Online MA in Linguistics | TESL | Liberty University

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Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

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

Use Linguistics to Increase Your English-Teaching Ability with Liberty’s Master’s in Linguistics – TESL Degree

Are you hoping to learn more about the formation of human language to be a better teacher? If so, conferring Liberty’s online Master of Arts (MA) in Linguistics – Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) degree is a great option! Throughout this program, you’ll analyze the building blocks of language and study how linguistics can be used to understand the evolutionary processes that underlie speech formation.

This teaching English as a second language degree program will complement the TESL and TESOL programs you may be teaching by covering the advanced theories found in applied linguistics. Through this TESL degree, you can develop a practical approach to language that can have far-reaching implications in artificial intelligence, business, translation, military intelligence, and speech pathology. By studying under our experienced faculty, you can become equipped to increase second language acquisition and even help students better understand their primary language.

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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 Teaching English as a Second Language Linguistics Degree Online?

Whether you are working full-time or trying to balance your family and community commitments, continuing your education can be difficult. We offer our teaching English as a second language master’s linguistics degree 100% online, and the courses have no set login times. You’ll have the freedom to complete your courses from the comfort of home without the worry of having to attend classes on campus.

At Liberty, we seek to equip qualified professionals with the tools needed to make a difference. Maybe you already work as a TESL instructor and want to increase your job prospects, or perhaps you’re looking to enter this exciting field for the first time. Either way, our online linguistics TESL degree can help equip you with a solid understanding of the theoretical side of human language and help you integrate this knowledge into your classes so you can become a more effective teacher.

What Will You Study in Our Online TESL Linguistics Degree?

Liberty’s online linguistics degree is broken down into 3 main parts: core linguistics courses, language studies electives, and the teaching English as a second language specialization. Within the core content of this program, you’ll study advanced topics in semantics, pragmatics, phonetics, phonology, morphology, and syntax. You can also dive into the history of language and explore important aspects of linguistic field studies. Our second language acquisition course provides an overview of language program models, studying theory, and state and federal language policies.

The teaching English as a second language specialization can give you added instruction in the history, philosophies, and current trends of second language research. You will also explore how to create a fully integrated classroom curriculum that incorporates reading, writing, listening, and speaking. To round out your second language studies, you can study various assessment methods and protocols for test creation.

All of your courses will be taught from a Christian worldview and based on principles that can help you foster a more productive personal and professional life. With professors who care about your development and success, you can be assured you will be working with a supportive and helpful faculty You will also have the opportunity to interact with your fellow students to share professional knowledge and insights on how to have a more successful classroom.

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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.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/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 the MA in Linguistics – Teaching English as a Second Language

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- 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 college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- 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.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

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.

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 – $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)

*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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Frequently Asked Questions for the Online MA in Linguistics Degree

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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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MA in Linguistics – Teaching English as a Second Language Practical Linguistics for a Multilingual World

Use Linguistics to Increase Your English-Teaching Ability with Liberty’s Master’s in Linguistics – TESL Degree

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Teaching English as a Second Language Linguistics Degree Online?

What Will You Study in Our Online TESL Linguistics Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for the MA in Linguistics – Teaching English as a Second Language

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions for the Online MA in Linguistics Degree

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Are you ready to change your future?

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