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Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Graduate Programs
Program OverviewLanguage, Literacy, and Culture Ph.D.

Why Study Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)?

Graduate study in TESOL opens doors to opportunities locally and abroad.

The M.A. TESOL is an internationally-recognized professional credential. It is ideal for individuals planning a career in English language teaching. Holders of the M.A. TESOL work in teaching and leadership roles.

The master’s degree has four options: general, thesis, P-12 certification, and thesis with P-12 certification and can lead to licensure.

At a Glance

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Terms of Admission:
Fall, Spring, Summer

Campus Locations:
Catonsville, Online

Schedule:
Full-time, Part-time

Department:
Department of Education

College:
College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Program Designations:
Professional Programs
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FINANCIAL AID ↓HOW TO APPLY ↓APPLICATION DEADLINES ↓PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ↓PROGRAM CONTACTS ↓

What Are My Career Options Studying Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)?

Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages

Based on real UMBC graduates*

125 Graduates
$66,791 Median Salary
Data shown for graduates 2011–2026.

Top Job Titles

  • ESOL TEACHER
    12
    Graduates
    $66k
    Median Salary
  • ESL TEACHER
    9
    Graduates
    $50k
    Median Salary
  • TEACHER
    6
    Graduates
    $68k
    Median Salary
  • LANGUAGE TEACHER
    4
    Graduates
    $73k
    Median Salary
  • ESL INSTRUCTOR
    3
    Graduates
    $54k
    Median Salary
  • ENGLISH TEACHER
    3
    Graduates
    $127k
    Median Salary
  • ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR
    2
    Graduates
    $53k
    Median Salary
  • ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
    2
    Graduates
    $84k
    Median Salary
  • INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
    2
    Graduates
    $75k
    Median Salary
  • PROGRAM OFFICER
    2
    Graduates
    $80k
    Median Salary

Salary Distribution

Top Employers

  1. MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 7
  2. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 6
  3. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 6
  4. BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 4
  5. HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3
  6. HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3
  7. MONTGOMERY COLLEGE 2
  8. LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2
  9. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY 2
  10. FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2

Top Industries

Job Categories

Top Locations

  1. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 15
  2. SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 6
  3. FREDERICK, MARYLAND 5
  4. COLUMBIA, MARYLAND 4
  5. ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 4

* Outcomes reflect graduates Steppingblocks could match to public career data, so totals may not represent every graduate in the program. Salary figures are based only on graduates with salary data available.

Tuition, Scholarships & Financial Aid

Find opportunities to further advance your career and academic studies.

UMBC participates in all federal and state student financial aid programs and offers scholarships and assistantships through the Graduate School, Graduate Departments and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

2025–2026 Graduate Cost Calculator Graduate Assistantships Fellowships Funding Your Education

Ready to Apply?

1

Review Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA

Letters of recommendation (three for the MA TESOL; two for the TESOL PBC)

  • Statement of purpose explaining your interest in the field

Second language speakers of English must submit one of the following scores:

  • 213+ on the computer-based TOEFL* 80+ on the internet-based test TOEFL* 6.5+ on IELTS* 53+ on PTE Academic 

2

Start Your Graduate Admissions Application

Please note that application decisions can take 6-8 weeks after the program’s deadline, and depend on how many applications a department receives. You will receive an email once the department processes your decision letter. You will be able to see your decision letter by logging in to the application website. Your decision letter will be where the application checklist was. You may also check your recommendation statuses to send reminders or update contact information from the user page. If you are having trouble logging back in, you can recover your account.

3

Have Questions?

Please contact the appropriate Graduate School staff member for assistance, or contact our Main Office at gradschool@umbc.edu or 410-455-2537.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026 Application Deadlines are extended to August 1, 2026 for this program

Summer Semester

Domestic Students:
(Domestic Applicants Only) Apply by June 1

Fall Semester

Domestic Students:
Apply by August 1

International Students:
Priority Deadline: Apply by May 1
Final Deadline: Apply by June 1

Spring Semester

Domestic Students:
Apply by January 1

International Students:
Priority Deadline: Apply by November 1
Final Deadline: Apply by December 1

UMBC Graduate School Application UMBC Grad School Admissions Info UMBC Grad School Required Documents

Contact Information

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program Contacts

Main Contact

410-455-6579
tesol@umbc.edu

Program Director

Dr. Francis M. Hult
fmhult@umbc.edu

UMBC Graduate School Admissions Office Contact Information

Mailing Address

UMBC Graduate School
1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250

Admissions Staff

Staff are available from
Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 410-455-2537

Request Help

Email Graduate Admissions at gradschool@umbc.edu.

Visit Official Program WebsiteView Course Catalog Entry

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