English as a Second Language Certificate Program

Penn State’s ESL (English as a Second Language) Certificate Program at University Park is designed for currently practicing teachers* in Pennsylvania. This is a 15-credit- hour graduate program for English as a Second Language leading to Pennsylvania’s Program Specialist certificate. Students who are interested in teaching English in other countries or adult English language learners should consider the MA in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) program in the department of Applied Linguistics.  

Because we believe in the importance of teachers’ role in assisting English language learners’ school success, our ESL Certificate Program faculty and administrative staff are committed to meeting academic and programmatic needs of practicing teachers in our program. We are also working diligently to create flexible ESL certificate program options to accommodate the time constraints of practicing teachers while ensuring high quality in the program content. Our ESL certificate program meets content guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as well as recommendations made by national organizations (e.g. TESOL) and prominent scholars in the field of English as a Second Language research.

Application process is one click away. Once you apply online, you will receive a confirmation of your application status. While you continue your course work, your information will be on file in the office of Sue Stewart (170 Chambers Building), an administrative staff member specialized in the ESL certificate program. Once you complete your course work, please email Ms. Sue Stewart so that she can prepare documents for verification.  Upon your successful completion of required course work, you will receive a Penn State certificate** signed by Dr. Youb Kim, Dr. Joan Kelly Hall, and Dean David Monk.

Apply here for the ESL Certificate Program.

If you have any questions, please contact any of us:

Ms. Sue Stewart (sxs6@psu.edu), 170 Chambers
Dr. Youb Kim (youb@psu.edu), 155 Chambers

Additional information:

* For students currently pursuing teacher certification at Penn State, you may complete some or all of the required coursework prior to graduation, but you will be able to obtain the ESL certificate from Pennsylvania Department of Education only after your initial teacher certification is issued.

** For Students who fulfilled required course work in the ESL certificate program, you will initially receive a PSU certificate, and then you should apply directly to Pennsylvania Department of Education for the Program Specialist certificate.