Korean Job Discussion Forums

acornrevolution · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Location: Pusan, SK

Does anyone have any information / experience / comments regarding Indiana University-Bloomington's Distance Learning Master's TESOL program? Things I'd like to know about: quality, length, cost, cost, what classes were like, and it any observation classes or practicums were necessary. These things werent exactly clear on the website.

I did a search, but so many results come up, its overwhelming to pick through and find an actual reference to this school. I did contact 1 poster who was enrolled here but have not hear back.

Thanks!

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003

I don't have any experience with the program, but I was focusing on IU and Shenandoah's MA TESOL when I was considering a distance degree. IU is a proper brick-and-mortar university, so its degrees are just as valid as those held by any other certified US teacher. If I lived near an IU campus, I wouldn't hesitate to take courses there. It just comes down to whether you're comfortable with the risk of yours being discriminated against because it was done via distance.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Another one to look at is Ball State University (that's where Lettermen is from).

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

http://site.educ.indiana.edu/langdist/Tuitionregistrationadmission/tabid/5875/Default.aspx

You can find everything you need via the link above.

Rumple · Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Indiana University has a top-ranked College of Education, FYI.

However, they aren't currently taking new folks:

acornrevolution · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Location: Pusan, SK

lastat06513 · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:

There is also Buena Vista's distance TESOL MA to ponder
http://www2.bvu.edu/online/program/education.asp

The price seems reasonable.........

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

Shenandoah University is also a brick-and-mortar institution, accredited, PhD granting, institution of higher education, established in 1875 and therefore just as valid at Indiana Bloomington.

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

acornrevolution · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Location: Pusan, SK

zappadelta - THANK YOU!

I know that they only offer a TESOL concentration, but do you think its the same education as a strict MA TESOL? Or do you think you'd get the same opportunities with the IU degree? The thing that draws me to Shenandoah a little more is the classes they offer, though IU seems to offer some good classes too.

THANKS AGAIN!

BTW, IU (#17) beats my school (#48 )!

Rumple · Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Riddle · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

zappadelta, or anybody else that's in this program, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to elaborate on your experiences. I've looked through the website, but so far I cannot find the exact tuition numbers. What does it cost from start to end?

Also it appears that many elective courses are available, but is there an ESL specialization that can be done for the degree?

Is there a Master's thesis required or is it just a coursework degree? I'm really interested in this program and would greatly appreciate any more details anybody could provide.

Edit: I've found some more info about the rates here. http://site.educ.indiana.edu/disted/Registerforcourses/tabid/9493/Default.aspx
Looks like $304.05 per credit hour with 36 required credit hours to graduate. That's about $10,945 not including books.

P.S. I'd PM you zappadelta, but I don't have enough posts..

Riddle · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

So I've corresponded with Sarah Gibson the program coordinator and she's given me some more information about this program. I've posted her email below:

The cost of the program will depend on how long it takes you to complete the program. Our rates for the 2008-2009 academic year are $1023.09 per three credit hour course (the exception is if you are living in the Bloomington area, then your rates are based on residency). The rates do tend to increase each fall, but we will not know until next May what those rates will be for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Master's in Language Education has a choice between a thesis option and a no-thesis option.

The diploma will not state distance learning on it.

As far as the specialization, yes you can specialize in ESL. More information about emphasis options can be found at http://site.educ.indiana.edu/langdist/TopicAreasCourses/tabid/5877/Default.aspx.

- So it looks like the complete cost is about $12,277 using this year's rates. I'm strongly considering applying. Anybody else want to start for the Fall?

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Indiana U. is well respected in foreign languages. Their French dept. is ranked top 5 ( or was when I applied to grad school 10 years ago), which is *way* higher than Indiana U. generally would be ranked.

I still didn't apply there, because hey, it's Indiana.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Shenandoah University may be 'just as good', but career wise, it's always better to go with a more well known school.

Indiana is a well known school. Game, set, match.

Go for it, OP!