English Education MA
- Master's Degree
An Online Master’s Degree for English Teachers
Our online English Education Master of Arts degree will help you learn new skills and strategies for teaching English Language Arts. Our innovative program gives you:
- A flexible schedule: You can start this program any term and can attend part-time or full-time. So it is easy to fit this online program around your schedule.
- Flexible outcomes: We offer a wide range of course topics, both within English and in other teaching topics. Tailor this program to your interests, and solve challenges that you have faced in the classroom.
- Practical teaching strategies: You will learn both theory and practical teaching strategies. You will also complete a capstone project that can benefit your students, your school and your career.
What You’ll Learn
This program helps you expand your knowledge of language, literature and writing. You can also customize your courses to match your interests and challenges in the classroom.
- Literature genres and applied literature topics
- Writing, literacy and linguistics
- Visual and multimodal literacy
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
- Educational Psychology
- Special Education
- Educational Technology
See the Course of Study section to view the full list of elective courses and topics.
Advance your English Teaching Career
Secondary English Teaching
What challenges are you facing in the classroom? This degree is all about helping you become the best teacher you can be. You will learn and apply best practices in English education. The program is a great way to advance your teaching career and learn how to help your students succeed. Take your teaching to the next level with a program that you design for your needs.
This degree does not lead to a teaching license, but it’s ideal for a teacher who already has one or who teaches in classrooms that do not require licensure.
Note: this program is for teaching English Language Arts and ENG courses. If you are seeking a program for teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESL), see the Related Programs section near the end of this page.
Teach Dual Enrollment & College English
If you complete this program with 18 or more English (ENG) credits, you will be eligible to teach college English courses. This includes concurrent / dual enrollment courses, in which students earn both high school and college credit in the same course.
Some institutions allow for some non-ENG courses to count toward the 18 hour requirement. If you have a certain institution at which you plan to teach, you can work with the Program Coordinator to determine the coursework that will make you eligible to teach there.
Course of Study
Can Be Completed Fully Online
- You can complete this program fully online. Additional elective course options may be available as on-campus courses, but those courses will impact program costs. See the Tuition section for more details.
- You can complete this program in two years if you take two courses per term (fall, spring and summer). You can also choose to enroll in more or fewer courses each term based on your schedule. Note: if you take two or more courses in the same term, you will be eligible for federal financial aid.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 30-credit master’s degree program.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Graduate Certificate Option
Composition and Literary Studies Graduate Certificate
If you already have a master’s degree and want to become eligible to teach college-level English courses, you may be interested in the Composition and Literary Studies Graduate Certificate.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Stacy Bailey
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Because this is a unique and flexible interdisciplinary program, please note:
- The ENG courses scheduled for this program will match the tuition rate noted above.
- The tuition rates for some courses could vary based on your elective choices. Many other online elective courses will also match the tuition rate noted above, though some could differ.
- Note: you will be able to complete this program entirely through Extended Campus coursework. However, if you choose to take any courses that are not offered through Extended Campus (whether they are delivered on-campus or online) you will be charged the Resident Tuition or Nonresident Tuition rate for that course. You will also need to pay the typical student fees that are charged to all on-campus students for that term.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Scholarship Opportunity for Students Pursuing Dual/Concurrent Enrollment Teaching Eligibility
If you are a K-12 teacher in a rural Colorado school district, you might qualify for the Concurrent Enrollment Educator Qualification Scholarship for this program. The scholarship supports rural high school teachers who want to offer college-level classes to their students.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- One year of full-time professional experience teaching in a 7-12 classroom.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
Our goal is to make it easy for you to start this continuous enrollment program. Because this program features some coursework that begins in the middle of the traditional semesters, there are multiple options for starting the program.
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 30 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: April 15
- Fall term: July 15
- Spring term: Dec. 15
- Middle of a term: contact the Admission Coach to discuss options and deadlines!
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- English Education (M.A.)
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status