Teaching English as a Second Language Initial Certification

Program at a Glance

Build the foundation to work with learners from diverse linguistic, educational, and ethnic backgrounds and earn provisional certification as a teacher of English as a second language. Our 21-credit program emphasizes language, literacy, applied linguistics, and second-language teaching approaches. Complete all requirements and receive the New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing. Courses are offered in a hybrid format; most classes run from 5–7:30 p.m. weekly on a weekday evening.

Program Coordinator : Yiqiang Wu, wuyiqian@tcnj.edu

Who Should Pursue This Program?

If you’re an early career professional (2–5 years of experience) who wants to teach English as a second language but you don’t already have a teaching license, you’re an ideal candidate. This fully accredited program is open to individuals across backgrounds, experiences, and disciplines. Applicants must take the ACTFL Oral and Writing Proficiency tests in English and in a target language.

Careers

Many graduates teach in U.S. K–12 schools, while others teach internationally. Graduates hold supervisory positions in ESL and bilingual/bicultural education and world languages; work as researchers or curriculum developers; and pursue further studies in areas such as education leadership, international education, elementary education, linguistics, education psychology, and literacy.

For your application to be considered complete, you must submit the online application as well as all supplemental documents.

See graduate application requirements

We consider applications on a space-available basis. You can apply up to and including the first day of the semester.

See deadlines

The Department of Special Education provides program details, including a typical course sequence.

View program details

We offer the same tuition rates no matter where you live. And there are a range of financial aid and assistantship options for TCNJ graduate students.

Learn more about tuition, assistantships, and aid