An online program designed for current teachers who want to teach English to learners from elementary to high school in a variety of educational settings throughout New York...
- A 30-credit program for students seeking a career in this fast-growing field as a teacher of English to non-native speakers
- Offered completely online with an evening schedule
- Complete in 18 months of part-time study (fall, spring, summer, fall)
- Designed for teachers who hold a master's or higher degree in education as well as New York state certification in an area other than ENL
- Combines theory and practice to prepare ENL teachers with the needed knowledge, skills and dispositions to succeed
- Affordable SUNY tuition
The SUNY Old Westbury School of Education and its programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national organization that provides quality assurance and accreditation services for educator preparation programs.
After Graduation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), New York State has among highest employment levels of ENL teachers in the entire country:
- 2,110 employed as of 2024
- Annual mean salary in NY: $80,740
The Projections Managing Partnership projects that New York State by 2030 will need 18% more teachers in this role!
Admissions Requirements
To enter the program applicants need:
- Hold NYS certification and have earned a Baccalaureate or graduate degree in Education.
- GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4) or equivalent in the highest earned degree.
- Equivalencies include CLEP (score of 63 earns 9 credits), AP exams (scores of 3 earn 8 credits, scores of 4 or 5 earns 12 credits), or OPIc and WPT (score of advanced low earns 12 credits).
- Transcripts of undergraduate and any graduate work with evidence of degree(s) conferred
- Two (2) letters of recommendation, at least one from an academic source
- Admissions essay
The Graduate Education Admissions Committee, composed of the department chair, Teaching ENL graduate programs coordinator, and faculty will finalize admission decisions after reviewing completed applications. Admitted students will meet with selected faculty member to analyze transcripts, create a degree completion plan, and select first-semester courses.
Note for International Students:
International students must meet additional criteria:
- TOEFL scores of paper exam = 550, computer exam = 213, internet exam = 80 or IELTS English (Cambridge) with a broad band score of 6.5.
- Overseas documents evaluated by AACRAO International or WES (World Education Services).
- Completion of the program leads to initial certification as an ENL teacher in New York State.
- Professional certification can be earned after three (3) years of teaching under this initial certification.