Frequently Asked Questions, Distance-Delivery Approach
What certification area is included in the MAE/ESL?
UAB offers the MAE/ESL through a blended distance-delivery approach. The majority of our MAE/ESL students also obtain Class A certification in ESL (K-12).
How much of the MAE/ESL is delivered online?
All of the courses in the MAE/ESL are supported with online instruction. UAB’s distance-delivery approach is unique in how it combines online support from Blackboard with a variety of delivery formats:
3 courses implemented in site-based professional learning communities;
3 courses taught during summer modules at UAB (a week plus a day);
3 courses delivered online or in a blended fashion;
1 course scheduled on weekends (5 Saturdays), and
1 course structured around the internship.
I am currently in the traditional MAE in ESL. Will I be following this distance-delivery approach?
Yes, all MAE/ESL students follow this distance-delivery approach. Furthermore, since courses with an EESL prefix are taken in a preferred order, students who start at the same time are often in the same courses and, thus, often establish strong personal and professional bonds. For more information, visit www.ed.uab.edu/esl/ .
I am currently in UAB’s Alternative Masters Program in ESL. Will I also be following this same distance-delivery approach?
Yes, alternative MAE/ESL students also take their EESL-prefix courses following this same distance-delivery approach. However, they will be taking their other education courses in a more traditional delivery format. For more information, visit www.ed.uab.edu/esl/ .
I don’t live in Alabama, but I found your distance-delivery Masters online. Should I apply?
You probably should not apply to this MAE/ESL unless you live relatively close to one of the learning group sites (e.g., Huntsville, AL). In three of these courses, all students are expected to attend weekly site-based learning groups. During the summers, all students must attend weeklong modules at UAB. Therefore, even though you will be taking three courses fully online and the other courses partially online, UAB’s MAE/ESL is not an online program.