Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Certificate)
This professional certificate program is designed to provide participants with a background in the principles of linguistics and language education along with an understanding of the classroom applications of these principles. These experiences culminate in an ESL teaching practicum.
Please note that this certificate program does not provide teacher certification. For information regarding our options for acquiring a teacher certification please see our Teacher Education and Certification page.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
*F1/J1 visa seeking students are not eligible for this program.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the international applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling.
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Certificate) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Statement of Purpose: Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
The Linguistics Department offers an 18 credit program leading to a Montclair State University certificate in TESOL. The entire program is designed to be completed in two semesters of full-time study. For more information, please visit the program listing in the course catalog.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Certificate) Program Coordinator:
TESL Coordinator (Linguistics): Jaime Dritt
Email: drittj@montclair.edu
*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Find the updated summer chair for this program.*
