Prepare to meet the needs of adult learners who speak other native languages
The 19-credit hour Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) prepares teachers to meet the needs of adult learners who speak other native languages, both in the U.S. and abroad. The TESOL Certificate provides both a strong theoretical foundation as well as hands-on practical experiences.
TESOL is an exciting, in-demand, and interdisciplinary field that draws on linguistics, bilingual education, sociology, pedagogy, cultural studies, and information technology to provide English teachers with a solid foundation in the theory and praxis of second language learning and teaching. TESOL graduates typically find employment both domestically and internationally as teachers, administrators, policymakers, materials developers, editors, cultural liaisons, and language program directors. They work in such diverse settings as schools, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, community and faith-based centers, and international businesses.
Our professors are internationally recognized, award-winning scholars whose areas of expertise span an impressive array of disciplines, including second language acquisition, teacher education, language learning and technology, sociolinguistics, socio-cultural theory, pragmatics, corpus linguistics, intercultural discourse, multilingual writing, and learner identity. The International Center for Intercultural Communication, the English for Academic Purposes Program, and the Program for Intensive English offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary work, internships, and practica in applied linguistics, health discourse, language teaching, and tutoring. Our vibrant urban setting provides students with diverse teaching experiences and employment opportunities upon graduation.
For information about the application process and requirements, contact:
SLA Graduate Programs
For information about the program, contact:
Karen Kovacik, PhD
Professor of English
Director of Graduate Studies
To contact the Graduate Office:
IU Indianapolis Graduate Office
University Library, Room 1170
755 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
TESOL Certificate students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B average). No courses with a grade of C or lower will count toward graduation requirements.
The IU Indianapolis Graduate Office only allows the transfer of 12 credit hours from the certificate to the MA. Therefore, if you are in the certificate and decide that you want the MA as well, you should apply to the MA in TESOL Program at the same time or before you’ve reached the 12 credit-hour limit. Please always check with the Program and the Graduate Office regarding credit transfer rules at the time that you intend to apply for either the MA or the Certificate.
Applications for the TESOL Certificate are accepted on a rolling basis and should meet all applicable requirements as described below. Final admission is based upon the approval of the admissions committee.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), or the equivalent, in the student’s undergraduate major, documented by an official transcript.
Official transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar of your undergraduate institution to our Graduate Programs Assistant. Official transcripts can be sent either via ground mail as a sealed copy or via email with a link to download an electronic copy. We cannot accept scans of transcripts or unsealed transcripts from applicants.
TOEFL or IELTS official scores are required for nonnative speaking applicants only and must be reported directly to IUPUI. Test scores are not required if the applicant has earned (or will earn) a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a country where English is the official language (please refer to the Office of International Affairs website.) The department will only consider applications once the required minimum score is met and does not offer admission to applicants not meeting the required minimum scores.
Applicants should submit a 500-word personal statement describing how they became interested in TESOL and their goals after receiving the Certificate.
The online graduate school application can be found here.
There is an application fee required by the IU Indianapolis Graduate Office to be paid when the application is submitted, unless a previous application has been submitted (see below). The fee is $70 for domestic USA students and for international students.
Departmental support for TESOL Certificate students is limited.
IU Indianapolis is part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program, which was established to increase interstate educational opportunities for students in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin to enroll at IU Indianapolis at a reduced cost. Michigan no longer participates in MSEP. Students attending IU Indianapolis from Michigan may enroll at a reduced cost as part of the Michigan Student Excellence Award (MSEA) program.
Information about other sources of financial aid available to most graduate students can be found at the Office of Student Financial Services.