TESOL is an acronym for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Professionals in TESOL may be involved in teaching, administration, curriculum development, materials development, assessment, research, and advocacy. They work in a variety of contexts including various age levels, countries, and specialist areas such as English for specific purposes.
TESOL Certificate for Higher Education Program
We offer two terminal MA degrees: a one-year MA with TESOL certificate and a two-year MA in Applied Linguistics with the option of earning this credential. These programs examine structures of English, theories and practices of teaching second language, second language acquisition, materials and curriculum development, and assessment.
ESL Program Specialist: PA ESL Endorsement
In 2009, the University of Pittsburgh received approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to be an ESL Program Provider. The Department of Linguistics (School of Arts and Sciences) and the Department of Instruction and Learning (School of Education) have collaborated to develop this program, which will allow individuals with Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificates to earn a state ESL Specialist Certificate.
This TESOL certificate program includes the study of: linguistics at an introductory level, structures of English, theories and practices of teaching second language, English language learners, materials and curriculum development, and assessment.
Certificate Requirements
Interested in earning your TESOL certificate? Learn more about certificate requirements.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The course sequencing for the PA specialist and the higher education certificate are slightly different. View the suggested sequence of courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn about our TESOL certficate further by exploring the frequently asked questions.
Application Process
Find more information on the Higher Education application process, as well as how to apply to become an ESL Program Specialist.
Gainful Employment Disclosures
The U.S. Education Department's Gainful Employment regulations require disclosure of certain program information to students and prospective students.
Henderson Scholarship
TESOL certficate students in the Department of Linguistics and the School of Education are eligible for the Robert T. Henderson Scholarship which is given to 2-3 students a year.