Admission Requirements: MA in TESOL
To apply for this program, the following is required:
- Application Form
- Bachelor's Degree
- Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Interview (may be required)
Domestic Students
The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete.
Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree in a closely related field.
Official transcript sent electronically via one of the approved companies listed on the GSEP website from the institution that awarded the baccalaureate degree to the applicant. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial admissions review; however, official transcripts must be received to complete an applicant’s file and enroll in the subsequent term.
- Electronic Transcript(s) emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
- Official transcript(s) may be sent from one of the following approved companies:
- Hard-copy Transcript(s), in a sealed and stamped envelope, must be mailed to:
Pepperdine University-GSEP
5th Floor- Enrollment Processing
6100 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
Two letters of recommendation submitted directly from an individual familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional competencies, character, and potential to complete rigorous graduate studies. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. If you are a recent college graduate, you should have at least one academic recommendation. If you graduated from college more than three years ago, you should use professional recommendations. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
A two-to-three-page statement of educational purpose addressing the following areas:
- Discuss your motivation for applying to the MA in TESOL program and how the program aligns with your future aspirations
- Highlight important elements of your personal, cultural, academic, or professional background that provide insight into your potential to succeed in a graduate program and beyond
- Explain how your values align with the mission and vision of the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology
The statement can be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu if not included in your online application.
A personal interview may be required.
If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0 or you're seeking an exception to our GRE or TOEFL/IELTS test requirements, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
International Students
The application form is quick and easy, taking less than 15 minutes to complete.
Applicants to this program must possess a bachelor's degree in a closely related field.
All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university that is already regionally accredited within the US) are required to submit a detailed foreign transcript evaluation report from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as the International Education Research Foundation or the World Education Services, Inc.
A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report must contain the following:
- Official foreign transcripts translated into English.
- A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average converted or calculated on a US 4.0 scale.
- A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required)
If you are attending school outside of the US and have not completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application, we would need your current “in progress” NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you are required to provide an official, updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your full and complete final courses, final cumulative GPA equivalency and US degree equivalency.
Please have the evaluation service, send your updated evaluation to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
Two letters of recommendation submitted directly from an individual familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional competencies, character, and potential to complete rigorous graduate studies. Academic recommendations from professors, instructors, or academic advisors; or professional recommendations from supervisors for employment, volunteer work, internship, or related activity satisfy this requirement. If you are a recent college graduate, you should have at least one academic recommendation. If you graduated from college more than three years ago, you should use professional recommendations. The online Recommendation Form should be emailed by your recommender to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
A two-to-three-page statement of educational purpose addressing the following areas:
- Discuss your motivation for applying to the MA in TESOL program and how the program aligns with your future aspirations
- Highlight important elements of your personal, cultural, academic, or professional background that provide insight into your potential to succeed in a graduate program and beyond
- Explain how your values align with the mission and vision of the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology
The statement can be emailed to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu if not included in your online application.
A personal interview may be required.
International applicants to GSEP whose native language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. You must submit a test score for the Internet-Based Test (IBT) of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination taken in the last two years with a minimum score of 85. Information concerning the availability of this test outside of the US can be obtained by contacting TOEFL, Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA or online. Our TOEFL code is 4630. As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit a score of at least 7 on the IELTS exam taken within the last two years. IELTS scores can be sent electronically by choosing "Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology" from the dropdown menu.
If your baccalaureate or master's degree GPA is lower than 3.0 or you're seeking an exception to our GRE or TOEFL/IELTS test requirements, please fill out this Exception Request Form and email it to gsep-admissions@pepperdine.edu.
In an effort to process your application quickly, we only accept electronic application materials.