Shape the futures of diverse learners and maximize your earning potential by earning NYS TESOL certification.
Adelphi University’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program is designed for the educator who sees teaching as more than a job. We prepare you for the vital work of shaping young immigrant lives, helping students navigate new cultures while finding their unique voices in a new language. Whether you are looking to enter the classroom for the first time, add a high-demand credential to your existing teaching certificate, or bring expert language instruction to an international setting, Adelphi University offers a path designed for your goals. Our newly optimized tuition structure makes a premier Adelphi education more accessible than ever.
Professor Fayth Vaughn-Shavuo meets with student teacher candidates.
Why Earn Your TESOL Certification?
In today’s globalized educational landscape, the demand for certified TESOL professionals has never been greater, especially across the diverse school districts of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Becoming TESOL-certified—whether as an initial certification or an add-on to an existing certification—will prepare you to make a profound difference in the lives of immigrant students. Graduate well-equipped to help children and adolescents navigate an unfamiliar culture and find their voices in a new language, all while increasing your earning potential by as much as 44 percent.
Why Earn a TESOL Certification From Adelphi University?
- Follow a flexible curriculum designed specifically for working professionals—our fully online TESOL certificate features asynchronous courses you can complete on your own time, at your own pace.
- Get real-time feedback from live, synchronous Zoom courses in the evenings, allowing you to build community without compromising your schedule.
- Study under a vibrant group of multicultural and multilingual faculty members who have professional experience in Brazil, Laos, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia and beyond.
- Enjoy a high return on your investment with our newly redesigned tuition structure, which reflects the program’s online format as well as Adelphi’s commitment to student success.
- Gain hands-on teaching experience through 100-plus hours of fieldwork and student teaching in local schools.
- Benefit from Adelphi’s vast network of partner schools and alumni across Long Island, providing easy and wide-ranging access to job opportunities.
- Receive one-to-one attention and personalized guidance from faculty in small class sizes.
Professors Schwinge, PhD, and Bauler, PhD, truly transformed my thinking on the education process when it comes to TESOL. Without Adelphi’s TESOL master’s program, I may never have found my passion in teaching English to speakers of other languages.
TESOL Degree Options and Certifications
Adelphi offers paths to TESOL certification for everyone, whether you’re looking to enter the classroom for the first time, add a high-demand credential to your existing teaching certificate or bring expert language instruction to an international setting.
MA in TESOL (NYS Certification Track)
For aspiring educators seeking initial New York state certification to teach English as a New Language (ENL) in P–12 settings.
Advanced Certificate in TESOL (15-Credit “Add-On”)
For teachers already certified in childhood, adolescent or special education. This streamlined 15-credit program allows you to add a TESOL credential to your existing certificate, increasing your marketability and salary potential.
MA in TESOL (Noncertification Track)
For international students or those planning to teach adults in settings where NYS certification is not required. This track focuses on language acquisition theory and global classroom practices.
Distinguishing Features of our TESOL Programs
- A Network That Opens Doors: As a premier training ground for teachers in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk, our alumni network is one of the largest in the region, providing unparalleled connections for fieldwork and job placement.
- The Synchronous Edge for Working Professionals: Our schedule is built for the real world. With live Zoom sessions at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., we provide the real-time support and community that asynchronous programs lack, without interfering with your school-day commitments.
- Unmatched Value and Accessibility: We have redesigned our online tuition structure to reflect our commitment to student success, offering our premier curriculum at a newly optimized price point.
Exceptional Hands-On Learning
At Adelphi, we believe in integrating theory and practice to prime students for careers in the classroom. Unlike other TESOL programs, we don’t delay fieldwork placements. You’ll begin real-time observations immediately, going on to complete a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork and student teaching in local schools. As the premier training ground for teachers in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, Adelphi provides students with access to an extensive network of school partners, as well as one of the largest alumni networks in the region. By the time you earn your TESOL certification, you’ll be ready to serve as a cultural bridge between immigrant families and the school system, making sure every student in your classroom has an equitable seat at the table.
Plus, all of our TESOL students are assigned to peer cohorts, which means you’ll be able to share ideas, support and connections with your classmates throughout the program.
TESOL Program Info
Application Requirements
Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and should submit the following application requirements:
- Graduate application and $60 fee
- Official transcripts from all prior institutions and proof of bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
- Online survey completed by two recommenders
- Personal essay
- Course-by-course evaluation: All graduate applicants with undergraduate-level work completed outside of the United States will be required to send a course-by-course evaluation of their academic work prepared by a NACES member organization. Adelphi recommends you use The Evaluation Company (TEC) or IEE (discount provided for Adelphi applicants), ECE, or WES, but any NACES member evaluation would be acceptable.
Additional Requirements
Applicants interested in the advanced certificate TESOL programs should submit the following:
- Final transcript documenting a master’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
Understanding Costs and Savings
Because this program is offered entirely online, the tuition rates are substantially lower. Learn about the costs you can expect, and discover how scholarships, grants and financial aid packages can put an Adelphi education within reach.
FAQs: TESOL Program
Yes. The coursework for Adelphi’s TESOL certification program is delivered online, but unlike “set-it-and-forget-it” programs, we include live Zoom components to build your professional network.
Asynchronous courses in this program allow for self-paced work, while synchronous courses involves live virtual sessions to ensure mentorship and community.
With the TESOL Certificate program optimized for an online format, we offer a significantly reduced rate compared to traditional on-campus programs—a competitive price for a high return on investment.
The Zoom sessions that are a part of the TESOL program are at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., specifically timed for school professionals to join after their workday.
While others offer purely asynchronous (solo) formats, Adelphi prioritizes the human element with live mentorship and the prestige of a top-ranked private university.
We have trained thousands of teachers on Long Island, in New York City, in the Hudson Valley, and beyond. You gain an “in” with a vast network of local professionals who trust the Adelphi name. Our online program can provide TESOL certification for teachers located across the State of New York.
Immediately. Fieldwork for the TESOL Certification program begins right away to integrate classroom learning into real-world school settings. Adelphi will assist you in locating a school near you. If you are already working in a school, we can work with you so that you can complete fieldwork with ESL teachers in your school.
Our TESOL program is 15 credits and designed to be completed quickly by teachers who already hold a valid New York state teaching certificate or are currently completing a certificate.
Yes, the noncertification MA in TESOL track is specifically designed for international educators teaching abroad, who do not require New York state teaching certification.
Yes, our graduates work around the world, and have been successful applicants to the Peace Corps, the Fulbright program, and the US Department of State English Language Fellows Program. Plus, Adelphi faculty have experience teaching in many different countries.
Awards & Recognition
