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Program Details

Graduate Program: Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (Certificate NDP)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (Certificate NDP)  
Program Description

As English has become the world’s premier international language, English teachers are in demand all over the world. Most in demand are college graduates with degrees in English, Linguistics, or other humanities or social sciences, with additional preparation in the field of Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL). 

The University of Arizona English Applied Linguistics Program in the English Department offers a 15 credit hour, five course Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language Research and Practice. The certificate can be completed in two or three semesters on campus, or in five 7-week sessions online (10 months), run through UA Online.

Admission requirements are a completed Bachelor’s Degree with a final GPA of 3.0/4.0, a one-page statement of purpose addressing reasons for pursuing the certificate, and for international students (non-native speakers of English), either an IELTS score of 7.0 or a TOEFL score of 80.

The certificate requires 15 credit hours, comprised of 1) Linguistics and Grammar for TESOL (English 506) 2) Culture for TESL (English 620), 3) Introduction to TESOL Methods (English 555), 4) Advanced Methods for TESOL (English 613), and 5) an elective focusing on Technology and English Teaching (English 589),  Second Language Writing, or Second Language Learning Research. Of the electives, only Technology and English Teaching is available online. Course descriptions are on the website. 

All five courses (15 credits) are accredited graduate courses and will transfer to the University of Arizona's MA TESL degree and other degrees at UA or other universities. Admission to the MA TESL is separate, but students who complete the Certificate with a GPA of 3.5/4.0 will receive preferential consideration for admission to the MA.

Prospective students interested in learning more should visit the website, which offers answers to frequently asked questions. Additional questions can be directed to Program Coordinator, Stephanie Mao (smao@arizona.edu), or Program Director, Dr. Hayriye Kayi-Aydar (hkaydar@arizona.edu).

Please see the website for more information: https://english.arizona.edu/graduate-certificate-tesl

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

English

Department of English Graduate Studies

The English Department maintains four degree-granting graduate programs:

  • Literature (MA and PhD) 
  • Creative Writing (MFA) 
  • Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, known as RCTE (MA and PhD) 
  • English Applied Linguistics, known as EAL (MA in TESL, with ties to the PhD in SLAT)

Each of these programs is separately administered and has a separate application procedure. In general (some programs may make exceptions or have a different deadline) applications are due in early January (for matriculation the following August). Admissions are highly selective. The department therefore urges prospective applicants to confer, by early autumn at the latest, with the Director of the individual program in which they are interested.

To access the landing page for an individual program, click on its name below. On these pages you will find contact information for each program, as well as information about graduate study in the department.

General MA
The Department also offers a General MA, a flexible program that includes curricula from Literature, RCTE, and EAL.

Additional Resources
English Graduate Union (EGU), represents all English graduate students 
Financial Opportunities: please email graduate program coordinator for information regarding financial support available to graduate students in the Department of English.

 

Questions? Please contact the English Graduate Program Coordinator
Stephanie Mao
Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of English 

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campuses where offered

Arizona International Direct - Online

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

Arizona Online - Online

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Stephanie Mao
520-626-0529
Graduate Program Coordinator
Stephanie Mao
520-626-0529
Director of Graduate Studies
Hayriye Kayi-Aydar
520-621-1836
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Megan Jia Mcnulty-Luoma
520-626-9962
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are a completed Bachelor’s Degree with a final GPA of 3.0/4.0, a one-page statement of purpose addressing reasons for pursuing the certificate, and for international students (non-native speakers of English), either an IELTS score of 7.0 or a TOEFL score of 80.  

All five courses (15 credits) are accredited graduate courses and will transfer to the UA MA TESL and other degrees at UA or other universities. Admission to the MATESL is separate, but students who complete the Certificate with a GPA of 3.5/4.0 will receive preferential consideration for admission to the MA. 

Interested students should contact Dr. Hayriye Kayi-Aydar (hkaydar@arizona.edu) for more information.

Students interested in the on campus degree should apply through the Graduate College application website and specify whether they are applying to the online or the on campus Certificate. A $90 fee is required.

 
Standardized Tests

For international students (non-native speakers of English), either an IELTS score of 7.0 or a TOEFL score of 80.  

 
Funding Opportunities

We do not offer departmental financial aid.

 
Admissions Deadlines

The application deadline is July 15th for on-campus and online applicants for the Fall start term, however please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

15 

Core Coursework Requirements

Please see the program webpage:  https://english.arizona.edu/graduate-certificate-tesl

  • Complete the following 4 core courses (12 credit hours)
  • Must complete ENGL 555 before taking ENGL 613

ENGL 506: Modern English Grammar

ENGL 555: Methods I: Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

ENGL 613: Methods II: Materials & Curriculum Development and Assessment

ENGL 620: Cultural Dimensions of SLA

  • Complete 1 of the following elective courses (3 credit hours)
  • Must complete core courses before taking the following elective courses

ENGL 580: L2 Writing

ENGL 589: Technology and Language Teaching

ENGL 596J: SLA Research Methods

ENGL 615: Second Language Acquisition Theory

ENGL 693A: Applied ESL

 
Elective Coursework

Please see the program webpage:  https://english.arizona.edu/graduate-certificate-tesl

 

 
Additional Requirements

None

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/TESLCRTG
Last revised 03 Feb 2023
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