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ESOL Endorsement and Certificate

As an endorsement, this program is recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). As of Fall 2024, it is also a UGA certificate program. Therefore, completion of the program will be noted on the GaPSC certificate and on the UGA transcript.

Learn to support English learners in your classroom by adding the ESOL Endorsement to your teaching certificate or licensure. You will complete three online courses (see description below) with additional fieldwork so you experience hands-on training in either face-to-face or virtual teaching spaces. Our online coursework for the ESOL Endorsement at UGA accommodates both current students and working professionals and is taught by internationally recognized faculty.

Highlights

  1. Earn the ESOL endorsement on your teaching certificate
  2. Available to degree and non-degree students
  3. Open to those with a teaching certificate, speech and language pathology certificate, or Georgia school counseling credential
  4. Mostly online coursework, with some field experience

Qualification

To qualify for the ESOL Endorsement Program, you must either be a current UGA student pursuing teacher certification in another subject area, or hold one of the following:

  1. A teaching certification in a subject area other than TESOL/ESOL (e.g., math, science, early childhood education, etc.);
  2. A speech and language pathology professional certificate; or,
  3. A Georgia school counseling credential.

To successfully add an ESOL Endorsement to your teaching certificate, you must:

  1. Successfully complete a three-course series:
  2. LLED 5040 / 7040E: Language and Culture in the ESOL Classroom
  3. LLED 5630 / 7630E: TESOL Classroom Methodology and Practice
  4. LLED 5730 / 7730E: 1st and 2nd Language Acquisition and Development
  5. Successfully complete an ESOL Endorsement portfolio via Xitracs eLC.
  6. Refer to the endorsement program completion and certification checklist (PDF)

Curriculum

Students in the ESOL Endorsement program must be able to commit to the completion of at least 1 to 2 semesters of coursework (9 credit hours) in order to earn the Endorsement. The program includes an introduction to theories of first and second language acquisition; a focused study on the connections between language and culture in local and global contexts, and classroom methodology and practice in either in-person or virtual spaces. The two foundation courses in language acquisition and culture will help you develop an understanding of second-language education. You will put this new knowledge into practice during a final course in ESOL methods.

Our faculty members are multilingual/multicultural language educators and learners who draw from diverse experiences to enhance their courses. They also publish in the top peer-reviewed journals in the field of second-language research. As a result, our curriculum will expose you to a variety of advanced educational theories and teaching approaches.

How to Apply

Current UGA Undergraduate Students

  1. Undergraduate students must apply for the certificate in Athena .
  2. Log into Athena
  3. Under the Student Tab, click “My Programs”
  4. Click the Add Certificate button
  5. Select the endorsement/certificate program from the “My Certificates” drop-down menu.

Graduate Students

  1. All applicants must complete a UGA Graduate School application.
  2. Current UGA Graduate Students will be charged a $25 application fee. Make sure to answer “Yes” to the question “Are you a current student?”.
  3. Non-UGA students will be charged a $75 application fee.
  4. Select your campus from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select “Endorsement/Certificate” from the Degree Level drop-down menu.
  6. Then select the endorsement/certificate program from the Intended Program drop-down menu. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Endorsement/Certificate Program Code: CERT_2TSL)

Undergraduates Apply Now   Graduates Apply Now

Required Documents for Application

Non-Degree Seeking Applicants, please include the following documents with your application:

  • Statement of purpose

Deadline to Apply

Domestic Applicants

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1
  • Spring Semester: November 15

International Applicants

  • Fall Semester: April 15
  • Spring Semester: October 15
  • Summer Semester: February 15

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.

Meet Your Advisor

All undergraduate students at UGA meet with an academic advisor each semester. This meeting is critical to a student’s success as a chance to discuss courses and electives, certification criteria, and general graduation requirements.

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Tuition and Financial Aid

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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Student Life

Our students have a range of opportunities available outside the classroom as well, from professional organizations, experiential learning, clubs and other non-academic experiences.

See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.

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