English to Speakers of Other Languages Graduate Certificate

Emily S. Beck, Program Director
843.953.5412
becke@cofc.edu

http://teachered.cofc.edu/grad-progs/esol-cert.php

Mission Statement

The mission of the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Certificate is the development of ESOL teachers to lead a diverse community of learners toward an understanding of and active participation in a highly complex world.

Program Description

The goal of the ESOL Certificate is to train individuals to teach English to English language learners. The Certificate attracts both practicing teachers as well as individuals who want to work in other areas, such as non-profit organizations, businesses, or those who expect to work or teach abroad; for such individuals, this Certificate constitutes evidence of a body of knowledge in the field of ESOL. Completion of this Certificate will form a solid foundation for beginning ESOL teachers, whether they teach in public or private schools, work as volunteers with children and/or adults or work within the business sector. Courses are designed to give students a strong underpinning in the theories and methodologies necessary for teaching English to speakers of other languages.

Admission Requirements and Application Deadlines

Endorsement Requirements

To receive add-on endorsement from the South Carolina Department of Education and to be able to teach in K-12 public schools, candidates must already have initial teaching certificate/licensure and one of the following:

• Six semester hours in courses in a single second language; or
• Completion of intensive language training by the Peace Corps, the Foreign Service Institute or the Defense Language Institute; or
• Placement in a third-year level course in the foreign language department at an accredited college or university; or
• Demonstration of second language proficiency (in a language that is unavailable at accredited institutions) through verification in writing from an official designated by the State Department of Education.
• An additional course, beyond the Graduate Certificate in ESOL, is required for state add-on endorsement in South Carolina: either LALE 601 Applied Linguistics (3)  or EDFS 674 Linguistics for ESOL Teachers (3) . Contact the graduate director for additional information.

For more information on ESOL add-on endorsement/certification, go to http://ed.sc.gov/educators.

Transfer Credit Policy

No program specific guidelines. Please refer to the Graduate School’s transfer credit policy .

Program Requirements

• English to Speakers of Other Languages I Graduate Certificate  

Student Learning Outcomes

• ESOL 1 Certificate (PDF)