Online BS in Teaching English as a Second Language

120

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Share Your Knowledge and Love for English with Our Teaching English as a Second Language Degree

If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you might have noticed English is used as one of the main languages for communicating. That’s what makes a career in teaching English as a second language (TESL) such an exciting and rewarding experience. When pursuing a teaching English as a second language major, you open yourself up to a variety of different experiences that allow you to travel abroad and learn about new cultures while you educate other nations about your language.

Conferring Liberty University’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Teaching English as a Second Language can provide the credentials you need to pursue jobs both at home and abroad. Whether you work in South America, Asia, the Middle East, or Europe, you will find many students yearning to learn English as a second language. With a degree in ESL, you will study not only the linguistic skills you need but also methods for overcoming cultural barriers and reaching students who want to grasp the complexity of the English language.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)?

Learn from an accredited academic institution that has a history of success in teaching English as a second language both locally and abroad. Liberty University has long-standing relationships with several English teaching ministries and educational organizations across the globe. Our proven track record of strong partnerships can be greatly beneficial as you enter the workforce. English is a dominant language in business both in America and abroad, so a bachelor’s degree in teaching ESL online is a dynamic degree that can be used in many different contexts. Liberty’s teaching English as a second language online degree is taught by faculty who have years of experience in the field, so you can be confident that you’re receiving a world-class education.

Liberty’s bachelor’s degree in teaching English as a second language can be completed online. While you study from the comfort of your home or office, you will complete courses that have the same rigor and advanced training as Liberty’s residential counterparts. You can gain the knowledge and skills needed to teach English from professors who are grounded in the Christian faith and ready to show you how to integrate biblical principles into your professional life.

What Will You Study in Our Teaching English Language Bachelor’s Degree?

As you study the art of teaching English as a second language, you can gain comprehensive knowledge in applied grammar, linguistics, and second language acquisition. ESL teachers are encouraged to understand the syntax and phonology of other major languages of the world. At Liberty, we strive to prepare students with these skills so that they can effectively teach the next generation English as a second language. This training can help enable you to prepare a curriculum with your student’s language in mind. Understanding how students acquire language can allow you to carry out effective teaching-learning processes and outcomes.

Throughout this degree, you will study the intricacies of the English language and how to best utilize the resources available to you to better meet the needs of your students. You will also have the opportunity to dive deep into various activities and class exercises that can help your students have fun while you are teaching them. Additionally, your internship can help prepare you with the skills, knowledge, and wisdom to be successful and confident in your future career in the classroom.

Potential Career Opportunities

Your teaching English as a second language degree can help prepare you for countless jobs. An ESL degree online allows you to learn from anywhere so that you can teach everywhere – from Beijing to Port-au-Prince. Not only can you seek a career in teaching English as a second language, but you can also become better prepared to serve those around you through mission work, non-governmental organizations, and the business world. Here are some of the careers you could pursue:

International missions worker
Second language curriculum developer
Second language linguistics researcher

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

Undergraduate Full Time	$390/Credit
Undergraduate Part Time	$455/Credit
Military Undergraduate	$250/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High School Transcript Policy

Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

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Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
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)
Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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BS in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Cultivating Language Skills

Share Your Knowledge and Love for English with Our Teaching English as a Second Language Degree

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)?

What Will You Study in Our Teaching English Language Bachelor’s Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

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Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language

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Transcript Policies

Military Transfers

International Applicants

Admissions Office Contact Information

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