Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Graduate Certificate

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Certificate Program (TESOL)

The TESOL Graduate Certificate provides training to those interested in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The certificate is given for to those who complete the practical preparation needed to teach English both within and outside the United States to post-secondary students and adults. The specific courses for the certificate include the specific knowledge and skills specified for ESL teachers and identified by TESOL, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. Students have the option of completing the program on-line. Click here to view corresponding gainful employment data.

Note: The Certificate in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages is not a program to prepare K-12 ESL teachers. Pre-service and in-service teachers seeking an ESL certificate and an add-on endorsement in ESL for K-12 should contact the College of Education for details.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold a BA degree in any field with a GPA of at least 2.75.

International students must have a TOEFL score of 80, or an overall Band IELTS score of 6.5.

Applicants must submit a one-page personal statement and two letters of recommendation to the English Department.

Since 15 credit hours in the certificate program may also count toward the MA degree, it is expected that many fully-admitted students will earn the certificate on their way to the MA degree. Certificate students wishing to earn the MA must make formal application for the master’s program following all guidelines specified by the English Department and the University.

Program Requirements

Fifteen (15) semester credit hours

The certificate program requires completion of fifteen (15) semester credit hours including:

Twelve (12) credit hours

Twelve (12) credit hours must be met by satisfactory completion of the following core courses:

ENGL 7531 - Theory and History of ESL ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7532 - Principles of Skills Assessment ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7535 - ESL Grammar ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7530 - Field Experience and Practicum in ESL ** Credit Hours: (3-6)

Three (3) elective hours may be selected from:

ENGL 7533 - Methods/Techniques of ESL in K-12 ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7536 - Issues in Second Language Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7537 - Issues in Second Language Reading ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 7538 - Cultural Issues in ESL ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 6533 - ESL/EFL in Multicultural Settings Credit Hours: (3)

Note:

Those also seeking ESL add-on endorsement must complete ENGL 7533 and ENGL 7538 . Praxis II for ESL is also required for the add-on endorsement.

Retention Requirements

Same as retention policies applicable to Department of English graduate degree programs.

Graduation Requirements

Relatively early in the semester in which they intend to graduate, certificate candidates must “Apply to Graduate” in the MyMemphis Portal and a submit a Candidacy form with the Graduate Coordinator for English.