Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language

What Will You Study in Our M.A. in Teaching ESL? 

• Cultural anthropology
• Curriculum, testing, and assessment
• English as a world language
• Teaching grammar, lexicon, and pronunciation

Gain the broad skill set and practical training you need to pursue a career as an ESL instructor! In this degree, you can gain comprehensive knowledge of applied grammar, linguistics, and second language acquisition. You can not only study the practical use of the English language but also examine the syntax and phonology of the major languages of the world so you can better understand how to approach students from a variety of language backgrounds. With Liberty’s M.A. in TESL, you can become equipped to create a fun and effective learning environment that helps English language learners thrive!

Potential Career Opportunities with an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language

• Academic supervisor in a language institute
• Adjunct professor
• Christian school teacher
• English as a second language teacher

Benefits of Pursuing Our M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language

As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online TESL degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!

Military Benefits

Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:

• Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/retirees
• Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
• Current Department of Defense employees

We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)