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 program has received approval from the State of Michigan Board of Education which leads to TESL (NS) Endorsement by the Michigan Department of Education 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 K12 TESL Certificate program 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 Oakland University Graduate School 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 School
- 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
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- The department will consider applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and whose credentials, including transcripts and two letters of recommendation, give evidence of academic distinction.
- Applicants must explain, in a statement of purpose, their reasons for wishing to pursue the TESL Endorsement.
- A grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate work is ordinarily the minimum standard for admission.
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Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, 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.