Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Initial PreK-12 ESOL Certification

Tuition & fees

Costs include tuition & fees. Tuition varies based on residency and mode of study. Students who study fully online receive our e-tuition rate. See cost details

Credit hours

39 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list

Financial aid

Over 150 graduate assistantships available with stipend & tuition assistance, plus scholarship, fellowship & research opportunities. Explore aid

Admissions

No GRE required. Apply for fall, spring, or summer term. View application process & deadlines

Program highlights

Choose a mode of study that is blended (a mix of online and in-person courses) or fully online.
Earn your degree on your terms: Study full-time and finish in as few as 18 months or study part-time and finish in 3 years and 6 months.
Save money with affordable tuition: Students who choose to study online receive our e-tuition rate.
Qualify for a career as a PreK-12 ESL teacher and earn your initial teaching license upon graduation.
Acquire practical, hands-on ESL/EFL teaching experience through an immersive internship at a public PreK-12 school.
Study with supportive faculty who provide personal guidance and mentorship for your professional development and career path.
Join an alumni community that includes those who have been named a Maine Teacher of the Year, a Boren Fellow, and a Fullbright Fellow.

A teacher works with a group of students while using a laptop.

In-depth internship

You’ll gain practical experience by participating in a 40-hour field experience in a PreK-12 public school in preparation for your 300-hour internship. During the internship, you’ll collaborate with your mentor teacher to develop lesson plans, experiment with instruction techniques, and lead your own lessons.

Explore internship

Program requirements

We provide a rigorous curriculum to ensure you graduate with all the tools you’ll need to assess learners’ language skills and help improve their proficiency for second-language use.

Visit course catalog

Buoys painted with the flag designs of different countries.

Global alumni network

Our graduates teach all over the world, including in the United States, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Egypt, among other countries.

Meet our alumni

A map of the world with the word 'Welcome' written in different languages.

Certification and licensure

At the completion of the program, you’ll have the credentials to earn your initial teaching license and be employed as a PreK-12 ESL teacher.

Learn more

An aerial view of the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus.

Diverse, expert faculty

Every full-time faculty member holds a doctoral degree in the field of Literacy, Language, and Culture. Our part-time faculty are experienced members of the professional education community and many are current practitioners in the field.

Meet our faculty

Two women sit at a table and review paperwork together.

Scholarship opportunities

Scholarships offer financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. We encourage students in graduate degree programs to apply for scholarship opportunities.

Explore scholarships

National accreditation and state approval

This program is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and state-approved by the Maine State Board of Education and the Maine Department of Education.

View accreditation

A man sits at a table and types on a laptop.

Connect with us

Our monthly Graduate Information Sessions are an excellent way to learn more about the benefits of our program, as well as our admissions and financial process.

A man smiles and waves while holding a large flag, among many other large flags of various countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this program, you’ll gain the practical knowledge and skills to help students develop proficiency and literacy in English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

Get answers

A graduate student stands in front of a table where staff are answering questions and typing on laptops. Behind her are several more graduate students facing the table.

Graduate student support

Our Office of Graduate Studies connects you with opportunities for professional development, scholarships, and graduate assistantships. They also foster our graduate student community through Peer Mentorship and the Graduate Student Board.

Browse resources

One-of-a-kind program

The need for teachers with ESL certification continues to grow. We offer the only MSEd in TESOL in Maine that’s designed to meet the needs of pre-service teachers who live in Maine, out-of-state, and abroad.

Explore further

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) | Blended

Master’s Program

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) | Online

Master’s Program (Online)

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) | Online

Certificate of Graduate Study (Online)

Teaching and Learning

Certificate of Graduate Study

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) | Online

Certificate of Advanced Study (Online)

Next steps

Our graduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.

Get info

Meet us

Apply

A student sits at a table and writes on a stack of papers.

Admission information: MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Initial PreK-12 ESL Certification

Application deadlines

We accept applications on a rolling basis and review them continuously.

Application deadline	Fall term start	Spring term start	Summer term start
Recommended	May 1	October 15	March 1
Final	August 1	December 15	April 15
International applicants	June 1	October 15	Not available

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in a baccalaureate degree program.

Applicants who do not have a 3.0 overall GPA must enclose a letter asking for special consideration, in which they provide evidence of an ability to complete graduate studies successfully. Without such a letter, applicants who fail to meet eligibility requirements may be automatically denied.

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

Application: Online application
Application fee:
- In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
- International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
- International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, we require an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies
  - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
  - Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)
Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. See additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

Additional requirements

Essay: Type a brief essay (300-500 words) explaining your interest in pursuing initial PreK-12 ESL certification. How have your personal and professional experiences prepared you to pursue certification as an ESL teacher? What particular qualities do you possess that will make you an ESL teacher who can help students from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds experience success in a public school setting?
References: Names and contact information of three references who can speak to the applicant’s interest in pursuing teacher certification.
Recommendation: One letter of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s knowledge of current scholarship, capacity to connect theory and practice in posing and solving educational problems, achievement of excellence in educational practice, and demonstrated capability and motivation to engage in advanced graduate study.

Transfer Credit

Previously completed graduate courses may be approved for transfer into a graduate program within the Literacy, Language, and Culture programs if credits for the courses were earned no more than five years prior to matriculation, with grades of B or better.

For previous work completed through the University of Maine System, up to twelve credits may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. Up to six graduate credits completed at institutions outside of the University of Maine System may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. A syllabus for each course submitted for transfer credit from outside the University of Maine System must be provided upon application.

Transfer of more than twelve University of Maine System credits or six non-University of Maine System credits may be approved by the program coordinator and faculty. These credits may include certificate of graduate study program courses and professional development in-service graduate courses. Requests for the transfer of credits taken more than five years prior to matriculation may also be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator and faculty.

International student instructions

View additional application requirements

English proficiency test scores

View test requirements

Where to send application materials

Get our mailing address and email address