TESOL Certificate

A TESOL Certificate is widely accepted and recognized to reflect a student’s initial academic and practical preparation in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL). (Though it has a similar name, it should not be confused with state teacher certification, which is necessary to teach in the public school system.) Students who may want to pursue the TESOL Certificate would typically be interested in living, teaching and traveling abroad after graduation. In some locations at language schools abroad, a TESOL Certificate or its equivalent may be a requirement for entry-level employment as a language instructor. Other students who may have interest in the certificate may want to pursue graduate studies in linguistics, TESOL or foreign languages. For more specific information, see Mark Putnam, associate professor of English.

Degree Requirements

Required course work for a TESOL Certificate at UT:

Required Courses:

ENG 205Advanced English Grammar

4

ENG 210/LIN 210Basic Linguistics

4

ENG 343/LIN 343Approaches to TESOL and Teaching Second and Foreign Languages

4

Total Credit Hours:12

Supervised Internship in TESOL

Internship should be taken after other required courses have been completed.

Choose one of the following electives:

CST 201Cross-Cultural Studies

3-4

ENG 202World Literature II

4

ENG 204Advanced Composition

4

ENG 345Composition Pedagogy

4

LIN 310Applied Linguistics

4

WRI 274Creative Nonfiction

4

Total Credit Hours:4

Other requirements:

A 3.0 grade point average in the courses above.

At least two semesters of a foreign language or equivalent. (Students may select two different languages.)

Total Credit Hours: 20