Ohio has quite a few options for studying TESOL at the graduate level, but most of them require onsite meetings. That said, some of the campus programs have low residency requirements, or meet only in the evenings to accommodate working adults.
ESL Teacher Certification
ODE does not require a master’s degree in TESOL to teach in K-12 public classrooms. A person holding a valid teaching license can earn an ESL endorsement through an approved program. In addition to completing all teacher-preparation coursework from an approved Ohio teacher trainer program, candidates must pursue coursework in the area of TESOL or Bilingual Education. Qualified teachers can earn TESOL or Bilingual Education endorsement on their licenses. The ODE maintains a list of Ohio Colleges and Universities with Approved TESOL and Bilingual Education Teacher Training Programs.
Alternative Certification Options
ODE’s Alternative Resident Education Licenses webpage outlines its concentrated course of study preparing qualified applicants through the Intensive Pedagogical Training Institute. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester hours in the subject that they wish to teach.
Master’s in TESOL Programs
Ohio State University‘s program deserves a mention, even though it offers a choice between a master’s degree in Education or an endorsement in TESOL, but not both. This graduate program receives top marks from both U.S. News & World Report (2013) and the National Council on Teacher Quality, where it is on the Dean’s List. The University of Cincinnati is one of Ohio’s few brick-and-mortar universities that offers a fully online master’s degree in TESOL (Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction TESOL). In addition, graduates who pass the qualifying examinations can apply for an Ohio TESOL certificate/endorsement to teach ESL in K-12 public school classrooms in Ohio. Language Magazine highlights University of Findlay’s global focus and the individualized attention and hands-on practice graduate students receive. It offers a Master of TESOL.