Globalization has created many opportunities for professionals in the field of "English as a second language" (ESL). There are many career tracks within this field, from teaching English as a foreign language to tutoring, curriculum development, interpreting or translating. Even within these careers, there can be a surprising amount of variety: ESL teachers might pursue employment on a K-12 level or find themselves teaching adult learners, while interpreters might find opportunities in elementary school or in the board rooms of corporations.
Teachers who desire to enter the field of ESL must typically earn both a valid teaching credential and certification as a "teacher of English to speakers of other languages" (TESOL). Although requirements vary from state to state, teachers often need to complete a master's degree program in ESL to obtain these credentials, making education an important component of the career.
To help educators find a college that can get them the online education they need, we have put together a list of 10 excellent colleges for online master's degree programs in ESL. We compiled this list using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — part of the National Center for Education Statistics.
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The first institution to grace our list is Kennesaw State University, one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. KSU Online's Master of Education in TESOL degree program is structured to supply teachers with the tools needed to better educate culturally and linguistically diverse students; the program's goal is to prepare "teachers to educate an increasingly diverse population of students in Georgia through inclusive practices," which is a most worthy goal indeed.
The program requires 36 credit hours of study and can be completed in 18 to 24 months, but students receive their ESOL endorsement after completing two semesters in the program. Prospective students need to hold a teaching certificate in grades K-12 to be considered for admission into the program.
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1000 Chastain Rd.Arkansas Tech University is one of the many universities using Blackboard to provide education to its online students. And there are certainly enough to take advantage of it — Arkansas Tech has the second-highest admissions rate out of all 10 schools on this list.
ESL candidates will be interested to know about Arkansas Tech's Master of Arts in TESOL degree program, especially its unconditional admission policy: students can apply for unconditional admission to the M.A. in TESOL as long as they meet the requirements for the graduate college, and can be accepted conditionally into the program so long as the deficiencies are completed within 12 semester hours of graduate work (even if that deficiency is GPA!). The program includes four courses required by the Arkansas Department of Education for ESL endorsement, as well as 18 credit hours of study in elective classes. Students may transfer up to six credits into the program upon departmental approval.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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Administration Bldg. 200; 1509 N. Boulder Ave.Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University is the third-oldest higher education institute in the state of Texas. SHSU Online offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs online, including a Master of Education degree in TESOL that focuses on theories of language instruction and integrated technologies. Instruction includes 12 credit hours of study in required coursework and 18 credit hours of language and literacy-based classes.
Admission into the graduate school at Sam Houston State University requires students to hold a bachelor's degree and submit two letters of recommendation along with a writing sample. Conversely, graduates of the program are awarded not just their M.Ed, but also a certificate in second language instruction, making an education at Sam Houston State quite productive indeed!
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1806 Ave.Enrollment at Southeastern Missouri State University in fall of 2016 was 10,693 students, including 992 international students studying through distance education. Through its Southeast Online hub, the university offers a fully online Master of Arts in TESOL degree program that was designed to prepare educators for careers in areas such as K-12 education, college education, adult education or teaching refugees and immigrants.
The TESOL program at SMSU is a versatile path with many customization options. Enrolled students can choose from a wide range of linguistics and language courses to satisfy the program's requisite 27 credit hours in core courses, and they personally select nine credit hours in elective courses. These electives have options in many different fields, including composition, foreign language, literature and education.
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One University Plaza, MS4675Western Governors University has the largest student population of any institution in our rankings. More than 76,220 students enrolled at WGU in fall of 2016, and the university reports that its Teachers College confers 11 percent of all bachelor's and master's degrees awarded in STEM teaching from all U.S. colleges and universities. WGU's Master of Arts English Language Learning (ELL) degree program works to prepare educators to provide leadership in ELL/ ESL and language development settings, by covering topics such as:
Furthermore, WGU has an Endorsement Preparation Program in ELL (PreK-12), intended to provide licensed teachers, district instructional personnel and "emergency credentialed" ELL/ ESL teachers with the endorsement they need to become licensed to teach in ELL or ESL settings. This program's endorsement is only valid in certain states, so it's important to research your state's policies before enrolling, but it can be quite valuable in participating states.
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4001 S. 700 East Ste. #700The University of North Dakota's College of Education and Human Development offers a fully online master's degree in English language learner education. The degree requires 35 credits to complete, as well as 90 hours of supervised practicum experience in a K-12 setting. However, by far the most unique aspect of this program is its optional specialization in rural ELL/ ESL education. Because of the many vast rural areas that UND serves, students can choose this specialization to focus their education on developing and implementing ESL programs in rural schools.
UND also offers an online graduate certificate in English language learner education that takes 20 credits and 60 hours of practicum experience to complete. Completion of either the certificate or the master's programs leads to eligibility for the North Dakota ELL teacher endorsement and may completely or partially fulfill requirements for similar endorsements in other states.
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264 Centennial Dr., Stop 8193No other college on this list awarded a higher percentage of ESL degrees to its students in 2015 than Greenville College, a small Christian university with an annual enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. The college offers a completely online Master of Arts in TESOL, as well as an online ESL endorsement. The MA program requires 33 credits to complete and concludes with a capstone project where student teachers are challenged to design and implement an ESL curriculum improvement in their home district. Coursework focuses on the following areas:
Meanwhile, the endorsement consists of seven courses, making it a quicker option for professionals who have already made some progress in this field. Both the endorsement and MA programs have an additional benefit for those who hold an Illinois teaching license: during their program, such students can complete the 100 hours of field experience needed to meet Illinois State Board of Education requirements for ESL approval and endorsement.
