Program: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) - California State University, Los Angeles

Mar 29, 2025

University Catalog 2023-2024

This postbaccalaureate credit certificate program is designed to prepare students to teach English as a second language (ESL) in post-secondary settings in the U.S. or to teach English as a foreign language (EFL) abroad. Specifically, the program is designed for (A) students who hold a master’s degree in a discipline other than ESL or applied linguistics and wish to be certified to teach ESL in a community college or university and (B) students who plan to teach EFL abroad.

Admission to the Program

Apply for formal admission to the program through the Division of Applied and Advanced Studies in Education .

Roadmap

U.S. Department of Education
Gainful Employment Disclosure

Notice to Students Regarding Professional Licensure and Certification

Requirements for the Certificate (minimum 24 units)

In addition to course requirements, a passing grade for UNIV 400, Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE), is required for issuance of the certificate. A minimum B (3.0) grade point average is required in all course work on the program. Refer to the Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Study chapter of this catalog for general regulations governing all certificate programs.

Prerequisite (3 units)

TESL 4000 - Linguistics in Language Education [3]

Required Courses (21 units)

Electives (3 units)

Select with advisor approval:

EDCI 5540 - Theory, Research, and Practices in Dual Language/Bilingual Education [3]
EDCI 5490 - Policies and Practices for Emergent Bilingual Students [3]
EDFN 3520 - Applied Statistics [3]
EDSP 4010 - Cognitive, Linguistic and Literacy Processes in Individuals with Special Needs [3]
ENGL 4101 - Introduction to English Linguistics [3]
ENGL 4170 - Modern English Grammar [3]
ENGL 5040 - Seminar: Theories of Composition and Rhetoric [3]
ENGL 5050 - Seminar: Topics in Composition, Rhetoric, and Language [3]
EDIT 4300 - Information Technologies in the Classroom [3]
TESL 5650 - Using Computers in the Language Classroom [3]
TESL 5660 - English Phonetics for Second Language Teachers [3]
TESL 5690 - Language Planning and Language Policy [3]
TESL 5700 - Educational Sociolinguistics [3]
TESL 5730 - Current Issues in Classroom Second Language Acquisition [3]
TESL 5750 - EFL/ESL Reading-Writing Connections [3]
TESL 5970 - Graduate Research [1-3]
TESL 5980 - Graduate Directed Study [1-3]
* May be repeated once for credit with prior approval of a TESOL advisor.

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Admission to the Program

Requirements for the Certificate (minimum 24 units)

Prerequisite (3 units)

Required Courses (21 units)

Electives (3 units)