Master of Education in ESOL

Advance Your Career With a Master of Education in ESOL

The Master of Education in English to Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, is fully online and designed to prepare you with the content knowledge, instructional strategies and resources needed to support the academic, social and language needs of English learners in K–12 educational settings.

The program prepares you to embrace multilingual learners’ language and cultural backgrounds as assets. You will learn how to design and implement instruction that best supports language and literacy development. Through our rigorous coursework, you will receive training in language acquisition and pedagogy, reading and writing instruction, classroom methodologies, materials development, cross-cultural communication and language assessment. 

Why a Master of Education in ESOL at Bowie State?

As Maryland’s first HBCU, Bowie State has a historic legacy of supporting a culturally and linguistically diverse population. In continuing this legacy, the Master of Education in ESOL will equip you with the content knowledge and skills to confidently support multilingual learners in both ESOL and mainstream classrooms. The program places major emphasis on how interactions across different contexts, such as social, familial and academic, can impact the education of culturally and linguistically diverse students. 

This fully online program offers the flexibility and convenience to fit around your daytime commitments. Evening classes are held synchronously, allowing for in-depth discussions, practice and analysis of the course content. 

• Program Details
• Application Information

Program Details

The online Master of Education in ESOL education requires 33 credit hours and can be completed in two years. See catalog for a full breakdown of course requirements.

The program offers two-degree options: one with MSDE certification and one without. 

• Master’s Degree in ESOL with MSDE certification: To become an ESOL specialist, you must complete 33 credits and hold an initial teacher certification or license. 
• Master’s Degree in ESOL without MSDE certification: This track is designed for individuals who do not hold a teaching license, such as conditionally licensed teachers, but want to pursue a graduate degree in ESOL. Transcripts will not include a certification designation. 

Please note: 

• To receive an ESOL certificate endorsement from the State of Maryland, you must be a fully licensed teacher.
• If you are not a fully licensed teacher, you will not be eligible for an ESOL certificate endorsement from the State of Maryland.
• You do not need a teaching license to earn your Master of Education in ESOL from Bowie State University.  

The Master of ESOL curriculum is guided by The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Association, Maryland Cultural Proficiency Standards and the International Society for Technology in Education standards. 

Application Information

Deadline

Fall/Summer – August 1

Spring – December 1

To apply, visit our apply page! 

1. Complete a BSU Graduate School application - application fee: $40  
2. If applying for the M.Ed in ESOL with the MSDE endorsement, provide a copy of your current teaching license – it must be a standard professional certificate. 
3. Submit an official copy of your undergraduate transcript to the Office of Graduate Admissions. 
   1. Transcripts may be submitted electronically or by mail.  
   2. Electronically at gradadmissions@bowiestate.edu. 
   3. Mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 
      Bowie State University,  
      14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715.  
4. GRE scores and recommendation letters are not required for this program. 

Graduate Resources

We have compiled a list of resources to help you navigate your graduate studies and get the most out of your educational experience. Make an appointment to receive writing assistance, reserve a private study space or contact Disability Support Services for additional accommodations.   

• Department of Education Grants
• See Resources
• Disability Support Services

Meet Faculty and Staff

Get to know the expert faculty and staff who will be instructing you throughout your time at Bowie State. Build connections, ask for mentorship and receive guidance as you prepare to embark on your career.  

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