Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Graduate Certificate
Earn your certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The Department of English at OSU offers a Graduate Certificate Program in TESOL that familiarizes students
with the skills necessary to teach English to non-native speakers in a variety of
situations. Students go on to careers in the United States and abroad, including teaching
English to bilingual/bicultural students in American public schools or adult education
programs; teaching English as a foreign language in overseas schools and universities;
and teaching English as a second language to international students in the U.S. who
are studying in intensive English programs.
The 12-credit-hour TESOL Graduate Certificate Program consists of three required courses
and one elective course within the Department of English. While the program does not
include certification for public school employment, it can act as an invaluable stepping
stone to that career track. Professors specializing in TESOL will advise you as you
build onto your undergraduate degree with this certificate program.
Coursework
Required Courses (nine credit hours):
ENGL 5130 : Studies in English Grammar
ENGL 5243 : Teaching English as a Second Language
ENGL 5333 : Second Language Assessment OR ENGL 5313: Internship in TESL
Elective (six credit hours - select one of the following):
ENGL 5120 : Studies in Teaching English as a Second Language
ENGL 5143 : Descriptive Linguistics
*Courses other than those listed may be approved as electives by the Certificate Advisor.
Admissions Requirements and Deadlines
Admission to the Graduate Certificate Program in TESOL requires a bachelor’s degree
from an accredited institution of higher learning, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Applicants must submit transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a 250-word
written statement of purpose that outlines a proposed area of study, reasons for undertaking
graduate study, relevant work experience, and future career paths. Non-native English
speakers must also submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores (TOEFL ibt minimum overall score of 100, minimum reading and writing
subskill scores of 26; TOEFL paper based minimum overall score of 600; IELTS minimum
overall score of 7.0, minimum reading and writing band scores of 7.0). Applications
should be submitted through the Graduate College.
After admission to the program, students must complete a Plan of Study, receive end-of-semester
evaluations, and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.