TESOL Graduate Programs
The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) graduate programs at Molloy University prepare you to teach diverse students in the high-demand field of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
You will learn authentic classroom practices that empower you to work with culturally and linguistically diverse multilingual learners across the United States through a curriculum based on:
- Equitable practices
- Evidence-based contemporary pedagogy
- Current research
- A multimodal design infused with technology to support equity and inclusion
Our programs provide the TESOL courses leading to New York State initial, professional, and advanced certification for current teachers and those not yet certified, including career changers. The New York State Department of Education also shares reciprocity agreements with over 45 states, so your graduate TESOL degree from Molloy will qualify you to work as an English as a Second Language (ESL)/ English Language Development (ELD)/ English as a New Language (ENL) teacher in many areas outside New York after graduation.
About the Graduate TESOL Degree Programs
We offer flexible TESOL graduate programs for certified teachers who want to expand their credentials or individuals who wish to teach ESOL. Because many of our students work full time during the day, we offer hybrid, online, and evening TESOL courses to help you navigate your education and other responsibilities.
TESOL master’s programs include:
- TESOL Pre-K–12 Initial Program (39 credits): Offered hybrid or online, this graduate TESOL degree program is for individuals not yet certified, including those who are considering a career change to become an ESOL teacher.
- TESOL Pre-K Professional Program (33 credits): This program is offered online only in seven-week terms and is for certified teachers who want to add a TESOL designation.
- TESOL Pre-K–12 Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate (21 credits): This online-only, seven-course program is offered in seven-week terms and provides advanced certification for current teachers who already possess a master’s degree.
You can also pair our Adolescent Education or Childhood Education programs with TESOL courses to earn dual certification (45 credits).
You can view the requirements for all TESOL master’s degrees in our catalog.
Benefits of Molloy’s Graduate TESOL Education Programs
Highly Skilled, Renowned TESOL Faculty
Our faculty members are experienced classroom practitioners, internationally known researchers, and bestselling authors. Small class sizes offer you opportunities to foster close relationships with our instructors, allowing them to provide personalized advising and mentorship. They will support you throughout your TESOL education and after graduation. You may also have the opportunity to collaborate with your professors on research publications and presentations.
Master’s in TESOL Advising
When you enroll in our graduate TESOL education programs, you will be assigned an advisor to help you navigate the TESOL course requirements.
New York State policies change regularly, but we guide you through the certification process while you’re at Molloy and after graduation. Our career training and placement services can help you find employment as an ENL teacher, and job openings are always shared with our students.
School Partnerships
The New York State Education Department requires teaching certification candidates to have experience in a high-needs school setting. We develop innovative projects with local school districts that meet this designation, and you can often complete your field experience requirements at these schools.
Additional partnerships include:
- A TESOL advisory board of local teachers and administrators who support our candidates and the broader professional community. Many members of this board hire our students.
- The Clinically Rich Teacher’s Institute for Bilingual Education and English to speakers of Other Languages (CR-ITI BE/ESOL) grant, which has been awarded to us for a third time, allows us to work with school districts throughout Long Island, serving large percentages of multilingual learners (MLs) and English learners (ELs). This opportunity will continue through 2028.
“We have had much success with our new teachers from Molloy. This is evident in lesson planning, effective relationships with students, and in the case of [one] particular teacher, she has done an outstanding job. She is professional, invested in our school community and her own professional growth. She has been a home run for us and our students!”
Anonymous School Administrator
Career Outlook for TESOL Education Graduates
There is a constant need for ESOL teachers trained to work with culturally and linguistically diverse multilingual learners. In fact, according to projections from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 40 percent of students will be English language learners (ELLs) by 2030. As of 2019, 64 percent of all teachers had at least one ELL in their classrooms.
Upon completion of a TESOL master’s program, you will be prepared to work with students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.
TESOL Education Field Experiences
Our TESOL degree includes comprehensive field experiences for individuals pursuing initial teaching certification. You will complete 100 hours of observation and participation in educational settings before beginning student-teaching your final semester.
After these experiences, you will undertake a full-time student-teaching assignment under the mentorship of a cooperating teacher. This immersive experience allows you to apply your TESOL knowledge while receiving valuable feedback and guidance from both your Molloy University field supervisor and your cooperating teacher.
Certified teachers who want to add a TESOL designation to their license will take a practicum in lieu of the above field experience.
Our graduates consistently find these field opportunities instrumental in their professional development, and many go on to work as ESOL teachers with the schools where they completed these experiences.
Take the Next Step
Find out why our alumni return to Molloy to earn additional degrees and certifications, volunteer, participate in events, and join us as instructors. Learn more or apply today.
