Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA)
Master of Arts
Preparing you to assist others in their abilities to use English — whether in K–12 classrooms or in community, business, professional or artistic and cultural settings
- Next cohort Fall 2025
- Apply by August 1!
You may be eligible to receive a $2,000 Online & Distance Education Scholarship -- complete the application today
Features
Entirely Online | 33 Credits | 2 Years
- Designed for those who wish to teach overseas, at community colleges and intensive English programs, and for K-12 teachers wishing to upgrade their skills and employability
- Leads you to opportunities for multicultural and international experiences, as well as service to the community
- Courses are designed using the Quality Matters set of professional standards based upon research, best practices and national standards for course design
- Ranked in the top 20% of online master's in education programs in 2024 by U.S. News and World Report
As an Online & Distance Education student, you’ll have a dedicated Enrollment Contact and Program Coordinator to assist you with registering for classes, navigating the course sequence and billing process, preparing for graduation and much more.
 | Hilal Ergul Program Coordinator Associate Professor, Languages & Literatures 319-273-2729 |
 | Angie Wolf Enrollment Contact angie.wolf@uni.edu |
Request Information
Along with the application, students should submit:
- official transcripts, sent directly to the Office of Admissions
- two letters of recommendation
- an applicant statement
- an academic writing sample
- proof of English proficiency:
- Native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in another language by earning at least a C grade in a second-semester, college-level course. International students must achieve a minimum score of 95 in the TOEFL-IBT with a minimum subscore of 25 in writing, 7.0 with a minimum writing subscore of 7.0 and no subscore less than 6.0 in the IELTS, 65 with no subscore less than 57 in PTE (Pearson Test of English), or 130 in Duolingo.
Courses are offered entirely online using a combination of Zoom video conferencing on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (central time) and Blackboard, a learning management system that will enhance your learning experience and provide a sense of community with fellow classmates.
Fall 2025 Course Sequence Fall 2023 Course Sequence
Recent graduate of the program have found success as:
- Teachers of English in more than 25 countries in the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Asia
- K-12 teachers in the U.S. (licensure required)
- English teachers in community colleges and in Intensive English programs in the U.S. and abroad
- Professionals in government agencies and on grant-funded projects developing curricula and evaluating English teaching programs
Note: The TESOL MA does not confer teacher licensure.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
Courses are offered entirely online using a combination of Zoom video conferencing on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (central time) and Blackboard, a learning management system that will enhance your learning experience and provide a sense of community with fellow classmates.
Fall 2025 Course Sequence Fall 2023 Course Sequence
Recent graduate of the program have found success as:
- Teachers of English in more than 25 countries in the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Asia
- K-12 teachers in the U.S. (licensure required)
- English teachers in community colleges and in Intensive English programs in the U.S. and abroad
- Professionals in government agencies and on grant-funded projects developing curricula and evaluating English teaching programs
Note: The TESOL MA does not confer teacher licensure.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
Online & Distance Education Scholarships
Online & Distance Education offers $2,000 scholarships for degree-seeking students enrolled in select graduate programs.
Project UNITED Scholarships
10+ scholarships, covering the tuition for 18 credits, will be awarded to students pursuing an ESL Endorsement or Master of Arts in TESOL. Priority will be given to students who plan to teach in high needs areas in Iowa, including schools with high influx of refugee or immigrant youth and rural areas. The next cohort of scholarship recipients will begin the program in Fall 2025.
Next Steps
Express Interest
Complete our online information request form. We'll send program updates, important information and application deadlines directly to your inbox!
Contact Us
Questions about course enrollment can be directed to janelle.finke@uni.edu or 319-273-7740.
Submit Your Application
When beginning your application, choose "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Applied Linguistics" as your program. Along with the application, students must submit the required additional application materials listed above.
Add the ESL Endorsement to Your Teaching License
Upon successful completion of the required courses, complete this application from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (IBOEE).
Delivery of this program is contingent on a sufficient number of students being accepted into the program.