Graduate Programs

Certificate Programs

TESOL

The graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is offered to students who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and who would like to be trained in teaching English to non-native speakers of English.  Students will become familiar with the major theoretical foundations of teaching English as a foreign and second language and acquire experience through practice teaching in authentic ESL classrooms.  The student who completes the TESOL certificate will be able to teach ESL and EFL to adult and post-secondary learners in the U.S.A. and overseas.  Optional emphasis in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students may choose to add the optional English for Specific Purposes (ESP) emphasis.  ESP Focuses on the teaching of English as a second language for academic, occupational, and professional purposes. 

Admission Requirements

  1. Students should have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent, documented by an official transcript.  Students with an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 may be conditionally admitted , but must receive a grade of B or better in ENG-G 500, which should be taken as their first class, in order to continue in the program.
  2. Students who are non-native speakers of English must have a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 600 (paper), 250 (computer), or 100 (Internet).
  3. Students should provide a personal statement describing their interest and goals in the program.

Course Requirements

The TESOL certificate requires 21 credit hours, including 17 hours of "core" courses and 4 hours of electives.  The core courses are:

  • ENG-G 500 Introduction to the English Language
  • LING-L 532 Second-Language Acquisition
  • LING-L 534 Linguistic Resources for TESOL
  • ENG-G 541 Materials Preparation for ESL Instruction
  • LING-L 535 TESOL Practicum

Students wishing to earn the TESOL certificate with ESP emphasis must take LING-T 600 as their elective course and complete their TESOL Practicum LING-L 535 in an ESP setting.