Master's in ESL

Your TESOL Degree and Career Guide

  • Schools Offering Master’s Degrees in ESL
  • Scholarships
  • Jobs for ESL Teachers
  • Teaching ESL
    • Using the Common Core Standards in ESL Teaching
    • Best Practices for Teaching ESL: Speaking, Reading, and Writing
    • Free ESL Lesson Plans
    • Professional Organizations for ESL Teachers
  • Certification
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Blog

New York TESOL Programs and Requirements

TESOL Jobs in New York >>
FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content


Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Arizona State University Logo
Arizona State University
Featured Program: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, MTESOL
Request Info
Liberty University Logo
Liberty University
Featured Program: Online Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language
Request Info
George Mason University Logo
George Mason University
Featured Program: MEd in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration in TESOL
Request Info
Purdue University Logo
Purdue University
Featured Program: Online MS in Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Request Info
Capella University Logo
Capella University
Featured Program: Online MS in English Language Learning and Teaching
Request Info
Illinois College Logo
Illinois College
Featured Program: English as a Second Language Endorsement Online
Request Info

It should come as no surprise that one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse places in the country would also have multitudes of graduate programs for ESL, EFL, bilingual, and sheltered English educators. New York City stands out for its variety of courses of study, including campus-based, online, low-residency, internship teaching, and dual master’s and teaching certificate programs.

ESL Teacher Certification

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) indicates that candidates can receive an initial certificate to teach ESL in grades K-12 if they complete a state-approved program in English to Speakers of Other Languages. This pathway also entails receiving an institutional recommendation, passing the New York State Teacher Certification Exam Liberal Arts & Science Test (LAST) and the Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills (ATS-W), and passing the Content Specialty Test (CST) – ESOL. Every ESL teacher receives the same general certificate, the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) PreK-12 license.

These titles and endorsements signify that the teacher has completed state-required coursework and/or testing in linguistics, sociolinguistics, content-area teaching with language-teaching support, methods of teaching a second language, multicultural education, and the foundations of bilingual education. All New York ESOL teachers holding these minimum qualifications are licensed to teach grades K-12.

Alternative Certification Options

The benefit of studying for a TESOL master’s degree or equivalent in New York City is that you complete your student teaching or fieldwork in an active job market that provides various pathways to certification. Among the options are:

  • Individual Evaluation – Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree but not have completed an approved teacher preparation program.
  • Individual Evaluation for Additional Teaching Certificate – Holders of valid teaching certificates can complete coursework or exams that qualify them for an additional license.
  • Interstate Reciprocity – Candidates holding valid, equivalent licenses may qualify for reciprocity in their subject areas.

Master’s in ESL Programs

Ranking consistently in the top five graduate education schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report (latest in 2013), Columbia University‘s program has a few different degree options: Master of Arts in TESOL, Master of Arts in TESOL with K-12 Teaching Certification, and Ed.M. in TESOL. Long Island University – Brooklyn is one of the largest and most comprehensive private universities in the country and is known for its excellent academics, renowned faculty, comprehensive career services, and small class sizes. It offers an M.S. ED. In Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL, K-12). The Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck Rankings in 2013 rate Queens College, CUNY as the second best deal for the quality and price in the entire country. It offers a Master of Science in Education with a TESOL focus and a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics.

Recent Blog Posts

  • I Want to Teach ESL, Should I Learn a Foreign Language?
  • 9 Ways a Study Abroad Program Can Help You Become a Better ESL Teacher
  • ESL Teacher’s Guide to the Hotly Debated Issue of Immigration

Site Editor

Serena Makofsky
Serena Makofsky is a bilingual educator and curriculum designer with over a decade of experience. She has written articles, books, blog posts, units, and assessments for ESL and EFL educators and students. Her interests include innovative teaching practices, speaking Spanish, world cultures, and travel.
Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which programs we write about. Learn more about us

About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Copyright © 2013-2023 · MastersInESL.org