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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.

It’s FREE to Apply until December 22! Your Application Fee is WAIVED when you Apply to Winter or Spring term.

*Excludes MSW, MFA and CMHC programs

  • Duration As few as 12 months
  • Cost per Credit $559
  • 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.

Required Courses

This seminar course provides an exploration of issues related to second language acquisition in schools, cognitive development in bilingual learners, and restructuring K-12 education to better meet the needs of linguistic minority students. Course participants will read extensively in the literature regarding second language education research, learner strategies in acquiring a second language, and the analysis of English and its underlying system. Three major projects will be required, including a literature circle response presentation; a portfolio of weekly response assignments over course readings and weekly linguistic analysis assignments; and an integrative capstone experience which includes conducting and writing up a case study of a selected bilingual learner. 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.
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.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) practicum experience. The purpose of this field experience is to provide opportunities for participants to become familiar with the complex world of students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Consequently, course participants are assigned to work with students in linguistically diverse educational settings, under the supervision of teachers and/or staff who are endorsed as ESOL instructors. This course fulfills the Oregon Teachers’ Standards and Practices Commission requirement of ninety practicum hours working with English language learners in the appropriate authorization level. This course may be repeated for up to eight credits. Prerequisites: Student must have completed at least nine ESOL credit hours of which one course must be ED 548 to register for this course. Students must also receive instructor approval and have an active TaskStream account. Prior to enrolling the ED 547 practicum, candidates must clear the TSPC fingerprinting, background check, and PA1, and have a passing score on the ORELA Civil Rights Exam or a current valid teaching license in the state of Oregon. Approvals must be made one term prior to registration.

View Program 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 by selecting one or more of the following concentrations, helping you achieve your personalized career goals.

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

Master of Science in Education: Career & Technical Education

Help students discover their passions through specialized education in business, culinary arts, automotive, graphic design, engineering and more.

View Program

Master of Science in Education: Environmental Education

Learn how to create impactful outdoor learning experiences for outdoor schools, after-school programs, field days and scholastic gardens and farms.

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.

We accept up to 12 graduate credits for previous college coursework, which must be approved based on alignment with this program’s requirements. Transferring credits can help lower the tuition cost and time required to complete the program. Visit the tuition page to review the program costs.

The M.S. in Education is not an initial licensure program and does not lead to a teaching license in any state. However, if you are already a licensed teacher in Oregon, certain concentrations prepare you to pursue endorsements. The ESOL, Literacy, and Special Education concentrations can lead to Oregon endorsement recommendations, and the Trauma in Educational Communities concentration prepares you for a specialization. To receive an endorsement recommendation, you must already hold an Oregon teaching license. Teachers from other states should contact their state department of education to determine if the program meets their state’s endorsement requirements.

The M.S. in Education practicum experiences vary by concentration. For example, the Literacy concentration, Reading Intervention endorsement requires a 90-hour practicum in a working classroom setting. These hands-on experiences allow you to apply your learning in real educational environments while working toward your degree. The practicum component provides valuable experience even for those who don’t have prior teaching experience. Learn more on the program courses page.

Yes, you can change your concentration after enrolling in the M.S. in Education: Environmental Education program. However, each concentration includes distinct courses, so your program duration may be extended if you make changes after completing some courses.

Additionally, students may choose to pursue multiple concentrations, if they wish. Selecting more than one concentration will automatically fulfill elective requirements. To change or add additional concentrations, students should contact the program coordinator, who will assist with updating their degree plan.

To explore the courses for each concentration, visit the courses page.

The online M.S. in Education can be completed in as little as 12 months if you attend full-time, or you can extend your studies to a part-time schedule. The program requires 36 quarter credit hours total, including 15 credits in the teacher-researcher core. The flexible online format is designed specifically for working professionals who need to balance their education with career and personal commitments. View the complete curriculum and course sequence to plan your path.

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

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.