Graduate Certificate Programs in English Language Learning and TESOL – Online and Campus
Updated: March 18, 2025
Graduate certificate programs in English language learning / Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are university programs that provide teachers and other educators with the skills and knowledge required to teach English to non-English speaking students and/or students for whom English is a second language. These programs allow bachelor’s program graduates to cultivate TESOL proficiencies through a formal academic program without committing to a full master’s degree program. Qualified students, including those with a bachelor’s degree and additional graduate training in education or another field, can earn a graduate certificate credential in TESOL from an accredited college or university in roughly half the time it takes to complete a master’s program.
Graduate certificate programs generally consist of a small cluster of courses that can be completed in one to two years of part-time enrollment. Most schools that offer these programs also offer master’s programs in TESOL, and students pursuing a graduate certificate often take courses with master’s students. While a graduate certificate in TESOL on its own may not be sufficient for state licensure/endorsement in TESOL (depending on a student’s state of residence and their educational and professional background), the coursework completed as part of a TESOL graduate certificate program can help prepare licensed educators who have one or more years of professional teaching experience for an endorsement in teaching English as an additional language (EAL).
Note: Licensing requirements for educators and teachers vary by state. Students interested in qualifying for a TESOL endorsement should review their state’s licensing requirements in order to determine whether or not a graduate certificate program will provide the training and coursework required by their state’s licensing board before enrolling in a program.
English Language Learning/TESOL Explained
English language learning is a teaching specialization that is commonly referred to by several acronyms, including TESOL, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language), and TESL (teaching English as a second language). It encompasses specific pedagogical theories and practices that educators employ to cultivate English language proficiencies in elementary, middle, and secondary school students who are classified as non-native English speakers, as well as in adult learners who come from non-English-speaking backgrounds.
TESOL specialists are trained to evaluate students’ language abilities, identify clear learning objectives, and design lesson plans that provide students with practical English language listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. In addition to studying theories of language development, TESOL teachers commonly learn about cross-cultural communication in the classroom, sociolinguistics, and classroom technologies for English language learning. Many TESOL teachers specialize by age group, learning to work with children, young adults, and/or older students who are no longer in school and have adult-learning needs.
Identifying and Classifying TESOL Graduate Certificate Programs
Graduate certificate programs have several key features. They are academic programs that are offered by an accredited college or university that culminate in the conferral of a certificate rather than a degree. They are designed for students who have already completed their undergraduate studies and hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. These programs typically consist of several graduate-level courses (four, five, or six is common) that provide targeted training in specific proficiencies. Schools that offer graduate certificates often offer master’s degree programs in the same or closely related fields.
TESOL graduate certificate programs meet the above criteria and offer a curriculum that prepares students to work in the field of English language learning. These programs are typically offered by schools or departments of English or education within larger universities. One advantage of enrolling in a TESOL graduate certificate program is that some or all of the credits conferred may be applied toward an eventual master’s or other graduate degree in teaching/education, if and when a student opts to pursue further graduate studies. (Note: Students must formally gain admission into their desired graduate degree program, and also secure program approval to transfer graduate certificate course credits to their graduate degree.)
It should be noted that while most TESOL graduate certificate programs accept applications from students who hold a bachelor’s degree, some schools offer post-master’s graduate certificate programs that are designed for students who have already completed a master’s degree. It is also important to note that some TESOL graduate certificate programs may require applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree in education, be active and licensed educators, and/or have one or more years of teaching experience.
English Language Learning Graduate Certificate Coursework
The specific courses students must take in order to earn a graduate certificate in English language learning/TESOL vary by program, as do course names and descriptions. For example, some programs focus on specific age groups, such as elementary or secondary school students, or adult learners. However, most programs offer a curriculum that includes training in English as a second language pedagogy, strategies for assessing students’ language skills, creating lesson plans that address specific needs, and best practices for working with diverse student populations.
While not intended to be exhaustive, the list below provides a representative overview of the types of courses that are commonly part of a TESOL graduate certificate program curriculum.
