Accredited Online TESOL Programs

TESOL Programs

A qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) prepares you to teach English to speakers of other languages — in schools, private language institutes, universities, companies, or online from wherever you live. Anaheim University offers TESOL study from a short undergraduate certificate through to a doctorate, delivered entirely online and taught in live classes by faculty that include past presidents of the TESOL International Association.
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TESOL programs

TESOL qualifications from certificate to doctorate

Seven online TESOL qualifications, from a 15-week certificate to a doctorate. The four graduate ones run in nine-week terms with a weekly live class; the three undergraduate ones are open entry, so you can start on the first Monday of any month. Start at the level that matches your experience and build from there.

Doctoral degree

Doctor of Education in TESOL

Advance your expertise in language education through doctoral study, research, leadership, and professional practice.

Duration
Under 4 years, in nine-week courses
Tuition
$49,275 · $2,000 per course
Next start
Every 10 weeks
Format
Weekly live webcam class, plus two four-day residential sessions
Credits
76 units
Structure
19 courses over 19 terms, including a 12-unit dissertation

Program details →

Master’s degree

Master of Arts in TESOL

Deepen your knowledge of language teaching, learning, research, and professional TESOL practice.

Duration
About 2.5 years, in nine-week courses
Tuition
From $31,255 · $2,000 per course
Next start
Every 10 weeks
Format
Weekly 90-minute live webcam class
Credits
44 units
Structure
11 courses plus an eight-unit research portfolio or thesis

Program details →

Graduate diploma

Graduate Diploma in TESOL

Build broader graduate-level knowledge of TESOL through advanced study in language teaching and methodology.

Duration
About 60 weeks, in nine-week courses
Tuition
$13,675 · $2,000 per course
Next start
Every 10 weeks
Format
Weekly 90-minute live webcam class
Credits
24 units
Structure
Six courses chosen from nine

Program details →

Graduate certificate

Graduate Certificate in TESOL

Develop focused graduate-level knowledge of English language teaching, methodology, and classroom practice.

Duration
About 20 weeks, in nine-week courses
Tuition
$4,675 · $2,000 per course
Next start
Every 10 weeks
Format
Weekly 90-minute live webcam class
Credits
8 units
Structure
Two graduate courses

Program details →

Undergraduate diploma

Undergraduate Diploma in TESOL

Build a broader foundation in TESOL principles, teaching methodology, assessment, and classroom practice.

Duration
About 60 weeks
Tuition
$4,660 · $1,050 per course
Next start
First Monday of every month
Format
Textbook and video lecture with an instructor-led discussion forum — no live classes
Credits
Non-credit
Structure
Four courses of 135 hours each

Program details →

Undergraduate certificate

Certificate in TESOL

Develop foundational skills in English language teaching, lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment.

Duration
15 weeks
Tuition
$1,280 · $1,050 per course
Next start
First Monday of every month
Format
Textbook and video lecture with an instructor-led discussion forum — no live classes
Credits
3 credits
Structure
One 135-hour course

Program details →

Undergraduate certificate

Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners

Learn practical approaches to teaching English to children through age-appropriate methods and materials.

Duration
15 weeks
Tuition
$1,280 · $1,050 per course
Next start
First Monday of every month
Format
Textbook and video lecture with an instructor-led discussion forum — no live classes
Credits
Non-credit
Structure
One 135-hour course

Program details →

Compare TESOL Programs

See TESOL programs side by side and find the option that best matches your goals.
ProgramLevelDurationCreditsEntry requirementTuition
Doctor of Education in TESOLDoctoralUnder 4 years76 unitsA master’s in TESOL, applied linguistics or a relevant area of education, a 3.0 GPA and four years’ TESOL experience$49,275
Master of Arts in TESOLMaster’sAbout 2.5 years44 unitsA bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA$31,255 portfolio track
$33,955 with a thesis
Graduate Diploma in TESOLGraduate DiplomaAbout 60 weeks24 unitsA bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA$13,675
Graduate Certificate in TESOLGraduate CertificateAbout 20 weeks8 unitsA bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA$4,675
Undergraduate Diploma in TESOLUndergraduate DiplomaAbout 60 weeksNon-credit—$4,660
Certificate in TESOLUndergraduate Certificate15 weeks3 credits18 or over, or graduated high school$1,280
Certificate in Teaching English to Young LearnersUndergraduate Certificate15 weeksNon-creditOpen enrollment, no transcripts required; 18 or over, or graduated high school$1,280

Which TESOL qualification do you need?

The right starting point depends less on how long you wish to study than on where you intend to teach, and on what your prior study allows.

If you want to…Start with
You want to start teaching English abroad or onlineCertificate in TESOL
You want to teach English to childrenCertificate in Teaching English to Young Learners
You want a broader foundation before you start teachingUndergraduate Diploma in TESOL
You already teach and want to try graduate studyGraduate Certificate in TESOL
You want substantial graduate-level preparation, short of a master’sGraduate Diploma in TESOL
You want to teach at university level, design curricula, or run a schoolMaster of Arts in TESOL
You want to direct programs, train teachers and publish researchDoctor of Education in TESOL

What a TESOL qualification lets you do

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. A TESOL qualification prepares you to teach English to people who did not grow up speaking it — in schools, in private language schools, in companies, at university, or online from wherever you live.

