Job Discussion Forums

Budda · Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Posts: 8

Greetings Dave's ESL Cafe,

This is my first posting to this site; I'm normally a lurker, but was so confused by this situation that I had to create my own topic.

I've recently received my MA in TESOL from a top US institution, and have been applying for jobs at community colleges and universities in my local area.

One institution in particular, the Ventura Community College District, has sent an email stating that I have been disqualified from their hiring process. When asked why, they claimed that although I have an MA in TESOL, I have no BA in English (for the record, my BA in Russian and Spanish).

I was wondering if this is a typical situation in higher education in North America, and if I should be applying for equivalency when completing my application.

Thanks!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

That's likely typical for that employer.

Check the job ads carefully to make sure you meet the minimum requirements before applying.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Budda · Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Posts: 8

rtm, than you so much for your thoughtful reply!

That is a great idea to contact the department directly--I think I'll do that!

Thanks again!

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

Dear Budda,

I didn't earn a B.A. in English (instead, BS Psychology and BA Italian) but later earned MA/Applied Linguistics and then MA/TESOL. I too never heard of a college employer disqualifying an applicant on the basis of an unrelated B.A. degree. I have taught ESL/EFL at tertiary institutions in the US and overseas (had acquired 3+ years of teaching experience post-MA/TESOL).

Some criteria for candidate selection often include:
*post-MA/TESOL teaching experience (which included teaching academic reading and writing, not only conversation classes)
*MA/TESOL program which included a teacher observation component

These could be determining factors.

RedLightning · Joined: 08 Aug 2015 Posts: 137 Location: United States

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

It is hard to get a job at a community college in California, but that does sound picky.

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Glad to hear that there's at least one institution out there that will appreciate my 30+ page essay on Chaucer. BA in English usually means BS literary analysis, right?

Really, though? Wow.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Me, too.
My BA is in English.

sammysez · Joined: 20 Nov 2016 Posts: 119

I've never heard of anyone requiring English as an undergrad. I think it's only particular to that institute and/or they are trying to weed out applicants as someone previously said. I 'm in the same situation, same Master's degree, but undergraduate is not English (I'm sure your ESL students will be reading Chaucer by the end of the semester, no doubt)

I haven't had a problem, the main concern has been having a major in education, education classes, certification (NOT a certificate) but state certification from the US and that was not for overseas employment, but for public U.S. schools.

The one thing I've noticed, even with a Master's in ESL, most overseas employers especially in the Middle East, are requiring at least three years at the tertiary level (they will not count K-12 teaching experience) and will not (again in the Middle East) accept any online degrees or courses. Not sure how that works in Asia etc... but I would like to know.