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TESOL Graduate Certificate

About The Program
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines

The Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Georgia Southern University is designed to help students launch or accelerate a career path in language teaching and assessment as well as to augment the qualifications of English teachers at multiple levels both abroad and in the U.S.

The Applied Linguistics/TESOL certificate is offered jointly through the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Education . Individuals applying for a graduate certificate in Applied Linguistics/TESOL should have an interest in education and language study developed through such disciplines as education, English, foreign languages, linguistics, writing, or complementary areas in the humanities or social sciences.

This 18-hour online certificate program prepares students to:

- teach English as a second or additional language worldwide,
- take a leadership role in curriculum development, assessment, and administration of English language programs, and
- continue advanced graduate studies in language education and assessment.

TESOL specialists and applied linguists work with educational institutions and agencies, government institutions and nonprofit organizations, and in specialized business and research environments.

The program requires a total of 18 credit hours and is offered fully online. Coursework emphasizes fundamental concepts and teaches advanced applications. Typically, students will take two courses each semester and complete the program in one year. The program is flexible enough to allow alternative schedules and time frames. A common sequence for the required coursework is listed below.

- LING 6233 Teaching English Internationally (3 hours)
- ESED 5234G Cultural Issues: ESOL (3 hours)
- LING 6131 Applied Phonology (3 hours)
- ESED 5235G Methods for ESOL (3 hours)
- LING 6133 Applied Grammar (3 hours)
- LING 6231 Language, Nation, & Globalization (3 hours)

Program Contact Information:

Dr. Jinrong Li
Program Coordinator
Email: jli@georgiasouthern.edu
Phone: (912) 478-5263

REGULAR Admission Requirements
A To be considered students must satisfy the following requirements: Completed requirements for a bachelor’s degree in a college accredited by a proper regional accrediting association or the equivalent at a recognized international university. A 2.75 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate work. Regular admission is typically offered to applicants who fulfill criteria set by the College of Graduate Studies (COGS). Note that applicants to graduate certificate programs do not submit GRE scores. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or employment experience. Statement of career goals and objectives. International Students In addition to the items above, international students for whom English is not a first or native language must have the following TOEFL scores: 1. Paper Based Test – score of 600 or higher and TWE (Test of Written English) – score of 5 or higher; or 2. Internet-based Test (iBT) – Reading: 22 or higher (“high”); Listening: 22 or higher (“high”); Speaking: 26 or higher (“good”); Writing: 24 or higher (“good”) for a total score of 94 or higher. The TOEFL will be waived for students who have graduated from a U.S. college or university. *International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service (www.naces.org)

REGULAR Admission Requirements

A To be considered students must satisfy the following requirements:

Completed requirements for a bachelor’s degree in a college
accredited by a proper regional accrediting association or the equivalent
at a recognized international university.
A 2.75 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate work.
Regular admission is typically offered to applicants who fulfill criteria set by the
College of Graduate Studies (COGS). Note that applicants to graduate certificate programs
do not submit GRE scores.
Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s
academic and/or employment experience.
Statement of career goals and objectives.

International Students

In addition to the items above, international students for whom English is not a first or native language must have the following TOEFL scores:
1. Paper Based Test – score of 600 or higher and TWE (Test of Written English) – score of 5 or higher; or

2. Internet-based Test (iBT) – Reading: 22 or higher (“high”); Listening: 22 or higher (“high”); Speaking: 26 or higher (“good”); Writing: 24 or higher (“good”) for a total score of 94 or higher.

The TOEFL will be waived for students who have graduated from a U.S. college or university.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service (www.naces.org)

Application Deadlines

Application Deadlines	Fall	Spring	Summer
Final Deadlines	July 1*	November 1*	April 1*

*The application and all required documents listed on the “admissions requirements” tab for the program must be received by the deadline. If all required documents are not received by the deadline your application will not be considered for admission.

Last updated: 11/19/2019