TESOL Certificate

Requirements

Any student who wished to earn the certificate must fulfill the following requirements:

Prerequisite
(or taken concurrently with the first certificate course)

LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS  

Course Requirements

LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  

LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  

LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  

IL 2257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS  

IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  

LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  

Please note:

1. LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING   involves supervised language teaching concurrent with or following LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING . Candidates fulfill the requirement by signing up for LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  and teaching during that term in an informal ESL course run by the English Language Institute, OR, with permission of the TESOL Certificate advisor, another ESL teaching context.
2. The certificate candidate must earn a grade of B or higher in each certificate course.

Degree Prerequisite for Admission

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent with a minimum grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale). Preference is given to applicants who have studied abroad, worked with international students, and/or have any EFL/ESL teaching experience (including volunteer).

Instructional I Prerequisite

Applicants must hold a Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate (or equivalent from another state) and be able to provide a copy as part of the application packet.

Additional Language Learning Prerequisite for Admission

Native Speakers of English:

Native speakers of English must have classroom foreign language learning experience equivalent to at least one year of college level study of a language other than English and/or have learned a foreign language during an overseas living/work experience. 

Native Speakers of Other Languages:

• Recommendations for applicants who are non-native speakers of English are as follows:
• Recommended TOEFL Score:  95 or higher on the iBT TOEFL (Skill Requirements: Reading and Listening - High; Speaking and Writing - one skill must be at the level of Good)
• Recommended IELTS Score:  7 or higher on the IELTS (Skill Requirements: Speaking and Writing - combined minimum of 13)
• Admitted students in TESOL-related programs who are non-native speakers of English must have good spoken English skills as determined by a score of at least 4 on the International Teaching Assistant interview test administered by the University of Pittsburgh.  These students must successfully complete the interview before graduating.

Transcripts and CV and Teaching Certificate

Undergraduate transcripts (and graduate if applicable) and a CV (including a list of references) must be submitted as part of the application. In addition, a copy of the applicant’s state teaching certificate must be included in the application materials.

Plan of Study

Students must complete a TESOL certificate plan of study form after consultation with the TESOL Certificate advisor during the first term of study.

Completion of Requirements

When nearing completion of all TESOL certificate requirements, students must apply for graduation from the TESOL Certificate program through the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. This graduation application is separate from any other degree graduation applications. Additional paperwork must be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education with the help of the TESOL Certificate advisor.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Two-term Option
(entering in the fall term)

Fall:

• LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS   (if needed)
• LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  
• IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  

Spring:

• LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  
• I&L (Teaching ELLs)
• LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  
• [Practicum]

Four-term Option

(entering in the fall term)

Fall:

• LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS   (if needed)
• LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  

Spring:

• LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  

Fall:

• IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  
• [Practicum]

Spring:

• IL 2257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS  
• LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  
• [Practicum]

*Note:

Students must enter the program in the fall term. Students may complete LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS  prior to the fall term, however.

Requirements

Higher Education Course Requirements

Any student who wishes to earn the certificate at the MA or PhD level:

Prerequisite
(or taken concurrently with the first certificate course)

• LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS  

Course Requirements

• LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  
• LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  
• LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  
• LING 2146 - SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION  
• IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  
• LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  
• PhD students must take an additional 3 credit course approved by the TESOL Certificate Advisor

Please Note:

1. LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  involves supervised language teaching concurrent with or following LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  . Teaching Assistants who are teaching in the English Language Institute automatically fulfill the Practicum requirements, but they must sign up for LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  once during their teaching terms. Other candidates fulfill the requirement by signing up for LING 2195 - PRACTICUM ESL TEACHING  and teaching during that term in an informal ESL course run by the English Language Institute, OR, with permission of the TESOL certificate advisor, another ESL teaching context.
2. The certificate candidate must earn a grade of B or higher in each certificate course.
3. Those applying for graduate degrees will completed the TESOL Certificate program application process after gaining acceptance to the degree program.

Degree Prerequisites for Admission

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent with a minimum grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4-point scale). Preference is given to applicants who have studied abroad, worked with international students, and/or have any EFL/ESL teaching experience (including volunteer).

Additional Language Learning Prerequisite for Admission

Native Speakers of English:

Native speakers of English must have classroom foreign language learning experience equivalent to at least one year of college level study of a language other than English and/or have learned a foreign language during an overseas living/work experience. 

Native Speakers of Other Languages:

• Recommendations for applicants who are non-native speakers of English are as follows:
• Recommended TOEFL Score:  95 or higher on the iBT TOEFL (Skill Requirements: Reading and Listening - High; Speaking and Writing - one skill must be at the level of Good)
• Recommended IELTS Score:  7 or higher on the IELTS (Skill Requirements: Speaking and Writing - combined minimum of 13)
• Admitted students in TESOL-related programs who are non-native speakers of English must have good spoken English skills as determined by a score of at least 4 on the International Teaching Assistant interview test administered by the University of Pittsburgh.  These students must successfully complete the interview before graduating.

Transcripts and CV

Undergraduate transcripts (and graduate if applicable) and a CV (including a list of references) must be submitted as part of the application.

Plan of Study

Students must complete a TESOL certificate plan of study form after consultation with the TESOL Certificate advisor during the first term of study. The student then will work with academic advisor if earning a graduate degree, or the TESOL Certificate advisor if not in a degree program.

Completion of Requirements

When nearing completion of all TESOL certificate requirements, students must apply for graduation from the TESOL Certificate program through the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. This graduation application is separate from any other degree graduation applications.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Two-term Option
(entering in the fall term)

Fall:

• LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS   (if needed)
• LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  
• IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  
• Elective for PhD-level students

Spring:

• LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  
• LING 2146 - SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION  
• LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  
• Practicum
• Elective for PhD-level students

Four-term Option
(entering in the fall term)

Fall:

• LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS   (if needed)
• LING 2142 - THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING  
• Elective for PhD-level students

Spring:

• LING 2738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH  
• LING 2146 - SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION  
• Elective for PhD-level students

Fall:

• IL 2253 - PRIN/PRA FRGN LANG TESTNG ASSMNT  
• Elective for PhD-level students
• Practicum

Spring:

• Practicum
• LING 2146 - SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION  
• LING 2143 - SEM LANG TCHNG MATLS DEVELOPMENT  

Note:

*Students must enter the program in the Fall term. Students may complete LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS  prior to the fall term, however.