New Jersey's multilingual student population is growing — and so is the need for teachers who can serve them with both ESL expertise and structured literacy skills. This M.Ed. combines two high-demand credentials: NJ ESL teacher certification and Wilson Level 1 credentials, woven together in a 31-credit master's degree.
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This program delivers three outcomes simultaneously: a Master of Education degree, eligibility for NJ educational services certification as a Teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL), and Wilson Reading System Level 1 credentials. Most teachers pursue these separately. This program builds them together intentionally — because the students who need ESL instruction are often the same students who need structured literacy support.
The Wilson Reading System is one of the most rigorously evidence-based structured literacy programs available — developed specifically for students with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia, but effective for any student who struggles with decoding and fluency. GCU's program takes you through the full Wilson Level 1 sequence: Introduction, Parts 1 and 2, and Practicums A and B. You graduate with credentials that are recognized nationwide.
The ESL coursework in this program is comprehensive: Second Language Acquisition, Teaching ESL Through Content, History & Culture of Multilingual Learners, Literacy for Multilingual Learners, Multicultural Literature for Children & Adolescents, and Phonology & Structure of American English. These aren't survey courses — they're the full knowledge base of an effective ESL teacher, aligned with TESOL standards and the New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers.
This program is specifically designed for certified teachers who work with multilingual learners, students with reading difficulties, or both — a population that describes a growing proportion of NJ classrooms. Every course is designed to develop your ability to serve learners with diverse literacy and language needs, and every course includes a keystone assessment artifact that documents your growing expertise.
Candidates must earn passing scores on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Written Proficiency Test (WPT) in English by the end of the program. This requirement reflects a genuine professional standard for ESL teachers — ensuring you can model language proficiency for the students you serve.
New Jersey is home to one of the most linguistically diverse student populations in the country — and the intersection of language learning and literacy development is where some of the most complex, important teaching work happens. GCU’s M.Ed. in Multisensory Literacy with ESL Certification puts you at the center of that work, fully prepared.
The 31-credit program weaves two bodies of expertise together. ESL-focused courses (aligned with TESOL standards, the New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers, and InTASC standards) develop your ability to provide instruction in English to students whose native language is not English, support multilingual learners in mastering New Jersey Student Learning Standards content, and apply culturally responsive pedagogy. Literacy courses develop your understanding of the reading process, multicultural children’s literature, content area literacy, program evaluation, and diagnostic assessment. And the Wilson Reading System sequence — Introduction, Parts 1 and 2, Practicum A and B — builds your expertise in structured, multisensory literacy instruction for learners with diverse language and learning needs.
The result is a graduate who is as prepared to support a recently arrived English learner with strong foundational literacy as they are to identify and address phonological gaps in a student who has been in American schools for years. That dual expertise is increasingly rare — and increasingly in demand.
GCU’s Multisensory Literacy with ESL M.Ed. is a great fit if you:
| Entry Level | NJ Median — ESL/ELL Teachers | Experienced / Specialist Role |
|---|---|---|
| $55,000–$68,000 | $76,920 | $88,000–$110,000+ |
ESL teachers in NJ are typically placed on the same district salary guide as general education teachers. The M.Ed. degree qualifies you for the master’s salary column from your first day.
Job Outlook
The multilingual learner population in NJ continues to grow, driving sustained demand for certified ESL teachers — particularly those with dual literacy expertise. ESL teacher positions are consistently difficult to fill in many NJ districts.
In addition to completing the courses listed below, students must earn a passing score on oral (OPI) and written English proficiency (WPT) examinations by the end of the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.Ed., Multisensory Literacy with ESL Certification | ||
| EDC5002 | Diversity in Inclusive Education | 3.0 |
| EDC5021 | Second Language Acquisition 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5022 | Teaching ESL Through Content 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5023 | Hist & Culture of Multilingual Learners 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5026 | Phonology & Structure of American Eng 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5027 | Literacy for Multilingual Learners 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5202 | Multicultural Lit Child & Adolescents | 3.0 |
| EDC6203 | Introduction to Wilson Reading System | 1.0 |
| EDC6204 | Wilson Reading System Part 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC6205 | Wilson Reading System Part 2 | 3.0 |
| EDC6206 | Wilson Reading System Practicum A | 1.5 |
| EDC6207 | Wilson Reading System Practicum B | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 31.0 | |
Course needed for ESL Certification.
Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected]
Graduates will be able to:
Q: Do I need to speak another language to be an ESL teacher? A: No — ESL teachers teach English to speakers of other languages; they don’t necessarily need to be bilingual. However, you do need to demonstrate English oral and written proficiency through the OPI and WPT before completing the program. If you want to teach in a bilingual program (teaching content in both English and another language), you would pursue the Bilingual/Bicultural Education Endorsement instead.
Q: How is this different from the Bilingual/Bicultural Education Endorsement? A: The ESL endorsement authorizes you to teach English as a Second Language to multilingual learners. The Bilingual/Bicultural endorsement authorizes you to teach academic content in both English and another language. Both are valuable NJ credentials — but they authorize different types of instruction. This M.Ed. focuses on the ESL endorsement path.
Q: What are the OPI and WPT? A: The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Written Proficiency Test (WPT) are standardized assessments of language proficiency used by the NJ DOE as exit requirements for ESL certification programs. They measure your ability to communicate effectively in English at a professional level. Confirm the approved testing provider with the Education department.
Q: Can I complete this program while teaching a different subject? A: Yes — this program is designed for working, certified teachers. You don’t need to be currently teaching ESL to enroll. Many students in this program are classroom teachers who want to add ESL as a second certification.
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