Master of Education in
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Earn your master’s degree while gaining tools and learning strategies to help English-learning students succeed. About 8 percent of children in Arkansas schools in preschool through 12th-grade are English learners. This program will prepare you to create and implement curriculum and appropriate assessments for students who speak English as a second language (ESL).
Coursework will equip educators in the United States and abroad to teach English to students whose first language is not English. You will learn to investigate problems and develop solutions in your own teaching contexts. Coursework includes four classes that are required by the Arkansas Department of Education for a licensure endorsement in ESL.
An ancillary license in English to Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL K-12, is available for those who complete their M.Ed. in TESOL. The ESOL PRAXIS exam must be passed.
You will learn the process of acquiring a second language and how to support English learners with research-based practices . You will also learn techniques for evaluating the academic performance of second-language learners in listening, reading, speaking and writing. You will gain an understanding of multicultural student populations, including social/cognitive learning styles and differences.
Application Deadlines
- Spring: December 1
- Summer: April 15
- Fall: July 1
100%
Online
33
Credit Hours
2 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
GRE
Waived
If GPA is 3.0 in last 60 hours
Admission Requirements
- Students must be officially accepted by the Graduate School and accepted into the M.Ed. TESOL degree program. Once information is reviewed, the Graduate School will submit applicant’s completed packet to the program for review.
- Students must complete an appropriate undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.0 grade-point
average (or equivalent for international students) on the last 60 hours of the course
work for the undergraduate degree.
Applicants with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework are exempt from the standardized test requirement.
12 graduate hours from an Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (ADE DESE) ESOL Institute offered through an Arkansas university will be accepted for transfer credit for the following courses CIED 59203, CIED 59303, CIED 59403, and CIED 59503 if the applicant has passed the PRAXIS ESOL exam (5362).
Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the program will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of TESOL concepts, research and learning theories involved in the acquisition of second languages and cultures, particularly of English as a second language (ESL).
- Understand the structure and development of American English, what it means to speak a language, and become familiar with the traditional, structural and transformational-generative structure of grammar.
- Plan, implement and model best practices that are necessary to deal with English Language Learners (ELLs) in various educational contexts.
Career Paths
- Teach K-12 ESL in Arkansas with an AR Ancillary License
- Teach Children and Adult English Learners Abroad
- Teach Adults In U.S. Community Colleges, Technical Colleges, Non-profits, and Adult Education Centers
- Be a leader in TESOL as a Facilitator, Coach, or Coordinator
| Tuition / credit hour | $446.29 |
| Fee / credit hour | |
|---|---|
| Library | $4.68 |
| Network & Data Systems | $13.10 |
| Off-campus | $30 |
| Online Facilities | $2 |
Tuition and fees per credit hour reflect fall 2024 rates for students studying completely online. Students in online programs who take an on-campus course will pay on-campus fees, mandatory and college fees, for only the on-campus course.
Job Market Outlook
The Pathways career data reflect career information associated with degree programs, and that data may include some jobs that require additional credentials and experience BEYOND the academic degree, including but not limited to professional licensure and certification, additional coursework, and specific training. See " About this data" to learn more about Pathways.
