Admission

The Master of Arts in Teaching – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages online (MAT–TESOL online) program is designed for aspiring teachers eager to become English-language teaching specialists at home or abroad.

The MAT–TESOL online program is offered once a year, with a fall start. All application items must be submitted before the final application deadline. We are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 cohort. Learn more about admission requirements.

¹ Please note that if you have attended any institution outside of the US, it is strongly recommended that you submit all materials by the Priority Deadline.

Applying before the final deadline gives you an earlier admission decision and the benefit of more time to prepare for your future, including identifying financial aid resources, scholarships and student loans.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but we encourage you to apply early. If you apply by the Early Action Deadline, you will be eligible to receive an application fee waiver. If you apply by the Priority Submit Deadline, your application fee will be reduced from $90 to $50.

We seek aspiring English-language teachers across industries whose academic background, professional goals, personal commitments and communication skills meet the demands of a rigorous graduate program.

We maintain the same high admission criteria for our online program as we do for our on-campus one, including:

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

USC Rossier welcomes international applicants. If your prior study was completed outside of the United States, you must have earned the equivalent of a United States bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. View the international application requirements based on your country of study. 

International students whose native language is not English and who have completed their undergraduate work outside of the United States are required to demonstrate proficiency in English as part of the application process. USC does not waive the English proficiency requirement for graduate degree(s) earned in the United States or other qualifying countries; requirements are based on the completion of undergraduate studies. For more information on English proficiency requirements, English-language test waivers and other alternate accepted exams, please visit the USC Graduate Admission English-Language Proficiency page.

Note: if you have attended any institution outside of the United States, it is strongly recommended that you submit all materials by the priority deadline.

All items must be completed and submitted before the final deadline, including transcripts and letters of recommendation.

The online application includes questions about your personal, academic and professional background.

The personal statement covers your experience and professional goals, so that the Admission Committee can gain deeper insight into why you’re pursuing the MAT–TESOL online.

You may also submit a 250-word-maximum optional essay to aid the admission committee in evaluating your application. Use this essay to discuss anything in your academic and/or professional history that may require additional explanation.

You will be asked to provide information about past employment and upload your most current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

USC Rossier requires two letters of recommendation to complete the application. Letters should come from supervisors and/or former instructors or faculty who can comment on significant contributions you have made in your workplace, your leadership skills as well as your commitment to life-long learning and your ability to perform well in master’s-level coursework.

Please note: recommendation letters are program-specific and cannot be used to apply to additional programs.

The recorded video response is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your communication skills in professional settings. The timed writing assessment will allow you to demonstrate your writing, critical thinking and analytical ability. No advance preparation is required for either assessment. You must complete both assessments during the same session. You are allowed to take each assessment one time only. For technical assistance with the video response or timed writing assessment, email support@kiratalent.com

Many schools issue transcripts electronically. If this option is available to you, please specify that your encrypted transcript(s) be sent to applicationservices@rossieronline.usc.edu. This will expedite the delivery of your transcript(s) and the completion of your application.

Sealed, official academic transcripts must be sent directly from all postsecondary institutions you attended, including community colleges, to:

University of Southern California (USC)
Application Processing Center
USC Rossier
PO Box 30096 024-003
College Station, TX 77842

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

Any academic or professional certificates or certifications earned at a regionally accredited institution may also require official sealed transcripts.

The USC application fee is $90. However, this fee can be waived or reduced when you apply early.

The MAT–TESOL program credential track is optional, and you can apply to it after you enroll. As a student on the MAT-TESOL credential track, you will complete your coursework in the program in conjunction with preparation for a California preliminary single subject teaching credential in World Languages.

In order to be recommended for a preliminary teaching credential, you are required to satisfy a series of basic skills and subject matter requirements established by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Candidates from around the world are encouraged to apply. More than 20 countries are represented in USC Rossier MAT–TESOL online graduate programs, with many students coming from India, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Thailand. United States expats can also complete their degree with USC Rossier while they live abroad.

We understand the unique needs and concerns of our international applicants. We offer our international applicants and students the same exceptional support available to our United States-based students, including field placement support. Admission Counselors are based in the United States and all classes are based in Pacific Standard Time.

Transcripts and all other materials submitted for admission consideration become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of the academic department or professional school to which you have applied.