Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Concentration, M.Ed.

TESL Concentration coursework can be finished in five semesters, which can be as short as two years with the use of our Summer session.

Suggested Course of Study:

You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and learn to apply technology to enhance learning.

See the catalog link at the end of this page for a full list of courses, which vary depending on your concentration area.

• Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
• A bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor.
• Transcripts from all post-secondary education documenting an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale). Please inquire with our Enrollment Team for more details if your GPA does not meet this requirement.
• A statement of purpose.
• Three recommendations from those knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional disposition or work in schools/youth. Applicants will provide reference contact names and email addresses through the application portal.
• A North Carolina “A” license (Standard Professional 1 [SP1] Professional Educator’s License), or the equivalent from another state, is required to receive advanced licensure from this program, though not required for admission.

• August 1 (fall)
• December 1 (spring)
• May 1 (summer first half term)

Instructional Coaching

The Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching prioritizes real-world application, expert instruction and professional networking, making it a valuable option for those seeking to advance their careers in education. You will develop the instructional coaching skills needed to help teachers improve instruction, design quality curriculum, effectively use data to guide instruction and determine areas for development. It can be taken as part of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and only requires four courses:

• Principles of Coaching I
• Coaching for an Equitable Learning Environment
• Principles of Coaching II
• Application of Coaching Principles

Work with your program advisor or Luke Reinke, Instructional Coaching Program Director, to determine how this fits into your desired plan of study.

Upon graduating from our M.Ed. program, you’ll be highly qualified to apply for a doctoral program, which prepares you for leadership positions within your school or district. Some students who complete a doctorate pursue careers as instructors at community colleges or four-year institutions.

UNC Charlotte alumni who completed the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction – TESL can be found working in educational organizations such as:

• Local and national K-12 schools and districts
• Community colleges
• English language training institutes
• Local non-profit agencies
• Programs abroad (including places like Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Egypt)

Our graduates enter careers post-grad such as:

• Lead teachers, teacher trainers, or district leaders in ESL departments
• Teachers in private language schools
• Instructors in English language training institutes in community colleges or universities
• Teachers of ESL abroad in countries such as China, Japan, and Korea.
• Instructors or program directors at non-profit organizations that serve immigrants and refugees
• Consultants within federal and state government agencies

• Learn from faculty experts. Our faculty are passionate about teaching, their academic disciplines and their students. Faculty members also use their research and community service experience to bring new instructional methods and innovative educational trends into the classroom. Faculty members have received awards from the UNC Charlotte College of Education for Excellence in Research, Excellence in Teaching, Excellence in Innovation, and for their Sustained Service to Public Schools.
• Earn your online master’s degree in just two years (five semesters). You will average two courses per semester and complete the program in two years (including one full summer term). You may opt to take just one course per semester, which will lengthen the time it takes to earn your degree. You will complete a capstone experience through either a comprehensive portfolio or a research project, as assigned by your program advisor.
• Students do community-engaged outreach projects that support students and families outside of the school environment. In the Charlotte area, for example, our students work closely with school partners as well as with after-school and youth empowerment programs in the community.
• Students are encouraged to substitute a study abroad experience for one of the M.Ed. courses. Our Office of Education Abroad can assist students in finding an international study option that fits your interest and training. Graduate students in TESL have opportunities to travel to China, Korea, Germany, South Africa, and India as part of already established UNC Charlotte College of Education faculty-led summer programs.

Resident: $288.82 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident: $536.98 per credit hour

Non Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour