Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate

The objectives of the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language are three-fold:

1. Prepare teachers skilled in supporting the development of English language learners
2. Provide candidates with a rigorous introduction to the core disciplines in English language teaching: linguistics, language acquisition and pedagogy
3. Provide candidates with field-based experiences and in-class teaching opportunities in order to develop practical knowledge and skills of second language classroom teaching practices.

Admission Standards

• Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and satisfy the minimum Graduate School requirements for admission to a certificate program (which are identical to those for enrollment as a post-baccalaureate graduate student). No GRE exam is required. Applicants must also apply separately for the TESL Graduate Certificate program to the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.
• Post-baccalaureate status is not available to non-Kentucky residents or international applicants.
• Post-baccalaureate students or students enrolled in (or applying to) a graduate degree program may also apply for the Graduate TESL Certificate.
• Admission to the TESL Graduate Certificate or award of the graduate certificate does not guarantee admission to any degree program at the University of Kentucky.
• Applicants must submit the appropriate application fee to the Graduate School.

Application Procedures

• Applicants must provide to the TESL Certificate Director a two-page essay on why the individual needs and desires a Graduate Certificate and a one-page resume which includes the student’s educational and work experience, as an aid to the admission decision.
• Applicants for admission to the Graduate TESL Certificate must be approved by the Certificate Director, who shall notify the Graduate School in writing of the student’s admission.
• Admission to the Graduate TESL Certificate in MCL may be limited so that the faculty and resources are not overwhelmed.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

• The Graduate TESL Certificate curriculum requires a total of 12 graduate credit hours, including 9 hours of required courses, and a teaching practicum.
• All course work for the Graduate TESL Certificate must be completed within 5 years of admission.
• Graduate Certificate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their TESL certificate courses to progress in the curriculum. This GPA requirement is assessed at the end of each term.  

Curriculum

The Graduate certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language consists of 12 graduate credit hours. These courses will overlap with the (developing) TESL MA and MATWL programs, with the exception of the ESL Teaching Practicum, which is specifically designed for the TESL Certificate students. Please note the courses identified below meet the certificate requirements, but other graduate level UK courses may also satisfy these requirements. The director of the TESL Certificate Program is responsible for assessing these alternative courses for equivalency.