Learn to be an English as a Second Language (ESL) or foreign language educator.
UMass Boston's Applied Linguistics online master's program thoroughly prepares you for a career in foreign language or ESL education. Learn from award-winning professors on a schedule that fits your life.
- Value. Online tuition among the lowest in the field; significant in-person tuition breaks for MA and New England residents.
- Results. Graduates are in high demand with major education employers.
- Flexibility. Take courses entirely online or in-person, part-time or full-time.
- Options. Choose from 3 specializations: ESL education, bilingual education, and foreign language pedagogy.
- Certified. Curriculum consistent with TESOL and ACTFL Standards, and to the ESL Teacher professional standards outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
UMass Boston's Applied Linguistics online master's program thoroughly prepares you for a career in foreign language or ESL education. Learn from award-winning professors on a schedule that fits your life.
- Value. Online tuition among the lowest in the field; significant in-person tuition breaks for MA and New England residents.
- Results. Graduates are in high demand with major education employers.
- Flexibility. Take courses entirely online or in-person, part-time or full-time.
- Options. Choose from 3 specializations: ESL education, bilingual education, and foreign language pedagogy.
- Certified. Curriculum consistent with TESOL and ACTFL Standards, and to the ESL Teacher professional standards outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Why earn a master’s in applied linguistics from UMass Boston?
- Renowned Faculty. Professors Avary Carhill-Poza, Panayota Gounari, and Chris Leider were recently awarded a prestigious five-year, $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Professional Development (NPD) program. Their project will give educators the knowledge, skills, and pedagogy to lead their school districts to benefit from the strengths of immigrant students who are learning English. The project will provide a practical solution for the shortage of qualified, diverse teachers of English learners in eight urban high-needs public school districts in Greater Boston.
- Outcomes. Alumni have gone on to successful careers as teachers, adult education instructors, translators, authors, researchers, professors, and curriculum developers. Alumni have also gone on to earn PhDs in linguistics.
- Hands-On Experience. As a student, you'll have the opportunity to conduct research, work with community based organizations or prepare to teach in various contexts, such as public schools, K-12, adult education, and language schools in the United States and abroad.
Recent Graduate Employers
Recent graduates are employed by public schools, universities, education consulting companies, adult education providers, and publishing companies — around the world and near Boston — including:
Take the next step.
Applications to start in the fall are due May 1. Applications to start in the spring are due November 1. Ready to get started? Connect with UMass Boston today and start focusing on your future.