TESOL MA

A Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology

Master of Arts in TESOL


We offer a 36-point Master of Arts degree in TESOL General studies for students wishing to teach in any of a variety of settings, except in the New York State public schools. Through comprehensive and innovative coursework, hands-on experiences in our on-campus language school, and research projects, you’ll explore the teaching and learning of English to speakers of other languages.

Please note: The General Track does not prepare students to obtain New York State PK-12 Certification in ESL.

Teachers College Building
A group of students converse in a study group at Teachers College.

Admission Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Master of Arts

  • Points/Credits: 36
  • Entry Terms: Fall
  • Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based

Application Deadlines

Entry Term AvailablePriority DeadlinesFinal DeadlinesExtended Deadlines
SpringN/AN/AN/A
SummerN/AN/AN/A
FallJanuary 15, 2025April 1, 2025June 1, 2025

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

 Requirement
 Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume
 Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed
 Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable)
 $75 Application Fee
 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
 Video essay required (included in online application)
 English Proficiency exam required for all non-native English speakers, see program website for acceptable exams and score minimums

For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.

View Full Catalog Listing

AY 2025-2026 catalog content is currently being edited and reviewed. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Back to skip to quick links