English as a Second Language Online Certificate

Expand you professional teaching skills with an ESL certificate from Cal U

Become an effective and versatile ESL teacher with this innovative online graduate certificate program at California University of Pennsylvania. Designed for certified teachers who want to expand their expertise and their careers, this accredited program can be completed in five semesters, including the summer.

Cal U's ESL program is aligned with top standards in ESL education, including those of the Pennsylvania Department of Education ESL Program and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Furthermore, all programs' professors have top certifications, are actively engaged with international ESL professional development associations, and have years of real-world experience teaching ESL in the United States and around the world.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Comprehensive: Cal U's ESL certificate program focuses on research-based best practices in ESL education for both children and adults. This certificate will give you essential on-the-job skills in language, culture, instruction, assessment and professionalism.

Fieldwork: Field-based components are an integral part of every ESL certificate course and will provide you with opportunities and support to apply your skills with English language learners in K-12 and other classroom settings near you.

Top Accreditation: This graduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cal U's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). See CAEP reporting measures of program impact and outcomes.

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Best

U.S. News & World Report has named Cal U's graduate education programs among the "Best Online Programs" three years in a row, and counting.

$2^million

Cal U, in collaboration with Pennsylvania's Intermediate Unit 1, has received over $2 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education for ESL professional development initiatives.

Program Benefits

Benefits of Cal U's ESL certificate program include:

Fully online courses that enable you to earn your certificate from anywhere, even while you continue to work full time.
Collaboration online with fellow students who are completing the same classes as you.
Personal academic and career advising via telephone and email.
Instruction that focuses on research-based best practices in ESL education.

Graduate Outcomes

Cal U's certificate program in ESL education will prepare you to be an effective teacher for the growing ESL population. ESL teacher shortages in Pennsylvania mean there are many job opportunities, and this trend can be seen both nationwide and globally, as well. Cal U program alumni have gone on to rewarding careers as:

ESL teachers at public and private elementary and secondary schools and tutoring centers.
School counselors.
Reading specialists.
Speech pathologists.

Curriculum, Admission Requirements and Related Programs

Cal U's graduate certificate program in ESL education is delivered via asynchronous online courses that enable you to complete assignments at any time from any location. All coursework can be used to complete continuing education requirements under Pennsylvania's Act 48 professional development program.

Curriculum

Course	Credits
EDU 704 Foundations of ESL Education	3
EDU 709 Sociolinguistics	3
EDU 712 Content-Based ESL Instruction	3
EDU 713 Language Acquisition and Development	3
EDU 714 Language Assessment	3
EDU 719 Supporting Second Language Learners, Families and Community	3
Total	18

Program Notes:

ESL courses require field experiences.
This is not an initial teaching licensure program. Pennsylvania requires initial licensure before the ESL program specialist certificate can be added on.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Regular)

Bachelor's degree with a GPA of 2.80 or a 3.00 in last 48 credits earned (Students with a GPA below 2.80 may apply for conditional admission)
Official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate institution
Master's with certification AND Certification Only: Copy of teaching certification

Applicants in other states will have six months after admission to secure and submit evidence of PA Department of Education certification

Master's Only: Resume will be evaluated on the basis of prior studies and/or significant professional experience
International Global Online Applicants

Conditional Admission Requirements

Conditional Admission may be granted with the following modifications of the Regular Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor's degree with a GPA under 2.80 will be reviewed for a decision

Provisional Admission:
Applicants who have provided unofficial documentation of test scores, prerequisite courses, transcripts or lack of letter(s) of recommendation may be admitted provisionally.

This policy also applies to undergraduate students who apply for graduate admission pending bachelor degree completion. Upon receipt of all official documents, a student will be changed from Provisional Admission to either Regular Admission or Conditional Admission. Provisional Admission students may take classes for one term but will not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

How to Apply:

Complete the Graduate School Application
Submit the nonrefundable $35 Application Fee
Mail official transcript to:

School of Graduate Studies and Research
California University of Pennsylvania
Box 91
250 University Ave.
California, PA 15419

For additional information:
Email: calugo@calu.edu
Phone: 1.866.595.6348

Out of State Students:
All students who will be seeking certification outside of Pennsylvania are responsible for securing and following the certification requirements in the state in which they intend to apply for certification.

Related Programs

English as a Second Language Master's Degree plus Certificate Program
A master of education degree for teachers who wish to simultaneously pursue an M.Ed. and ESL teaching certification.
English as a Second Language Master's Degree Only
A master of education degree for teachers who do not wish to pursue ESL teaching certification.

Professional ESL Associations

Take advantage of local and international professional development communities. Cal U ESL graduate students are encouraged to engage with renowned ESL educator associations such as western Pennsylvania's Three Rivers TESOL and the TESOL international association.

Top Accreditation

Cal U's education programs have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This program also meets the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Certification Outside of Pennsylvania

Cal U's English as a Second Language certification program prepares you to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education ESL program specialist certification guidelines. All students who will be seeking ESL certification outside of Pennsylvania should consult their state our country's certification requirements before entering the program. Contact our Global Online Office for more information.

English as a Second Language Faculty

Dr. Susan Morris-Rutledge

Associate Professor and ESL Program Coordinator

morrisrutledge@calu.edu

View profile

Please Note: All students who will be seeking licensure/certification outside of Pennsylvania should consult the State Authorization web page for more information.

As of Summer 2018 and forward, per PDE, if you are PA certified then you will no longer be required to complete the Chapter 49 Special Education Requirements for the ESL programs. These included: ESP 610, ESP 612 and/or ESP 701. For questions, please contact Dr. Morris-Rutledge for advisement. This does not apply to those enrolled under the Intermediate Unit 1 Partnership.