The TESL certificate program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is specifically designed for those who intend to teach English to speakers of other languages—English as a Second/Subsequent Language (TESL) in the U.S. or English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) abroad. It provides certification that the candidate has received advanced training in the theoretical and practical aspects of English instruction from CSUN through courses taught by CSUN faculty. Coursework deals with the specific approaches to teaching English to people whose native language is not English. The certificate is ideally suited for those teaching in private institutions and in colleges and universities abroad, as well as those working as teachers or tutors in adult education programs in California and elsewhere. Those who tutor English language-learners will benefit from specialized training in the theory and practice of language instruction.

A. Admission Requirements

To be accepted into the certificate program, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.85 in the last 60 units of their undergraduate work. International visa students must have a minimum TOEFL score of 563 (paper and pencil version) or 223 (CBT) or 85 (iBT) or an IELTS score of 7.

B. Program Requirements

The certificate is awarded upon satisfactory completion (with a minimum GPA of 3.0, with no grade lower than a “C”) of the following six courses (15 units, plus 3 units of prerequisites):

1. Prerequisite Course (3 units)

LING 300 Approaches to Linguistic Analysis (3)
or ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)

2. Required Courses (15 units)

LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
or CHS 433 Language Acquisition of Chicana/o and ESL Speakers (3)
LING 525 English Structures for ESL/EFL Teaching (3)
LING 530 Introduction to TESL (3)
LING 555 TESL Classroom Practices in Post-Secondary Academic Settings (3)
LING 568 TESL Testing and Assessment (3)

Due to availability and scheduling issues, there is some flexibility concerning the sequence of courses. Additionally, graduate units earned in the program may, in most cases, be applied toward a master’s degree in TESL at CSUN.

Please contact the Linguistics/TESL graduate advisor to enroll in the certificate program.

Total Units for the Certificate: 18