This master’s degree in ESL helps licensed teachers earn a graduate degree and ELL or ESL endorsement.
Are you passionate about helping diverse students transition and succeed in the classroom? Are you eager to help children of all backgrounds communicate effectively? If you're already a licensed teacher and are ready to enhance your offering and meaningfully impact the lives of students, a master's degree in English Language Learning could be the perfect fit for you. A master's in ESL can be instrumental in helping you connect with different students, become a better educator, and change your classroom and community for the better. ELL and ESL endorsement gives you knowledge and credentials to enhance classroom learning for different students, making you a teacher who can make a difference.
This ESL master's programs is a direct path to an ELL or ESL certification, preparing you to make a difference for individual students, diverse classrooms, and entire communities. You'll graduate from this ESL master's program with the content knowledge, teaching skills, cultural background, and field experience you'll need to become a valuable educator. WGU’s M.A. in ELL is nationally recognized by the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) International Association .
* This ESL master's degree online can lead to an endorsement in ELL or ESL, but only in those states that have such endorsements. The specific grade levels you will be eligible to teach depend on your state’s licenses and endorsements.
62% of graduates finish within
18 months
Use your experience as an educator to your advantage. WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
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Tuition per 6-month term is
$3,490
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!
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Graduates who recommend WGU:
97%
The vast majority of alumni say WGU delivered on its promises. In fact, over 50% of students found WGU thanks to a friend's recommendation.
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Help English language learners thrive in the classroom.
Some 5 million American students speak a language other than English in their homes. For these students, the language barriers they face can stand in the way of their ability to learn and succeed in the classroom—but they don’t have to. You can make a difference in the lives of these students, helping them learn and communicate effectively. This ESL masters degree online will prepare you to teach effectively in ELL or ESL settings, helping you connect to diverse learners and enabling you to rise as a leader in your school and community.
An advanced ESL curriculum designed by K–12 education experts.
WGU's online M.A. in English Language Learning degree program is an affordable, flexible path for current teachers who want to add an ELL or ESL certification or endorsement to their license (in states that have such an endorsement).
WGU’s M.A. in English Language Learning (ELL) online program was designed (and is regularly updated) with input from the experts on our Education Program Council . These respected authorities know exactly what it takes for a graduate to succeed at teaching English language learners who range in age from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Why WGU
Discover why WGU is a great choice for ESL teachers:
You aren't on your own. WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you chart your courses, answer your questions, and help you learn about endorsement in your state. You're not alone when you choose an online degree at WGU.Flexible schedule. Students choose WGU for their online degree program because of its flexibility. Whether you already have a full-time job, have responsibilities as a parent, or just have a busy schedule, WGU can work for you.
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Areas of Study
Crucial skills you will gain in this ELL/ESL program include:
Culture
Language Production, Theory and Acquisition
Theories of Second Language Acquisition and Grammar
Planning, Implementing, Managing Instruction
Assessment Theory and Practice
Professional Role of the ELL Teacher
Field Experience for ELL
Subject Specific Pedagogy: ELL
Research Fundamentals
Field Experience
Explore the curriculum
A Respected Degree
Administrators and peers will value your ESL degree:
Strong alumni network. When you enroll in the ESL master's degree program at WGU, you join an impressive network of education professionals. Over 8,000 students graduated from the Teachers College in 2019 alone, taking their skills and impacting the educational system all around the United States.Recognized and accredited. WGU is a regionally accredited institution, meaning your degree is valuable. We also have top recognitions, like being named the best value in teacher education by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
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A supported, personalized experience.
WGU is different from other online universities—in the best possible ways! Take a quick look at what we mean:
Faculty
Learning
Assessment
In-Classroom Experience
Alumni Support
Faculty
SUPPORTING YOU: Faculty focused on students.
An entire team of faculty members has one goal in mind: your success. Your Program Mentor is your individually assigned faculty member, providing regular program guidance and instruction from the day you start, to the day you graduate. In addition, Course Instructors provide regular, subject-matter instruction and support, typically one-on-one, throughout each course you take.
Learning
YOUR ROADMAP: A personalized learning plan.
Your program is made up of a series of courses, each a personalized journey toward subject mastery. A preassessment provides insight into what you already know. You’ll then learn what you still need to learn, using online learning resources—available 24/7—along with one-on-one or cohort-based faculty instruction.
Assessment
PROVE IT: Show you know your stuff.
WGU measures learning, not time, so each course in your program culminates in an assessment—a test, paper, project, or presentation that allows you to prove what you know. As soon as you’re ready, you take the assessment. Take proctored exams from the comfort of your own home—via webcam, any time of day!
In-Classroom Experience
REAL-WORLD: Experience in a classroom.
Most of your program will be completed online but all teacher licensure programs—and many graduate-level programs for already-licensed teachers—also include the opportunity to observe and practice in a K–12 classroom setting. We’ll help you set everything up at a school near you.
Alumni Support
ALWAYS a Night Owl: WGU for life.
Continued support after you graduate includes many opportunities for professional development and enrichment, career support, and networking. WGU Night Owls may be independent learners, but they also become highly engaged in our active alumni community through apps, groups, and events.
The accreditation you need, plus industry respect and recognition.
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
Our programs check all the boxes. If this degree is your goal, get started toward becoming a student today—programs start the first of each month.
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