MEd Professional Studies in Second Language Education
The MEd Professional Studies in Second Language Education is a graduate-level program designed for language teachers with a wide range of backgrounds and experience.
Some students in this program already have teaching licenses and others have done training internationally and are looking for opportunities to learn about U.S. schooling. We welcome teachers interested in teaching any language, in any context including in schools and community settings.
This degree qualifies you for many teaching positions in the U.S. and abroad; however, it does not include a Minnesota teaching license. If you wish to earn a teaching license, visit the MEd and Teaching License in Second Language Education program
Admissions
Applications are accepted for three different start times throughout the year:
Priority admission deadlines:
- December 15 (Spring start)
- April 30 (Summer start)
- July 31 (Fall start)
For detailed admissions and funding information, visit the MEd Professional Studies admissions page.
Curriculum
The Core Curriculum covers instruction, assessment, and implementation of second language and culture education and includes about nine courses. Courses are offered in the evenings and during the summer. To see the curriculum requirements in detail visit the course catalog under MEd Professional Studies and look under the subplan “Second Language Education”.
Timeline
Full-time students can finish this program in two years, taking two to three classes per term, excluding summers.
You may also take courses on a part-time basis at your own rate while working.
Career Outlook
Teachers of world languages and ESL are in high demand as the population of English learners grows in the U.S. and the desire to learn new languages increases in an increasingly global nation and world.
Earning your MEd will also advance your career and earning potential in several ways:
- Teachers with a master's degree are regarded as experts in their field, making you a more competitive job candidate with an MEd
- Teachers who have a master's degree will see a roughly $7,000 annual salary increase [Teacher.org ]
- Though the salary increase with a master's degree will vary by district and state, Minnesota teachers are on the higher end of the payscale. Median Minnesota teacher salaries were $64,790 and $64,960 for middle school and high school respectively in 2019 [BLS ].
- Once a teacher is employed, there is much more mobility that comes with a Master's. Teachers with advanced degrees can be promoted to school administration positions and can become mentors to other teachers based upon specific graduate training.
What our students have to say
My advisor's endless support helped me to have a better understanding of not only second language education, but also enlightened me as to how a scholar studying multicultural education could balance views on language policy, equity, and social issues.
Saem Heo, MEd 2017