TESOL Certification Programs
Master of Science in Education or ESOL Certification
Online or Hybrid
For current and prospective educators at any level (birth–grade 12)
- Gain the skills and certification to teach one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States: English language learners, at all grade levels (pre-K to grade 12).
- Learn to use an array of written resources, technologies, and methods to create engaging learning experiences for speakers of other languages.
- Understand the theoretical, historical, and political dimensions of education for culturally and linguistically diverse students, so you can adapt in this ever-changing field and can best help students achieve proficiency in English.
Highlights
Evening classes
Online or hybrid classes (varies by program option)
Complete in as fast as 12–18 months full-time
Fieldwork in a variety of settings
TESOL master's degree with additional ESOL certification (36 credits)
- Can be completed in one year (three semesters).
- Classes are fully online.
- Program is ideal for someone who has New York state teacher certification in any area, seeks professional certification, wants New York state teacher certification for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and wants a career teaching English language learners.
Catalog: Additional certification program requirements and course descriptions »
TESOL master's degree with initial ESOL certification (40 or 43 credits)
- Can be completed in four semesters.
- Open to people with any bachelor's degree.
- Hybrid delivery: You have the option to cluster your classes to be on campus only one or two nights a week, and to do other coursework online.
- Program is ideal for someone not yet certified as a teacher who wants to teach school-age students of different cultures and ideally has earned at least 12 credits studying a language other than English. (Six credits required for admission.)
Catalog: Initial certification program requirements (43 credits) and course descriptions »
Catalog: Initial certification program with school district teaching residency (40 credits) »
Post-master's ESOL certification-only (18 credits)
- Classes are fully online.
- Program is ideal for someone who has New York state teacher certification, has completed a master's degree, and seeks New York state English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) certification
- This option doesn't require the standard graduate application process; instead, complete the Certificate Application. Deadlines are on a rolling basis for fall, spring, and summer terms.
Catalog: ESOL certification program requirements and course descriptions »
What to Expect
- If you are highly proficient in Spanish and hold teaching certification in an appropriate area, you can take two additional classes (online) to earn a bilingual extension. Teachers with bilingual certification are currently in high demand in schools in New York state.
- You have the option to get additional specialized preparation in teaching students with autism and students with severe or multiple disabilities. Details: Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism (I-SPAN) specialization, Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities annotation.
- Nazareth's affordable cost for grad teaching degrees makes this high-demand certification within reach, enabling you to fill a needed teaching position in a school district in the local region or beyond.
- Nazareth's full-time director of clinical experiences and partnerships and full-time certification officer provide you with strong support, including prep for certification exams and facilitating hands-on experiences with students. If you're working in a school district, this can include facilitation with your own school district so you can meet degree requirements while keeping your job.
- Your full-time career coach for education (part of Nazareth's nationally recognized Center for Life's Work) is available for resume, interviewing, and job search guidance.
- Additional guidance and support is available from your individual academic advisor and from the School of Education's director of academic support services.
From the Field
"My professors were supportive, encouraging, and made learning fun. I always felt that I was part of a very close-knit, friendly community that was as dedicated as I was. Many of my classes were taken with international TESOL students as well as Inclusive Childhood, Literacy Education, and other education grad students, which allowed me to obtain and share ideas and information with others from different areas of education. Being in a student-centered, collaborative environment has inspired me to create the same type of environment for my future students."
— Kyle Ridley '13, ESL Teacher, Advanced Placement Coordinator, and IB English Language and Literature Teacher at Lyceum Kennedy French American School, New York City
Value of Your Degree
Growth
Job growth nationwide: For teachers with this specialty, above-average job growth is expected, as the number of U.S. students who don’t speak English is predicted to continue growing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
$63–64K
Average salary for kindergarten and elementary teachers: $63,670; for middle school teachers: $64,290, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023).
In Demand
New York state needs TESOL/ESOL teachers: The New York state Education Department requires that all English language learners receive ESOL services.
Making Grad School Affordable
Grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, partner benefits, loans, and undergraduate loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree. Among the Nazareth opportunities: Teacher residency programs provide initial certification seekers with tuition support, a paycheck, co-teaching experience and mentoring. Funding is also available for high-need teachers and teacher candidates from underrepresented populations.
Curriculum Examples
- Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition
- Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education
- Principles and Practices of TESOL
- Language and Literacy Development for English Language Learners