Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - TESOL (CERT)

Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Unit: College of Education and Human Development
Department:  Elementary, Middle and Secondary Teacher Education
Program Webpage
Academic Plan Code(s): TEILCILO

Program Information

This program is completed entirely online.

The twelve (12) credit hour graduate certificate program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) prepares candidates both inside and outside of the teacher education programs who wish to teach English language learners in a variety of settings.

There are two tracks in the TESOL graduate certificate: educator and non-educator.

The educator track is for certified P-12 classroom teachers who wish to add the English as a Second Language endorsement to their initial teaching license. This track addresses the growing demand for classroom teachers to have specialized training qualifying them to teach this diverse, yet distinct population of multilingual learners.  The educator track of the graduate certificate program is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license.  Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement in states other than Kentucky.  Out of state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs.  For Kentucky certified teachers, completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.

The non-educator track is for non-educators wishing to teach/tutor English language learners (both in the U.S. and internationally) where state licensure may not be required. These settings include (but are not limited to) private/parochial schools, humanitarian organizations, and other settings where refugee and immigrant populations are in need of English language instruction and support.  The non-educator track of the graduate certificate program is not designed to lead to initial licensure  or endorsement in any state.

Application Requirements

Applicants to the TESOL certificate program must submit the following:

• Completed UofL graduate application submitted at https://apply.graduate.louisville.edu/apply/
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework.  To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School. Transcripts issued to the candidate, and/or uploaded by the candidate, are considered unofficial.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated per UofL Graduate School requirements: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international/evaluation
• Personal statement – Candidates must upload a 500 word essay outlining their rationale for pursuing this program. Kentucky certified teachers intending to pursue an ESL endorsement should indicate this in their statement.
• Current resume

International Applicants:

• International applicants must submit additional application items, and meet additional admission requirements.  Information on the international application and admission requirements can be found here: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international

Admission Requirements

• Complete application (including all checklist items above and payment submitted).
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Candidates enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor’s degree can be reviewed for provisional admission - pending a final, degree transcript. 
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum and all other admission requirements does not guarantee that prospective students will be accepted into the program. 

Program admission dates:  Spring, Summer or Fall semester 

Application Deadlines:  December 1 for Spring, April 1 for Summer, and August 1 for Fall

Students can be simultaneously enrolled in a University of Louisville graduate degree program and this graduate certificate program.

Certificate Requirements

All students enrolled in the graduate certificate program are expected to make steady and satisfactory progress toward the completion of the certificate by taking at least one course each academic semester (excluding Winter and Summer sessions). Students who are not enrolled for a period of one academic calendar year will be considered to have withdrawn from the certificate program.

The certificate program of study must be completed with a 3.00 overall GPA and with a grade of B-minus or better for all graduate courses used to satisfy certificate requirements.

Graduate certificate students must take all certificate course work at the University of Louisville. No transfer credits will be accepted toward this graduate certificate program.

Coursework

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EDAP 521 is REQUIRED for Kentucky certified teachers who are seeking the English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement to attach to their Kentucky teaching license.

Exit Assessment:

Successful completion of all required coursework; scored Target or better on Rubrics for Advanced Candidates; minimum 3.0 GPA with no grade lower than "B-".  

Certification Requirements:

Kentucky certified teachers who are seeking endorsement as an ESL teacher must:

(1)  Successfully complete all course requirements including final ESL Portfolio containing artifacts representing ESL coursework;

(3) Pass the required PRAXIS examination. Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for an exam, candidates should check requirements at praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/Kentucky-tests.html. 

(4) Apply (with the assistance of the Educator Preparation Student Services office) for the ESL endorsement with the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.