Demand for English teaching is not confined to any one region. Anaheim University graduates teach in state schools and private language institutes, in universities and corporate training rooms, in children’s classrooms and online from home. Many hold positions that barely existed as teaching roles a generation ago: TOEFL preparation specialists, business English instructors, curriculum designers, materials writers, academic directors and language-school team leaders.

What separates a qualified teacher from a fluent speaker is the discipline itself. TESOL study examines how a second language is actually acquired, why some teaching methods succeed where others fail, how to assess a learner fairly, and how to build materials suited to a particular class rather than a general audience. At graduate level it adds research method, so that practice can be tested rather than assumed.

Entry requirements rise at each level, and so does what the qualification permits. Undergraduate certificates open classroom teaching; graduate qualifications open university teaching and program design; the doctorate opens teacher education, research and program direction.

Who teaches the TESOL programs

Anaheim University’s TESOL faculty is distinguished for an online institution. Three past presidents of TESOL International Association teach here, alongside researchers widely cited in second language acquisition. Classes are live, so you study with them directly rather than through recorded material.

Dr David Nunan

Past President, TESOL International Association. Designed Anaheim University’s undergraduate TESOL certificate and diploma.

Dr MaryAnn Christison

Past President, TESOL International Association.

Dr Andy Curtis

Past President, TESOL International Association.

Dr Rod Ellis

Second language acquisition researcher; his work was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Prize.

These four are among the wider School of TESOL faculty, most of whom hold an TESOL doctorate alongside professional credits.

 

See all School of TESOL faculty→

Frequently asked questions

In most countries, yes. Employers and visa authorities typically ask for a recognized TESOL, TEFL or CELTA qualification alongside a degree, and many specify a minimum number of taught hours. Anaheim University’s Certificate in TESOL is a 135-hour course and is the shortest route in. Requirements vary by country, so check the rules for where you intend to teach.

TESOL — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages — is the broadest term, covering teaching English both in English-speaking countries and abroad. TEFL means Teaching English as a Foreign Language and refers to teaching in countries where English is not the main language. CELTA is one specific brand of initial certificate awarded by Cambridge. A TESOL qualification covers the same ground as TEFL and, at Anaheim University, continues all the way to master’s and doctoral level.

Almost always a master’s degree. The Master of Arts in TESOL is the program designed for this, and it also prepares graduates to design curricula and lead language programs. For tenure-track positions and program direction, many institutions expect a doctorate, which is what the Doctor of Education in TESOL leads to.

Graduate-level TESOL coursework can carry forward into the MA in TESOL, so the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma can be used as a first step rather than a separate qualification. The conditions differ by program, and each program page and catalog states exactly what applies. Ask admissions before you enroll if the pathway matters to you.

Not for the undergraduate certificates and diploma — the Certificate in TESOL and the TEYL Certificate are open to anyone 18 or over, or who has graduated high school. Graduate programs require a bachelor’s degree, and the Ed.D. requires a master’s plus four years’ TESOL experience.

Anaheim University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. Accreditation is institutional, which means it covers the university and the programs it offers.

The coursework is delivered online, so you study from wherever you live. The Doctor of Education in TESOL includes required residential sessions; that program’s catalog sets out how many and when. Check the catalog for any program before you enroll.

The undergraduate certificates can be completed from 15 weeks. The Undergraduate Diploma and the Graduate Diploma take roughly 60 weeks, the Graduate Certificate about 20 weeks, the MA around two and a half years, and the Ed.D. under four years. Each program also has a maximum period for completion, which is stated in its catalog.

Tuition is charged course by course rather than as a single fee, so the cost is spread across your studies. Current tuition for each program is published in that program’s catalog. Anaheim University does not participate in federal or state financial aid programs, so US federal loans and grants are not available — worth knowing before you apply.

No. Admission is based on your prior qualifications and, where relevant, evidence of English proficiency. There is no GRE or entrance examination for any TESOL program.

You can study for a TESOL qualification without one — the Certificate in TESOL and the TEYL Certificate are open to anyone aged 18 or over, or who has graduated high school. Whether you can then be employed abroad is a separate question: many countries require a bachelor’s degree for a work visa regardless of your teaching qualification. Check the visa rules for the country you have in mind before you commit.

Yes, and many students do. The graduate programs ask for evidence of English proficiency — the Ed.D., for example, requires TOEFL 550 paper-based or 80 internet-based, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 800, or PTE 58. Each program’s catalog lists the scores it accepts.
There is no upper age limit on any program. The only age requirement is a minimum: you must be 18 or over, or a high-school graduate, for the open-entry certificates. Students enter TESOL at every stage of working life, including as a second career.

No. These are academic qualifications awarded by an accredited university, and they do not need renewing. Some employers set their own requirements about recency of training, but the qualification itself stands.

The graduate programs include a live class each week, held online, taught by faculty rather than a facilitator. The undergraduate certificates and diploma are studied at your own pace, with new courses opening monthly. Each program page states which applies.
The undergraduate certificates and diploma begin on the first Monday of each month. Graduate programs run on a ten-week term cycle, so there are several entry points each year. Because intakes are frequent, there is no single annual deadline to plan around.

Talk to a TESOL Advisor

Not sure which TESOL program is right for you? Speak with an advisor to compare study levels, discuss your teaching experience and academic goals, and find the program that best fits where you want to go next.

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