Pursuing a master’s degree in English as a Second Language (ESL) while continuing to work full time can be a challenge. However, online programs offer the flexibility that working professionals need in order to be able to manage school and work at the same time. University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) offers a fully online program to earn a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction.
Flexibility and Reliability
Teaching ULM’s online program for an M.Ed. in ESL, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), is a diverse faculty, the same experienced educators who teach on campus. The program consists of 36 hours of coursework, including an internship. It can be completed in as few as 15 months. The online format makes it flexible and with multiple start dates per year, the program is convenient.
Affordability
When selecting the right program, cost is probably a significant factor for you. The ULM M.Ed. online program is not only flexible and accredited, it is also very affordable when compared with other institutions. The ULM program costs $300 per credit hour. You pay as you enroll in each course, for a total program cost of $10,800 for both in-state and out-of-state students. In addition, this program qualifies for Federal Student Aid. By comparison:
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a similar master’s program with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) but it is not available in the online format. Taking six credit hours at a time puts the cost of the 33-hour non-thesis option at $19,128.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers an online program for an M.A. in English with a concentration in TESOL. This 30-hour program costs $475 per credit hour up to 9 hours, then $100 per credit hour thereafter (in the same semester). Taking the courses over several semesters could cost up to $14,250.
Western Governors University is an online university, and it offers a Master of Arts in English Language Learning for PreK-12. WGU charges per term rather than per semester hour, so the longer you take to complete their 11-course program, the more expensive it becomes. If you complete the program in two years, the cost is $14,740.
Costs sourced from university websites (December 2020).
Earning Your ESL Master’s Degree
The online program from ULM for a Master of Education, Curriculum & Instruction with a Concentration in English as a Second Language will prepare you to teach English language learners in a variety of settings. You will be able to work within academic and corporate environments, globally and in multiple roles, including Curriculum Supervisor, Instructional Coordinator, Administrator, or ESL Instructor.
Coursework covers current technologies and practical approaches, theories and techniques for teaching ESL from elementary through adult education students and includes:
- Educational research
- Curriculum design and research-based instruction
- Technology integration
- Assessment and accountability
- ESL history
- Structure of the English language, second language acquisition, and the social and cultural aspects of language acquisition
- Grammar for teachers
- Educational techniques for exceptional children in general classrooms
- Teacher leadership
The program concludes with an internship that provides supervised real-life experience in elementary school.
Learn more about ULM’s online M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction online program.