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Jul 16, 2026
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2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Teaching English as an Additional Language (TEAL) Minor
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The undergraduate Teaching English as an Additional Language (TEAL) minor is designed to enhance the preparation of teacher education students for today’s increasingly multilingual classrooms. Through a carefully integrated set of courses offered collaboratively by the School of Education and the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, students develop deep knowledge of structure, second language acquisition, assessment, and effective instructional methods for multilingual learners. This interdisciplinary design ensures that students gain both theoretical and practical competencies necessary for teaching English learners/multilingual students in diverse educational settings. The program equips students with a strong understanding of how language functions, how to assess learners equitably, and how to design responsive instructional materials and strategies that promote linguistic and academic development for all students.
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Accreditations Associated
For students majoring in a teacher certification program, the TEAL minor leads to an ESL Specialist Endorsement from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, enabling graduates to serve as ESL-certified educators.
Admissions Requirements
To be admitted into a minor program in the School of Education a student must meet the following requirements:
- Have a declared major at the University of Pittsburgh
- Minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Complete an application for the selected academic minor
LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS is a suggested pre-requisite although students can take the course after declaring the minor.
Curriculum (15 credits)
- TLL 1257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
- TLL 1253 - SECOND AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND TESTING
- TLL 1738 - LINGUISTIC STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH
- TLL 1251 - INTRODUCTION TO TEACHING ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
- TLL 1722 - TEACHING ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE
Optional Practicum (1 credit)
This course is available to students in teaching certification majors who wish to obtain ESL Specialist Endorsement from PDE. Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA to participate.
- TLL 1892 - PRACTICUM - TEAL
Graduation Requirements
- Students must earn a C- or higher in a class for it to satisfy minor requirements.
- The minor GPA requirement to graduate is 2.0.
- No more than 50% of minor coursework that has been transferred from another institution may be applied to the minor.
- Completion of all course requirements
Note: Students who plan to pursue the ESL endorsement through PDE must have completed the optional practicum (TLL 1892) and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the point of graduation.
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