Policies
For more information about our policies, please refer to the TESOL Program Student Handbook.
Credit Transfer
A maximum of 10 quarter hours of graduate credit (500 level or above) with a grade of B or above may be transferred from a regionally accredited institution to count toward the total credit requirement. The transfer of these courses must be approved by the TESOL advisor and the program coordinator, as well as the Dean of the College of Education and the Office of the Registrar.
If you complete courses as a transitional student at Seattle University you must petition to have these courses counted toward graduation requirements as a matriculated student.
If you wish to attend another institution while enrolled at Seattle University, other than the School of TESL, and plan to transfer the earned credits into this program, you must consult with your advisor. If the course is approved, you must complete a petition for exception to policy prior to undertaking this coursework. It is your responsibility to gather the relevant course information when requesting enrollment at a second institution. The course must be a regularly-organized graduate course offered by a regionally accredited institution. You must submit a copy of the transcript from the second institution to your advisor usually within thirty days after the completion of the coursework. To be transferred, the course must receive a B or higher. (Non-graded courses are not eligible.)
Graduate level courses taken while you were working toward an undergraduate degree cannot be transferred, nor can courses be transferred that will be more than six years old by the time you graduate from the TESOL program. Official transcripts showing the completed credits are also required. Petition forms for this process are available from the Program Office (206- 296-5908).
In addition, courses from the School of TESL have been pre-approved for transfer; these are 900-level courses. In order to be accepted, however, all EPDES 900 level courses must be done at graduate level. You are responsible for informing the instructor that you want to complete a 900 level course at the graduate level. A maximum of 12 credits is allowed (see School of TESL).
Employment
It is a good idea to begin your job search months before graduation. This includes watching for openings in relevant professional publications and employment hotlines, and networking actively. Community college teachers who are willing to relocate have the most success, because the local job market is extremely competitive, with few openings.
Those most successful in the job search take lots of initiative and send out resumes to a number of sites. TESOL students have an opportunity to develop job search skills (resume, interview, etc.) through the campus Career Development Center, at 206.296.6080. You are also given tips for job search in the field of ESOL at a monthly Job Seminar at S-TESL. You have an opportunity to network with ESOL professionals through your internship and through involvement in the state and national professional associations. The TESOL Program also hosts occasional information sessions on teaching EFL in various parts of the world (these are announced via email).
The TESOL program maintains current job listings on the bulletin board outside Loyola 411. Students who have taken or are taking courses at S-TESL have access to the S-TESL Employment Information Room, which posts job announcements for employment in the U.S. and abroad. You may also subscribe to the TESOL organization’s electronic discussion list and then to the sublist on TESOL jobs.
Registration
You should meet with your advisor prior to your initial registration for courses. You will receive registration information and a registration appointment prior to each registration. It is important to read the information for telephone registration carefully and follow the instructions. If, for any reason, you do not receive registration information at least one month before the quarter begins, call the Registrar’s Office immediately (206.296.5850).
Courses have enrollment limits and sometimes fill to capacity early in the registration period. If you are closed out of a course and are uncertain what other courses to enroll in, contact your advisor. With touch-tone registration, continue to try to register for the course you want; if another student drops the course, the next caller will be selected to fill that spot. If you are closed out of EDUC or TSOL courses, call the College of Education Receptionist at 206.296.5760 and ask to be put on the waitlist; in the meantime, register for an alternative course.
Graduation and Commencement
Graduation and commencement do not mean the same thing. Graduation comes after the completion of all coursework and other degree requirements and can occur at the end of any quarter. Commencement is the annual formal ceremony in June at which degrees and diplomas are presented.
Procedure and Deadlines
The Seattle University Procedure and deadlines for graduation are as follows:
Pick up a ‘Graduation Packet’ at the Registrar’s office. The Graduation Packet includes a Graduation Worksheet, an application for graduation, and an apparel order. Fill out the application for graduation and apparel form and leave these forms with the Registrar.
Bring the Graduation Worksheet to the Program Office for review by your advisor.
As of January, 2000, the deadlines for completion of the above are: Winter Quarter Graduation: November 1 of year prior to graduation Spring Quarter Graduation: November 1 of year prior to graduation Summer Quarter Graduation: February 1 of year of graduation Fall Quarter Graduation: February 1 of year of graduation
To qualify for graduation, you must first apply for graduation (see deadlines listed below), complete all coursework and examinations (including the Comprehensive Examination and Grammar Examination), and remove any ‘holds’ on your records (caused by book fines, unpaid late registration fees, etc.).
When all degree requirements are met, graduates will have their degrees posted (meaning that the ‘Master’s Degree Requirements Completed’ is stamped on your transcript) at the end of the quarter of graduation, and your diploma will be mailed to you in approximately eight weeks. Prior to receiving your diploma, you may request that a letter be sent to you stating that your degree requirements have been completed. This letter is available from the registrar’s office by calling 206.296.5850 and asking for the Graduation Evaluator.
Seattle University policy allows graduate students who have six credits or fewer left to complete to participate in commencement ceremonies.