MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership | TESL

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Learn to Engage Globally Through Language with Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language

Do you love learning about other cultures? One great way to travel the world and engage with other cultures and people is to teach English as a second language. If you’d like to learn more about what makes various countries unique and what links them together, then Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is a great way to gain the skills you need to live and work in multicultural contexts.

In this program, you can look at the distinctive aspects of various cultures while going beyond the regional differences and seeing how we all fit together globally. This program blends courses from a master’s in English as a second language with courses from an online global and intercultural leadership degree – giving you the tools you need to communicate with people across borders, regions, and cultures. By teaching English as a second language, you can forge friendships and relationships all over the world.

Our online master’s in global and intercultural leadership degree has been designed to take advantage of the skills and abilities that you bring with you and build upon them. In addition, you can test the new skills you gain through a TESL-related internship. Our faculty have years of experience in their respective fields, and their mission is to bolster your abilities and prepare you for success as you go out to engage with other cultures and religions.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Accreditation

Liberty Theological Seminary, as part of Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Your seminary degree is approved by ATS and has met rigorous accreditation standards, so you can feel confident that your degree is both academically excellent and well-respected among churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.

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No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language Program?

If you are a busy professional, this degree is perfect for you. It is offered online, and the classes have no set login times. This enables you to complete your courses wherever and whenever it’s most convenient for you — without neglecting your other priorities like your family, job, and community.

Completing the TESL specialization is a great way to launch a new career internationally. Your internship will allow you to make connections and gain the confidence needed to succeed in the field. This program is also an excellent choice for those who are already serving in a global context and wanting to gain additional credentials. No matter what your goals are, our global and intercultural leadership master’s program provides the affordable tuition rates, real-world training, and top-notch curriculum you need to prepare for effective cross-cultural engagement.

What Will You Study in Our Master’s in ESL Online Global and Intercultural Leadership Degree?

In this global and intercultural leadership program, you can examine the historical and theoretical foundations of global engagement and learn how to meet the needs of a culturally diverse world. You’ll also analyze past and present global issues so you can better understand how to serve in a multicultural context. The skills you gain from studying various cultures and learning how to communicate across borders can enhance your ability to teach English as a second language.

The TESL specialization will first teach you about the practical uses of the English language. You will also learn about the syntax and phonology of the major languages of the world to help you understand the unique challenges posed by a student’s primary language. You can develop the knowledge needed to help your students read, write, and speak English at an advanced level as you help prepare them for success in international and local industries that use English.

Additionally, you will take an in-depth look at cultural anthropology and world religions, allowing you to gain an appreciation for various cultures and glean insight on how best to communicate with them. Toward the end of this program, you’ll complete a TESL-related internship so you can gain practical, on-the-job experience that can enhance your chance of success and help you gain confidence. Together, your TESL skills and global and intercultural engagement knowledge can help you pursue international career paths in business, nonprofit work, and more.

Upon graduation, you can be better equipped to effectively engage in a global context and use language as a means of opening dialogues with people around the world!

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee.

*Electronic textbooks are not provided for PACO courses or courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,850
Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$410/Credit
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Block Rate (9-15 credit hours)	$2,575
Military Grad & Postgrad Divinity Part Time (1-8.99 or over 15 credit hours)	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Requirements for Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership Program

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work. *Please note: the MA in Christian Apologetics requires a 2.5 GPA for admission in good standing.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Admission to this program also requires:
- The School of Divinity Questionnaire (login required).
- Submission of contact information (login required) for 1 pastoral recommender.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for part-time graduate and postgraduate divinity courses
Discounted divinity block rate – $2,575 per semester*
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder **
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Credits taken below 9 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate.

**Not applicable to certificates, postgraduate, or doctoral programs.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Master of Arts in Global and Intercultural Leadership – TESL Explore and Educate

Learn to Engage Globally Through Language with Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language

Accreditation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership – Teaching English as a Second Language Program?

What Will You Study in Our Master’s in ESL Online Global and Intercultural Leadership Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Requirements for Liberty’s MA in Global and Intercultural Leadership Program

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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