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A graduate certificate in TESOL from MU can help you advance your teaching career in contexts where English is taught as a second or foreign language. If want to help non-native speakers tap the possibilities offered by the English language, this may be the program for you.
Quick facts
Official name
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesCampus
Program type
Graduate certificateAcademic home
College of Education & Human Development | Department of Learning, Teaching and CurriculumDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
18Estimated cost
$10,618.20*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
This certificate has potential benefits for
- English language instructors
- Language program administrators
- Language testers
- Writers for educational materials
Program structure
Delivery of this program is 100 percent online: no campus visits are required.
Courses are generally semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and earn their graduate certificates in under two years.
Coursework includes
- Structure of the English language
- How languages are used and learned
- Design and implementation of tasks to facilitate language learning
Note: This program does not confer Kâ12 ESOL certification in any U.S. state. If you are interested in pursuing Missouri K-12 ESOL certification, visit the Missouri K-12 ESOL certification preparation page for more information.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
2 yearsTypical course load
1 or 2 classes each semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
Nikki Ashcraft is a teaching professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri. Dr. Ashcraft is an expert in language teaching methodology and adult learning, with extensive international experience in Latin America and the Middle East. She has held numerous leadership positions in the MIDTESOL association and TESOL International and has served as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State on projects in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Russia. Dr. Ashcraft was recognized with the 2025 UPCEA Excellence in Teaching Award for her sustained contributions to online education. She publishes and presents widely on topics related to classroom instruction and teacher professional development.
Rachel J. Pinnow is interested in the multimodal ways second language learners gain interactional competencies in academic contexts. Dr. Pinnow conducts both national and international research, funded through the National Science Foundation, to foster expert praxis among teachers of English to speakers of other languages and second language acquisition educators.