Best Bachelor's in Teaching English as a Second Language Programs in 2026

Ohio State's TESOL major, a Bachelor of Science in Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning, is built for students drawn to teaching English learners, and it leads to Ohio's K-12 multi-age license in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The coursework connects the how and the why of language teaching, grounding TESOL methods and assessment in linguistics, literacy, and study of English and foreign languages, alongside foundations in child and adolescent development. Candidates put that preparation to work in K-12 ESL classrooms across central Ohio, then complete a year-long internship with an ESL mentor teacher. Offered only on the Columbus campus, the program is designed with Ohio licensure in mind. This bachelor's-level teaching english as a second language program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Ohio.

SUNY Cortland's Teaching English as a Second Language (Grades K-12) is a 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in the Modern Languages Department. It is a certification major preparing students to teach ESL in public school K-12 classrooms, combining content-area knowledge with pedagogy; a separate non-certification track exists for private-sector language instruction. Program features include study abroad, internship opportunities, language clubs, and a foreign language learning center. Completion of the certification track prepares graduates for New York State ESOL certification covering grades K-12. Delivered on-campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of New York's adult basic education.

This Bachelor of Science in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages combined coursework and field experiences leading to eligibility for a Virginia PreK-12 English as a Second Language teaching license. As of August 1, 2024 the four-year major is no longer admitting students, per the JMU College of Education page. JMU continues to offer a TESOL minor and graduate TESOL programs. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Virginia.

Molloy offers TESOL at the undergraduate level chiefly through a five-year dual-degree structure that pairs a bachelor's, either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, with a master's, leading to New York State certification in Adolescence Education for grades 7 to 12 alongside a second TESOL credential. The Adolescence and TESOL track spreads 52 major credits across years two through five and asks students to anchor their work in a content concentration such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, or Spanish. Field experiences take place in both regular and TESOL classroom settings, giving candidates a feel for teaching language learners directly. Student teaching then runs across two inclusive-classroom placements, each backed by a paired seminar. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in New York.

The TESOL (BA) at Brigham Young University-Hawaii is a Bachelor of Arts designed for students who want to teach English to speakers of other languages outside the public-school system. Housed in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, it fills 120 credit hours with a focused TESOL major, two required minors, and a core of general education and religious study, so graduates leave with breadth alongside their specialty. Because it is a standalone track, it does not carry teacher licensure, and that shapes who it fits best. Instead, it points toward private-sector settings such as language institutes, corporate training, preschools, the military, and adult education. Students who specifically want U.S. public-school certification are steered toward the separate TESOL Education (BA), keeping the two pathways clearly distinct. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of Hawaii's adult basic education.

Salisbury University's Bachelor of Arts in English for Speakers of Other Languages, housed in the Department of English, prepares candidates to earn State of Maryland K-12 ESOL certification. The curriculum is described as aligned with the national standards of the TESOL organization and AAQEP and as reflecting the principles of Maryland's Redesign for Teacher Education, giving it a clear grounding in the field. Practice is woven throughout rather than saved for the end, with embedded field experiences that move from observation to internship placements to mentored work at professional development sites, and students can choose to intern abroad. Faculty include Henry C. Welcome Fellowship recipients, and graduates have gone on to teach in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Maryland.

For students drawn to language and to the learners working to master English, Lee University offers a Bachelor of Arts in TESOL in two distinct tracks. The general BA track points toward teaching English internationally or to adults and leans on the campus Center for English Language and Literacy for hands-on work with English Language Learners, an experience Lee describes as the only undergraduate program in the nation offering up to two years of such practice. The BAT track, run with the education faculty, instead adds Tennessee teaching licensure and places candidates in area public schools. Both keep classroom contact at the center, so students learn by working directly with the people they hope to teach. Lee states that its undergraduate teacher license programs are state approved. A bachelor's-level path in teaching english as a second language, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Tennessee.

The Faculty of Education at UPR Rio Piedras offers an undergraduate bachillerato preparing teachers of English to Spanish speakers. Effective August 2024 the curricular sequences list a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a concentration in English as a Second Language covering grades K-12, replacing the earlier separate elementary (Ensenanza del Ingles a Hispanoparlantes) and secondary tracks. The prior secondary English concentration required 36 credits in the specialty. The program is an initial-licensure pathway leading to Puerto Rico teacher certification. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Puerto Rico.

For students drawn to language and to the growing number of multilingual classrooms, Roanoke College offers a licensure-track bachelor's in Teaching English as a Second Language that leads to a Virginia ESL endorsement for PreK-12. The Education Department pairs specialized TESL coursework with a foundation in linguistics, advanced English grammar, and modern foreign language competency, so candidates understand both how language works and how learners acquire it. That academic grounding connects directly to practice through field experience in reading instruction for English learners, a course in classroom management, and a full student teaching placement. The blend gives graduates a clear picture of how to support students who are learning content and English at the same time. Accredited by CAEP through 2030 and part of the Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative, the program is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Virginia.

The University of Northern Iowa's Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages major, a Bachelor of Arts through the Department of Languages and Literatures, prepares students to teach English learners. Completing the professional sequence for teacher education supports a K-12 ESL endorsement on an Iowa teaching license. TESOL majors log classroom experience before graduation and are expected to study abroad, with placements in countries such as Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, South Korea, and China. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa's adult basic education.

Winona State University builds its Teaching English as a Second Language major, offered through the English Department, around a single practical goal: sending graduates out with a bachelor's degree and a K-12 ESL teaching license in hand at the same time. Because the 67-credit sequence is mapped to Minnesota's PELSB requirements, candidates do not have to circle back later for their credential. The program leans hard into real language experience, asking students to log at least two years of second or foreign language instruction in a high school setting, or a year at the college level, before they graduate. It carries NCATE accreditation, and its alumni have gone on to teach not only across Minnesota and Wisconsin but as far afield as Louisiana, South Korea, and Spain, a reach that hints at how portable the training is. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Minnesota.

Built for students drawn to language learners in every grade, Johnson University's B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in English as a Second Language Education pairs the fundamentals of ESL instruction with a path to a PreK-12 endorsement and teacher licensure. The Templar School of Education roots that preparation in real classrooms, sending candidates into public and private schools across Tennessee and asking them to document their growth through an electronic portfolio aligned to the InTASC Standards. What sets the experience apart is its dual-major structure, since like all four-year Johnson students, ESL candidates also complete a major in Bible and Theology, weaving faith and pedagogy together. The program is delivered on campus, and the education unit earned recognition from Colleges of Distinction for 2023-2024. A bachelor's-level path in teaching english as a second language, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Tennessee.

Language and pedagogy meet in UW-River Falls's B.S. TESOL major, which runs through the Department of English and leads to a Wisconsin K-12 English as a Second Language teaching license. The major concentrates roughly three dozen credits into eight foundational courses that move from linguistics and language acquisition into TESOL methodology and assessment, giving candidates a coherent through-line rather than a scattered set of electives. Classroom preparation is equally structured, pairing a student teaching seminar with an extended initial placement, and students who want a wider lens can opt for an international placement or a K-12 teaching internship instead. For those not seeking a license, a non-licensure B.A. TESOL track offers the same subject depth without the certification requirements. An accelerated bachelor's-to-master's option even carries motivated students into the graduate TESOL degree and an additional ESL license. This bachelor's-level teaching english as a second language program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Wisconsin.

Bethel University's Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) K-12 was, for years, a licensure pathway for candidates hoping to teach multilingual learners across the full K-12 span at the Saint Paul campus. That option has since closed to new students. Beginning with those entering in Fall 2022, Bethel discontinued the major, and it now appears on the College of Arts and Sciences list of retired programs rather than among current Languages and Cultures or Education offerings in the undergraduate catalog. Anyone already enrolled, however, is not left stranded. The university has committed to a teach-out, supporting continuing students through completion so they can finish the degree they started even as new enrollment ends. This bachelor's-level teaching english as a second language program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Minnesota.

Kent State University's Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language takes a scholarly, language-focused approach, housed in the Department of English within the College of Arts and Sciences. The 120-credit degree includes 39 upper-division hours and a hands-on practicum that students tailor to their goals, choosing among an intensive English program, a P-12 setting, or teaching English as a foreign language abroad. It is important to note that this is not a licensure program and does not prepare students to sit for Ohio certification, so it suits those aiming at language instruction outside the K-12 licensing route. Students can broaden the degree by adding an Education or TEFL certificate, and strong candidates may apply early to the combined B.A. and M.A. in TESL, double-counting nine graduate credits toward the master's. Instruction is in person at the Kent Campus. This bachelor's-level teaching english as a second language program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Ohio.

The Bachillerato en Artes en la Enseñanza de Inglés como Segundo Idioma at Inter American University of Puerto Rico's Ponce campus is built for candidates who want to teach English as a second language across the full K-12 span. Spanning 121 credits, the plan devotes a focused 30-credit concentration to ESL teaching and surrounds it with general education and core coursework, so language expertise develops alongside a broad foundation. Two clinical courses, EDUC 3015 and EDUC 4013, move candidates into supervised classroom practice rather than keeping them in lecture halls. The degree is delivered on campus in Ponce for students who prefer face-to-face study. It leads to licensure, and the catalog reminds candidates that individual states and territories may add their own requirements, pointing them toward NC-SARA professional licensure resources. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Puerto Rico.

Indiana Wesleyan University's bachelor's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, known as TESOL, is built for students who want to help multilingual learners find their footing in English. The degree draws on both the School of Teacher Education and the Division of Modern Language, Literature and Communication, and it sits within a cluster of related options, including a separate TESOL Education major, a TESOL minor, and an Elementary Education major with a TESOL concentration. That range lets students match the field to the role they picture for themselves. A distinctive feature has been the chance to teach abroad, with TESOL majors taking part in an overseas teaching-observation experience during the summer term. Past cohorts have traveled to Brno in the Czech Republic and Skopje in Macedonia. A bachelor's-level path in teaching english as a second language, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Indiana.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Bachelor of Arts in Second Language Studies takes an interdisciplinary look at how languages are learned, taught, and used, offered through the Department of Second Language Studies in the College of Arts, Languages and Letters. The 33-credit major balances a required core with room to explore, pairing 15 credits of foundational courses in areas such as second language learning, second language teaching, and the sociolinguistics of multilingualism with 18 credits of electives. Beyond pedagogy, the program engages broader questions of multilingualism, language use, and language policy, giving students a wide view of the field. It does not include a named TESL or TESOL concentration, and K-12 ESL licensure is pursued separately through the College of Education. The degree suits students curious about language itself as much as about teaching it. As a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Hawaii.

Horizon University's Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a Christ-centered, fully online degree for students who want to teach English in community, church-based, and mission settings rather than as state-licensed public school teachers. Its 126 credits unfold over three 12-week trimesters a year, with an optional summer term, and blend TESOL methods, second language acquisition, and materials development with a substantial core of biblical studies and theology. General education and electives round out the plan, giving graduates broad grounding alongside their teaching specialty. A fourth-year TESOL internship adds hands-on observation and teaching, so students practice the craft before they finish. The overall shape reflects a program that treats English instruction as ministry as much as profession. Graduates of this teaching english as a second language program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as adult basic education.

Concordia University-Nebraska's TESOL, B.A. takes a different path from the university's licensure degrees, welcoming students who are not education majors and preparing them to teach English as a second language outside the K-12 system. Housed in the Department of Education, the 120-credit-hour program points graduates toward international teaching and adult ESL settings such as universities, refugee centers, and community centers rather than a licensed classroom. What sets it apart is how much practice it builds in beyond the lecture hall, with local field placements in schools, immigrant outreach ministries, and organizations such as People's City Mission. Short-term mission trips and study abroad round out the experience, giving students real contact with the learners they are training to serve well before they graduate. This bachelor's-level teaching english as a second language program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Nebraska.

The University of Texas at San Antonio offers a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood-Grade 6, with an English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification concentration. Administered by the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching with coursework from Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, the degree requires 122 semester credit hours, at least 39 upper-division. Candidates complete two preclinical field experiences plus yearlong clinical teaching across two semesters. The program is approved by the Texas Education Agency to recommend students for teaching certification and adds an ESL Supplemental Certification, a state program approval rather than national programmatic accreditation. A bachelor's-level path in teaching english as a second language, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Texas.

Hobe Sound Bible College offers a Bachelor of Arts in TESOL through its Language and Linguistics department. The program prepares Christian teachers, both American and foreign, to teach English as a second or foreign language to children and adult speakers of other languages. A TESOL practicum, offered in summer or on demand, is open only to students who have completed their major area courses with at least a B average and no grade lower than a C. The degree is also intended to prepare graduates for master's study in TESOL. Graduates of this teaching english as a second language program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as adult basic education.

Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, offers a bachelor's program in teaching English as a second or foreign language. The degree prepares students to become ESL language instructors who teach English to speakers of other languages. Cairn is a private nonprofit institution, and the program is available online, letting students complete their coursework remotely. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of Pennsylvania's adult basic education.

Eastern Michigan University's Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a 36 credit hour major housed in the World Languages Department. EMU was the first institution in Michigan to offer a standalone bachelor's degree in TESOL. Coursework builds knowledge of English language structures and examines how language and culture influence each other across a variety of settings. The university also offers a TESOL minor and, following a June 2025 Board of Regents approval, a combined five-year BA/MA TESOL program. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of Michigan's adult basic education.

Oklahoma Christian University offers a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate at its Edmond campus. Its courses combine theory with practical work alongside English learners and conclude with a student teaching practicum. The university's Bachelor of Arts in English is a separate degree that does not carry a TEFL or TESOL emphasis. Earning a bachelor's degree in teaching english as a second language is a common route toward becoming one of Oklahoma's adult basic education.