degree. International students are required to provide proof of English language proficiency at the time of application by a score of 80 or higher on the TOEFL IBT test, a minimum score of 213 on the CBT, a Band 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or by having earned a degree in an accredited United States university. In the last term of the program, it is required that all MEd candidates sign up to take a written comprehensive exam scheduled in October and March of each year.

MEd with Specialization in TESOL

The MEd can also be done in conjunction with a TESOL certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Students pursuing this opportunity, which is completed in collaboration with Pitt’s Department of Linguistics, have the option of choosing from two concentrations within the TESOL certificate: higher education and K-12. The higher education option is ideal for students who plan to work primarily with adult students in the United States and abroad. Please note that international students applying to the MEd with specialization in TESOL are only eligible to complete the higher education concentration, and must provide evidence of having achieved a score of 80 or higher on the TOEFL IBT test, a minimum score of 213 on the CBT, or a Band 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for admission consideration. Unlike the MEd in Foreign Language Education, the MEd with Specialization in TESOL does not accept an earned degree in an accredited United States university as evidence of English language proficiency.