Teaching English in Secondary Schools (TESS) (MA)
Master of Arts
Elevate your teaching career with an online program designed specifically for middle and high school teachers.
- Delivered entirely online
- Next cohort begins Fall 2025
- Apply now!
You may be eligible to receive a $2,000 Online & Distance Education Scholarship -- complete the application today!
Features
Entirely Online | 33 Credits | 2.5 Years
- Designed primarily for middle-level and secondary teachers.
- Completed in eight consecutive semesters (3-6 hours of credit each semester).
- Program coursework and instruction areas include English education pedagogy, writing practice and pedagogy, literature study, including close examination of the range of literature read by adolescents, and classroom research strategies/methodologies.
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.
 | Karen Tracey Program Coordinator Associate Professor, Languages & Literatures |
 | Jamie Anderson Enrollment Contact jamie.anderson@uni.edu |
Request Information
Fall and spring courses are offered online on Wednesday nights using the Blackboard learning management system and Zoom video conferencing sessions. These platforms allow students to enhance their learning experience with face-to-face interaction, while building a sense of community with classmates. The summer session typically requires one week of in-person instruction on the UNI campus.
Our graduates are prepared to:
- Teach dual enrollment and community college English classes
- Assume teacher leadership roles
- Align curriculum and classroom practices to best practices in the field of English language arts
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
Fall and spring courses are offered online on Wednesday nights using the Blackboard learning management system and Zoom video conferencing sessions. These platforms allow students to enhance their learning experience with face-to-face interaction, while building a sense of community with classmates. The summer session typically requires one week of in-person instruction on the UNI campus.
Our graduates are prepared to:
- Teach dual enrollment and community college English classes
- Assume teacher leadership roles
- Align curriculum and classroom practices to best practices in the field of English language arts
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
To be admitted, students must have:
- 2.75 is the minimum GPA to be accepted without provision; applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 may still be admitted provisionally, at the discretion of the program and the Division of Graduate Studies.
- Undergraduate coursework in areas such as Advanced Writing or Teaching of Writing, American Literature, Modern or Ethnic Literature, Young Adult Literature or Teaching of English.
- State teaching license
Along with the application, you’ll need to submit:
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Applicant statement
- Writing sample (at least seven pages)
- Two letters of reference
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
Express Interest
Complete our online information request form. We'll send program updates, important information and application deadlines directly to your inbox!
Learn more
Learn more about the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures.
Scholarships
Online & Distance Education offers scholarships to UNI teaching alumni who enroll in a degree-seeking graduate program at a distance.
Delivery of program is contingent on a sufficient number of students being accepted into the program.