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315 E. College Ave.Campbellsville University is the second small private Christian university in our rankings. The university offers a fully online Master of Arts in TESOL degree program with the stated goal of preparing students to be able to teach English as a second language in the U.S. or English as a foreign language (EFL) abroad. To this end, the program combines the mechanics of the language and how to teach it with the importance of cultural studies, creating a flexible and incorporated experience.
The non-thesis degree path requires 36 credit hours, while the thesis program requires 39 credit hours of study. It's possible to complete the program in one year for full-time students, the university reports. Prospective students must submit their GRE scores, though that requirement is waived for students who held a 3.2 grade point average or higher in their undergraduate studies. Students must have had at least a 2.9 GPA in undergraduate work to be considered for admittance into the program.
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1 University Dr.University of Northern Iowa had a total enrollment of 11,905 students in the fall of 2016, including 1,801 graduate students and 404 international students. With so many students, it's quite a feat that UNI also had the second-highest graduation rate of the 10 schools featured in this list.
Of UNI's 13 graduate degree programs, one leads to a completely online Master of Arts in TESOL. Designed primarily for candidates hoping to teach overseas or K-12 teachers looking to enhance their employable skills, coursework is centered around study of linguistics, approaches to language and learning, second language acquisition and similar topics. Much of the coursework in the M.A. TESOL degree plan applies to the State of Iowa ESL endorsement, and those who are interested primarily in that endorsement can view the course sequence and complete an intent to enroll form right from UNI's website.
Students must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher to be considered for admission into the program, but they are not obligated to take the GRE exam. Credits from previous graduate studies may be transferred into the program at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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1227 W. 27th St.Concluding our list of featured online colleges for ESL is McDaniel College, a small liberal-arts institution located north of Baltimore. McDaniel College sends us out on a high note, boasting the second-highest percentage of ESL degrees awarded in 2015 and the No.1 highest graduation rate out of these 10 featured schools.
That isn't all McDaniel has to offer, either. The college's Master of Science in TESOL degree program emphasizes language education, collaboration in a global community, and language rights of individuals, and its graduates are well-positioned to pass the Praxis II ESOL exam (although the program does not lead to an initial PreK-12 teacher certification on its own). For already-certified teachers who are specifically looking for help with the Praxis II and have already earned or are not interested in a master's degree, McDaniel also offers a TESOL Praxis II Prep sequence: five carefully selected courses chosen to help prepare certified teachers to take the Praxis II test in ESOL. As icing on the cake, if you complete this sequence and then choose to begin the MS in TESOL program, your 15 credits from the sequence will transfer in!
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2 College HillEnglish as a Second Language (ESL) can be a nuanced field, particularly for those teaching language skills to others or those engaged in research about how second-language learners acquire new language skills. In this section, some of the common courses in ESL programs are discussed along with some of the prominent skills used in the field.
ESL degree programs tend to be comprehensive in scope, giving students an opportunity to build skills in a variety of literacy topics. These programs are also typically offered at the graduate level, through a graduate certificate, a master's degree, a post-master's certificate or a PhD. The following are some examples of courses that are usually included in online programs for ESL.
Students in online programs for ESL can work on a variety of skills as they take courses in pursuit of a degree or certificate. These skill sets can be helpful in succeeding in a job, conducting research or connecting with students who are English language learners.
English as a second language has the potential to be the most influential position any person could ever hold. The foundational work that an ESL teacher lays can change students' lives, determining not just how they speak English, but how they regard school and education as a whole. As the need for teachers of all stripes continues to grow, this field and its professionals becomes ever more important as well.
Students who are just beginning to attend school may be particularly frustrated when trying to learn English for the first time, so those in ESL kindergarten teacher careers need to tailor their teaching knowledge and skills to the needs of these specific learners. To be effective in this job, educators must be well-versed in the latest principles, techniques and theories related to both early childhood education and ESL instruction. ESL kindergarten teachers are expected to have a bachelor's degree and a state teaching license. Also, depending on the state where teachers work, there may be certain requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to keep licenses current.
Those in ESL elementary school teacher careers work with younger students who need assistance with English instruction. These educators plan lessons designed to help learners develop their English reading, speaking and writing skills based on school and state standards; administer and evaluate student assessments; attend staff meetings; and participate in classes designed to keep their skills current. They must also have the ability to foster a supportive learning environment for their students.
In order to obtain employment as an ESL elementary school teacher, candidates must complete at least a bachelor's degree and meet their state's licensing requirements, which generally include passing an examination.
People in ESL middle school teacher careers work with learners in the sixth through eighth grades. Like other educators, these professionals are required to earn at least a bachelor's degree and a license or certification based on their state's requirements. In order to get a license, graduates may be expected to complete a certain number of supervised teaching hours, maintain a minimum grade point average throughout their degree program, or successfully complete a licensing examination. In addition, after obtaining a license, some states require that educators keep their knowledge and skills sharp by taking continuing education courses or earning a higher-level degree.
ESL secondary school teachers work with students in the ninth through twelfth grades who need help with English instruction. Working with students who cannot speak English can be rewarding, but also challenging, so these instructors should have a great deal of patience, as well as strong communication and problem solving skills. Job duties include conducting assessments to monitor student progress; creating a class curriculum and refining it as needed; and creating and grading exams.
Earning a career in ESL secondary school teaching requires specialized education. Students interested in the job will need to complete a bachelor's degree and obtain a certification in order to be eligible for a position.
Educators are trained to help people improve their lives, and the work of those in English as a second language adult education teacher careers goes a long way toward helping adults achieve their goals by increasing their English language proficiency. These professionals prepare lesson plans designed for the needs of ESL students; monitor classroom performance and progress; and create activities specifically aimed to motivate adult learners.
Generally, those who want to get a job as an ESL adult education teacher should earn a bachelor's degree — although some employers may require a master's degree. In addition, teachers need to complete the licensing process in order to work in the field legally.