YUKSEKOGRETIM DERGISI, cilt.11, sa.2, ss.227-243, 2021 (ESCI)
In 2018, a legislative change-law number 2547-resulted in the adoption of the title "instructor", replacing "lecturers, specialists, translators, and education planners" for positions at the different departments of universities. This law also led to an adjustment in the instructor recruitment requirements. Correspondingly, the English language teaching instructors must have completed a master's degree to be hired to work at School of Foreign Languages (SFLs). This paper aims to uncover the opinions and suggestions of School of Foreign Language administrators about this change. This study shows that administrators approach the new requirement unenthusiastically due to the possible problems in hiring instructors. As an alternative criterion to a master's degree in ELT, administrators consider certification, teaching experience and graduate degrees in non-ELT programs. The results suggest that instructors be provided with professional development opportunities that merges theory into practice.