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M.S. in Education: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Empower Second Language Learners to Thrive in Your Classroom

Online ESOL program

Prepare to seek an ESOL endorsement

Transfer up to 12 graduate credits

Program includes 2 electives

Learn More Today

Complete the form to learn more about this program.

  • Duration As few as 12 months
  • Cost per Credit $537
  • Credit Hours 36

Program Benefits

  • Complete ESOL courses online
  • Prepare for ESOL teaching positions
  • Receive one-on-one coaching from your faculty and advisors
  • No GRE requirement

Prepare to Teach English to Students with Diverse Linguistic Backgrounds

Develop a solid foundation for teaching second language learners by pursuing your M.S. in Education with a concentration in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Eastern Oregon University. This program appeals to licensed Oregon teachers wanting to complete an ESOL certification program that offers endorsement preparation. We designed our courses for working professionals, providing the flexibility needed to continue working while earning your master’s in education.

ESOL Endorsement Details

  • This program can exclusively recommend candidates for ESOL endorsements in Oregon.
  • To receive an ESOL endorsement recommendation, you must have an Oregon license (this is not an initial licensure program).
  • If you teach outside of Oregon, you can request for your home state to verify that you completed this program. After that, your home state can determine whether it will accept our program for your licensure.

Curriculum: ESOL Concentration

Online courses

Finish in 12 – 36 months

36 quarter credit hours

Select this concentration to gain overarching knowledge of educating multilingual learners. While completing ESOL classes online, you’ll gain hands-on experience through projects focusing on real-world case studies and linguistic analyses, all in a convenient format that works well for educators with busy schedules. You will also complete a field practicum to enhance your expertise in educating students with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Featured Courses

Introduction to theory and practices of bilingual education and the history of bilingual education in the U.S. will be discussed. Students will become familiar with current issues and problems in the field of bilingual education, with federal legislation and court cases as they relate to minority students, and with different models of bilingual education programs. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course. Students will be required to have an active TaskStream account in order to participate in the course.
This seminar course is designed to assist practicing teacher in development and practice of research based strategies for meeting the needs of second language learners in the mainstream classroom. Effective methods of teaching both the English language and regular curriculum objectives will be the main focus of the course, with a special emphasis on learning to read, write, and speak English in mainstream classroom. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course. Students will be required to have an active TaskStream account in order to participate in the course.
Introduces the structure and functions of English. Course participants will analyze the underlying grammatical system of English at the phoneme, word, and text levels. Learners will demonstrate their knowledge of basic language structures and processes. A major focus of the course is the application of knowledge about linguistic processes to instructional decision making in literacy education. Student must have graduate standing to register for this course. Students will be required to have an active TaskStream account in order to participate in the course.
View Complete Curriculum

Meet the Need for Second Language Educators in Oregon Schools

The need for ESOL teachers is great, as about 1 in 10 students in Oregon public schools was an English language learner in May 2022.1 You can build competencies for educating this population by earning your ESOL degree online, as you’ll develop a firm grasp on language and cognition, second language acquisition, applied linguistics and more. Acquiring a master’s degree also helps new teachers increase their earnings by an average of 11 percent compared to their peers with only a bachelor’s degree.2

Elementary School Teacher $82,260 Avg. annual salary (Oregon)3

ESL Teacher $65,024 Avg. annual salary (Oregon)4

Career Outlook

Customize Your Area of Study

Tailor your education to your professional goals by choosing one of the following tracks.

Master of Science in Education: Curriculum Leadership

Grow as an educational leader capable of developing, implementing and evaluating curriculum that aligns with learning standards and assessment data.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Dyslexia

Learn to perform interventions and assessments focusing on literacy development to create empowering learning environments for children with dyslexia.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Literacy

Build skills for nurturing literacy engagement in PK-12 schools. Oregon teachers can seek a Reading Intervention endorsement after graduation.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Special Education

Build expertise in special education assessments and procedures. You can also prepare to earn a Special Education endorsement.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Trauma in Educational Communities

Oregon teachers can prepare to create trauma-informed classrooms and pursue a specialization in Trauma in Educational Communities after graduation.

View Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.

No, prior work experience is not required. Learn more about our admissions policy by visiting our admissions page.

Earning an ESOL degree prepares you to become an ESL teacher or classroom teacher with specialized knowledge.

There are five courses in the concentration component of this online program. Learn more about the core and ESOL courses by visiting the curriculum page.

You can work with your academic advisor to change your concentration after choosing the ESOL concentration. However, you will take distinct ESOL classes online after beginning this concentration, so your program duration may be extended if you switch to another concentration. To explore the courses for each concentration, visit the courses page.

Our ESOL concentration allows you to gain career-ready skills for teaching second language learners. These specialized skills will allow you to stand out among other professionals in your field and better compete for the position you want. To explore the courses for this concentration, visit the courses page.

Students attending Eastern Oregon University can pursue a variety of scholarships. To review the current options, visit the scholarships section of our Tuition & Aid page.

Visit our FAQ page

Sources

  1. Oregon Department of Education. English Learners in Oregon. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/equity/EngLearners/Documents/Oregon_English_Learners_Report_2021-22_Final.pdf.
  2. NEA. “NEA 2022-2023 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report.” Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2022-2023-teacher-salary-benchmark-report.pdf.
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (Oregon).” Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes_or.htm.
  4. Salary.com. “Teaching English as a Second Language Salary in Oregon.” Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/teaching-english-as-a-second-language-salary/or.