Because English has become the world's major international language, the demand for qualified ESL experts increases and will continue to increase.

Academic credentials in ESL/EFL  prepare you to work with or to teach non-native and second dialect speakers of English in the United States and in foreign countries.

To determine which program or degree might be best for you, you might want to read this article on common qualifications in ESL/EFL from International TESOL, the largest professional organization in our field.

The Department of English offers an undergraduate concentration, an M.A. concentration, and a 15 credit certificate in ESL.

Ph.D. students in the Applied Linguistics Concentration can focus on ESL/EFL issues in their work.

Career Opportunities in ESL

• K-12
• college
• refugee resettlement program
• community citizenship courses
• intensive institutes

• American studies and American literature
• English for Specific Purposes [ESP] in business, medical, law, or engineering schools teacher training.

• editing international journals written in English
• creating curriculum
• authoring textbooks
  

Concentration Requirements for the M.A. in English with a Concentration in ESL (either completely online, onsite, or in combinations of online and onsite classes)

Total semester course hours: 33

Linguistics and ESL course hours: 18 (9 must be in ESL, one must be ENGL 7531 History and Theory of ESL)

Core requirement: 6 semester hours [2 classes] other than in ESL [e.g. professional writing, creative writing, or literature]

Written comprehensive exam

See the undergraduate program, the ESL Certificate, and the Ph.D. program the specific requirements for those degrees.