- Principles of Second Language Acquisition
- Assessment in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Sociolinguistic Issues in Bilingual Education
- Diagnostic and Corrective Literacy Instruction
- Linguistically and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy
In addition to didactic coursework, some TESOL graduate certificate programs have internship/practicum options or requirements. The hours accrued through students’ teaching experiences can typically be applied toward licensing/endorsement requirements for TESOL specialists, although this varies by program and by state.
Online Graduate Certificate in TESOL Programs
There are a growing number of accredited colleges and universities that offer fully or partially online graduate certificate programs, including graduate certificate programs in TESOL. These programs utilize web-based learning management systems (LMSs) to deliver lectures and other course materials via synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction. Most online graduate certificate programs are designed for working professionals and thus offer opportunities for learning outside of traditional 8am to 5pm school hours.
Synchronous instruction is the designation for online coursework that takes place in real-time, including live-streamed lectures and classes. For synchronous instruction, students typically attend live online classes using web conferencing software, and most schools schedule these sessions in the early morning, late evening, or on weekends so that students across time zones can attend before or after work. Asynchronous instruction encompasses any and all coursework that does not have a real-time component and that can be completed whenever students have time to log onto their program’s LMS. Pre-recorded lectures and interactive learning modules that can be accessed on-demand are examples of asynchronous instruction, as are traditional homework assignments.
While asynchronous instruction offers more scheduling flexibility, it is commonly thought to require greater self-discipline and time management skills as it is less structured when compared to the traditional college learning experience. Synchronous instruction provides online students with a more structured learning environment and may be preferred by students who want an online learning experience that is similar to attending in-person classes. However, synchronous instruction requires students to be logged on to a program’s LMS at specific times and can thus present scheduling conflicts for students who have personal or professional obligations that make routinely attending scheduled classes difficult.
Another variable that students should consider when researching online graduate certificate programs is whether or not a program requires any campus visits. While most online programs are offered in a fully online format, some require a limited number of on-campus visits. On GraduateCertificates.com, programs that require more than three campus visits per calendar year are classified as hybrid programs rather than as online programs. Hybrid programs can be a good option for students who live within commuting range of the school offering their program. For students who have to travel long distances to attend campus-based classes, a hybrid program may not be practical.
Examples of Online TESOL Graduate Certificate Programs
The programs detailed below are representative examples of graduate certificate programs in TESOL that are offered in an online format. These examples provide an overview of admissions requirements, coursework, and other features of these programs.
Arizona State University (ASU) offers an online Educating Multilingual Learners Graduate Certificate program that provides training and instruction in TESOL. The program includes coursework in teaching English as a second language (ESL) to children, language assessment and evaluation for ESL and bilingual students, and language structure acquisition. Students in the program complete five graduate-level courses for a total of 15 credits, which can be done in one to two years. This program is not designed to prepare students for licensure, although credits earned in the program may be applied toward licensing requirements in some states. To be eligible for this program, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in education or a related field. Applicants with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in their most recent 60 credits of undergraduate or graduate coursework are also preferred. For more information on this program, visit ASU Online at asuonline.asu.edu.
Missouri State University (MSU) has a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Graduate Certificate program that is offered in a fully online format and does not require students to attend any campus-based sessions. This is a 15-credit certificate program that can be completed in three consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer) of part-time enrollment. Offered through Missouri State Online, the program is designed for bachelor’s program graduates who are interested in teaching K-12 English language learners. Teachers who are already licensed in Missouri can establish eligibility for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) English Language Learners (K-12) endorsement by completing this program, provided they meet other state licensing requirements. To find out more about this program, visit Missouri State Online at outreach.missouristate.edu.
The University of Northern Colorado offers a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Graduate Certificate program through UNC Extended Campus. This is a fully online program that is designed to prepare students to teach English as a foreign language in international settings, as well as English as a second language (ESL) in settings that do not require a state teaching license. Students in this program complete a five-course curriculum (four courses and a practicum course) that confers 13 to 16 graduate credits. The program can be completed in one to two years, depending on how many credits students opt to complete per term. Applicants to the program are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a four-point scale. For details on this program, visit UNC Extended Campus at extended.unco.edu.