Certificate in Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages

English is now the international language of the world, indispensable for those working in business and the professions, science and technology, and virtually all fields of education. The demand for learning English continues to be high in almost every region of the world; in addition, there continues to be a large number of immigrants in the United States who require instruction in English as a second language. The need for qualified teachers of English to speakers of other languages, both for adults and for school-age children, remains urgent. Since 1968, the Department of English, through its Programs in English Linguistics, has offered a certificate in TESOL designed to provide academic and pedagogical preparation for prospective ESL/EFL teachers.

A Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is offered as a graduate version and undergraduate version (including University Special students who have completed an undergraduate degree) for those who wish to teach English as a foreign or second language, normally in positions abroad.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: