Advice for MA in TESOL?
Hello All,
2026 is the year I'm looking to start my masters and the MA in TESOL is the one I want to do the most. However, I'm unsure where to apply and what path to take from here. For context:
- I'm 24 and I have my BA in Literature.
- I already work as a high school ESL teacher here in the US. This is my 3rd year teaching it and I have no qualms about the school I work at. I'm planning to work through my masters so I'd be finishing it with 5 years of experience.
- My plan with the MA is to teach EFL abroad (looking at Asia and Central/South America mainly) for a few years and then return to the US. I'm also planning to get the national board certification when I return and eventually maybe even becoming an admin or adjuncting as a second job.
I've looked at the M.ED in ESL education from Texas A&M and the MA in TESOL at UT Arlington as their programs are all online. However, I'm not sure which would be more beneficial for me in the long run, especially as information from these programs are limited. Hell, I'm not even sure if teaching abroad temporarily is even a smart move, but it's a dream I've always had since the beginning of undergrad. I have lurked here a while and the consensus I've gathered is that the masters with experience opens up the most doors.
Weighing everything I've provided, what's the best option for me? And if there's any other schools that provide online MAs, please let me know! Thank y'all!
Posted Dec 29, 2025, 3:11 AM UTC