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Non-Degree Certification in TESOL and World Language

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The Department of Language and Literacy Education offers students two certification-only programs:

  1. TESOL: This certification-only program is for students who wish to pursue Georgia teacher certification in P-12 TESOL.
  2. World language education: This certification-only program is for students who wish to pursue Georgia teacher certification in P-12 modern or classical languages.

Candidates seeking certification are required by state law to complete and pass edTPA (an external portfolio) in order to receive Georgia certification.

Highlights

  • Learn from nationally and internationally renowned faculty
  • Work with English learners in a variety of contexts
  • Engage in complexity of language acquisition and communication among people
  • Most students complete certification program in about a year

Curriculum

Both the TESOL and world language education certification-only programs require a minimum of 15-semester hours of coursework (five courses), two prerequisites, an internal final portfolio (Foliotek), and an external final portfolio (edTPA).

Develop your expertise through topics such as:

  • Special education
  • Culture in the classroom
  • Curriculum and methods PreK-8 and 7-12

Additionally, students are required to complete 15 clinical practice or internship hours to receive Georgia certification.

Our Faculty

Our nationally recognized faculty will work with you to customize your degree program. Learn more about our faculty and their expertise.

Admissions

Prerequisites

  1. Prerequisite courses must be taken prior to enrollment in the certification-only courses and may be taken on campus or online. They may also be accepted from other USG institutions.
  • TESOL prerequisites: SPED and LING/LLED courses
  • World language education prerequisites: SPED and TL courses (candidates may exempt the latter course with a level of "Superior" or "Distinguished" on the OPI and WPT ACTFL exams)
  1. Take or exempt the GACE Program Admissions Test. Visit the GaPSC website for more information regarding the criteria for exempting the GACE Program Admissions test (formally called the Basic Skills test):

You can exempt with one of the following:

Combined minimum SAT score:

For SAT score reports dated prior to July 1, 2019:

  • 1,000 on Verbal/Critical Reading and Math, OR
  • 1,000 on Evidence-based Reading/Writing and Math

For SAT score reports dated on or after July 1, 2019:

  • 1,080 on Evidence-based Reading/Writing AND Math

Combined minimum ACT score of 43 (English and Math scores)

Combined GRE Verbal and Quantitative minimum score of 1,030 (prior to fall 2011) or 297 (fall 2011 and beyond)

  1. Take the entry ethics test. Please contact Krista Vanderpool for more information on how to sign up for this test.
  2. TESOL students must take and pass the Content GACE exam for TESOL.
  3. World language education students must take the OPI and WPT (for modern languages only) and receive a minimum level of "Advanced Low" in both proficiency tests, as well as take and pass the Content GACE exam (for commonly taught languages only).

SAT or GRE scores do not expire for the purpose of exempting the GACE program admissions test.

Admissions

  1. Apply as a non-degree seeking student at UGA
  2. Once accepted into the program, print the planning sheet in the downloads section of this webpage and schedule a meeting with program advisor Tolosa-Casadont for programmatic guidance and complete the two steps below:

Deadline to Apply

  • March 1

Applications submitted after deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.

Additional Resources

Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.

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Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.

Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.

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