Graduate Certificate in K12 Teaching English as Second Language

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Department of Linguistics
1024 Human Health Building (map)
(248) 370-2175 • Fax (248) 370-3144
www.oakland.edu/linguistics

► Apply Online

► Class Schedule Search

► Graduate Catalog Addendum

Graduate TESL Coordinator:
Rebecca Gaydos, Special Instructor
1019 Human Health Building
(248) 370-2176
gaydos@oakland.edu

The Oakland University Graduate Certificate in K12 Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is a joint effort between the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Linguistics and the School of Education and Human Services. The courses for the graduate certificate program meet the State of Michigan Board of Education requirements for an TESL (NS) endorsement for Michigan certified teachers. The program consists of 24 credits taken in four to six successive semesters.

Program description

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in K12 Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is to prepare K12 teachers to teach ESL classes and to better service English Learners (Els) presently in K12 classes. The program is designed for participants who have already obtained a State of Michigan teaching license and are interested in this additional endorsement. The courses in the Graduate Certificate in K12 TESL will help teachers understand the linguistic and cultural problems that students have when English is not their native language. With TESL background and training, educators will be able to deal with those problems effectively and help students who speak a first language other than English to become more integrated into classroom activities.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

February 15 (early), April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester
March 1 (regular) for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

1. Graduate Application Requirements

Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study
Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will only accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Many applicants use World Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). NACES membership can be confirmed by visiting www.naces.org/members.htm. Graduate programs requiring more detailed information may require an applicant to submit a course-by-course (or detailed) evaluation report rather than the general evaluation report. Official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University since official transcripts must be submitted to and verified by the evaluation service. However, applicants must submit photocopies of their foreign transcripts with their application materials.
Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
(Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
Proof of English language proficiency
International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.

2. Additional department application requirements

Applicants must explain, in a statement of purpose, their reasons for wishing to pursue the Graduate Certificate
A grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate work is ordinarily the minimum standard for admission.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Endorsement requirements

Course requirements

Two terms of the program consists of courses that are offered online (ALS 6630 , ALS 6631 , ALS 6632 , and ALS 6570 ). For further details see http://wwwp.oakland.edu/linguistics/programs/non-degree-programs/.

LIN 5501 - Linguistic Structures (4 credits)
ALS 5589 - Special Education and Second Language Acquisition (4)
ALS 6530 - Language Acquisition (2 credits)
ALS 6570 - Language, Culture and Society (2 credits)
ALS 6630 - Language Pedagogy (4 credits)
ALS 6631 - Curriculum Material and Design (2 credits)
ALS 6632 - Assessment and Compliance (2 credits)
ALS 6960 - ESL Practicum (4 credits)
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requires that candidates for the ESL (NS) Endorsement complete two terms of college level foreign language study or the equivalent before applying to MDE for the ESL endorsement.

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Relationship to the Master of Arts in Linguistics

Excluding LIN 5501, all courses listed under the requirements for the K12 TESL Certificate program (24 credits) can be applied toward the Master of Arts degree in linguistics with a TESL specialization. It is anticipated that a graduate of the K12 TESL Certificate program who has all the prerequisites for the Master of Arts in linguistics can apply for admission to that program and complete the additional 16 credits needed for that degree in approximately four semesters as a part-time student or two semesters as a full-time student. The courses that make up the 16 credits of additional work for the M.A. degree are:

LIN 5503 - Introduction to Phonology (4 credits)
LIN 5504 - Introduction to Syntax (4 credits)
LIN 5505 - Phonetic Theory (4 credits)
LIN 6998 - Seminar in Linguistics (4 credits)

LIN 6999 - The Master’s Thesis (4 credits)

For students completing the endorsement program who have less than a 3.0 grade-point average in courses taken in that program, and who wish to apply for admission to the M.A. program, the Department of Linguistics will consider their applications on an individual basis.

All of the credits are subject to the six-year time limit.