Application Process

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline - Candidates with a foreign language emphasis are expected to hold an appropriate degree or to demonstrate comparable proficiency in the target language as assessed by the Department of Languages and Literatures.)
• Satisfactory GPA - To be admitted to classified status, students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units. Students with a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 may be admitted as conditionally classified.
• English language proficiency - Applicants whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education is primarily in a language other than English must demonstrate English language proficiency. If applicants have an undergraduate degree from a postsecondary institution in which English is not the primary language of instruction, they will need to submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants can meet the English language proficiency requirement as follows:
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Scores more than two years old are not acceptable.   A minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based) are required. (Chico’s institution code is 4048.) TOEFL website
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) band 6.5 is required. IELTS website
  • Students who have completed at least three years in a degree program at a postsecondary educational institution in Australia, Great Britain, Anglophone Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United States.
  • Students with scores below the minimum may be admitted as conditionally classified pending completion of a program at the American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI)
• Statement of purpose - Explain why you are applying to the MA in Language Teaching. Identify the pattern you are interested in pursuing (English or Foreign Language) and describe how the program would enhance your professional and career goals as a language teacher/instructor.
• Three letters of recommendation –  Letters of recommendation need to be submitted on the online application (Cal State Apply) along with your statement of purpose.

Note: Admission to the MA in Language Teaching does not necessarily qualify students for admission to the graduate TESOL Certificate Program. A separate application process must be completed. (See Graduate TESOL Certificate Program for additional information.)

The admission requirements for the MA in Language Teaching + Spanish Credential Option are:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited program
• GPA 3.0 to be admitted to classified status
• Statement of purpose - Explain why you are applying to the MA in Language Teaching/Spanish Single Subject Credential Option. Describe how the program would enhance your professional and career goals as a language teacher/instructor.
• Three letters of recommendation –  Letters of recommendation need to be submitted on the online application (Cal State Apply) along with your statement of purpose.
• Admission interview with MA Coordinator and Single Subject Credential Coordinator

Credential-specific requirements: The following documents are required for classified admission and should be submitted if available, but they are not necessary to be considered for conditional admission. Conditionally admitted applicants need to submit these documents in their second semester in the program (by March 1):

• Subject-matter competency waiver letter (Spanish) or CSETs (Spanish)
• Basic Skills Examination (e.g., California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or equivalent)
• Additional requirements for admission to the Single Subject Credential Program (Certificate of Clearance, TB clearance)
• The following prerequisites courses (to be completed prior to start of third semester in the program):

POLS 155: American Government: National, State, Local (or equivalent or exam) 

CMST 131 or 132: Speech Communication Fundamentals (or equivalent)

EDTE 302: Access and Equity in Education (3 units)

EDTE 255: Introduction to Democratic Perspectives in K-12 Teaching (3 units)

EDTE 451: Health Education for Secondary Teachers (3 units)

EDTE 580: Educational Psychology (3 units)