Guidelines for the Certificate in TESOL

The Department of English at Oklahoma State University offers a program leading to a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The Certificate program is designed to familiarize students with the skills necessary to teach English to non-native speakers in a variety of situations, e.g., teaching English as a foreign language in an overseas school, college, or university; teaching English as a second language to international students studying in intensive English programs in the U.S.; or teaching English to bilingual/bicultural students in American public school systems and adult education programs.

The Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages consists of 12 credit hours, with three required courses and one elective course chosen from a group of courses offered by the English Department. A description of the certificate requirements and regulations appears below.

Admission to the Certificate Program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) requires a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.  Other qualifications and application materials appear below.  Applicants should be mindful that meeting the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee admission.

Required Courses (9 hours)

• ENGL 5130: Studies in English Grammar
• ENGL 5243: Teaching English as a Second Language
• ENGL 5333: Seminar in TESL: Second Language Testing OR ENGL 5313: Internship in TESL

Sample Electives (choice of one)

• ENGL 4083: Applied Linguistics
• ENGL 4093: Language in America
• ENGL 5120: Studies in TESL
• ENGL 5123: Social and Psychological Aspects of Language
• ENGL 5143: Descriptive Linguistics

Courses other than those listed may be taken as electives if approved by the Certificate Advisor.

Teacher Certification Disclaimer

The Certificate in TESOL does not carry with it certification for public school employment. Students wishing such certification must meet special state and university requirements.

Graduate College Rules and Regulations

There are many rules and regulations affecting graduate enrollment, and tenure that are made by the Graduate Faculty of the university rather than the English Department. Among the rules students should familiarize themselves with are those governing academic dishonesty or misconduct, especially those dealing with plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to become informed about all English Department, Graduate College, and University regulations.

The Oklahoma State University Catalog should be read closely by all those who are thinking about, or participating in, graduate studies in English at Oklahoma State University. The catalog is available in a searchable format at http://registrar.okstate.edu/.   Graduate college rules and deadlines are available at http://www.gradcollege.okstate.edu/.

Adviser

Students seeking the Certificate in TESOL should consult an advisor who will help them choose appropriate courses to complete the Certificate. The Certificate Adviser may be any member of the English Department graduate faculty who specializes in TESOL. At the Tulsa campus, the coordinator of the TESOL program at OSU-Tulsa normally serves as the adviser.

Plan of Study and Certificate Completion Procedures

Submitting the Plan of Study
After having been accepted to the certificate program, a student should complete a plan of study listing the courses intended to be used in earning the certificate. This plan must be approved by the English Graduate Coordinator or Department Head and the Graduate College prior to the credential being placed on the student's academic record. Students complete the plan of study online at the Graduate College website.  The adviser and Graduate Director are then notified by email and sign the plan electronically.

Submitting the Application for Certificate Completion
During the semester of anticipated certificate completion, the student must complete an Application for Certificate Completion, which is submitted to the Office of the Registrar. This action will cause the certificate to be recorded on the official transcript and a certificate will be printed, provided all requirements have been met.  For a certificate to be awarded at the end of a fall or spring semester, this application must be received in the Registrar's Office by the Friday of finals week. The summer term deadline is the last day of the eight-week summer term. This application may be found at http://registrar.okstate.edu/images/FORMS/certificateapplication.pdf

Ten-Year Rule
A final Plan of Study may not include any course more than ten years old at the time of actual graduation.

Checklist for Submitting a Plan of Study

• Minimum of 12 credit hours, with three required courses and one elective course chosen from a group of courses offered by the English Department
• No more than 9 hours of course work taken as special student
• All courses, including 4000 level, must be taken for graduate credit
• The Plan of Study must be signed by the Certificate Adviser and the English Graduate Coordinator or Department Head

Academic Standing. A grade-point average of "B" (3.0) is required on courses applicable to a graduate certificate. No grade lower than a "C" may be used as part of the minimum requirements for the certificate. Individual certificate programs may have more stringent requirements.

4000-Level Courses. Only those 4000-level classes marked by an asterisk in the OSU University Catalog are available for graduate credit. All graduate course work should include a research paper or other appropriate project. In the instance of a 4000-level course that may not require such a paper or project, the student should, with the consent of the instructor involved, arrange for such a paper or project to supplement the assigned work. The English Department strongly suggests that all graduate courses be at the 5000/6000 level.
End-of-Semester Evaluations. All graduate students will be evaluated in writing at the end of each semester by the professors with whom they have taken courses. These evaluations are kept on file in the English Graduate Office and are available for students to read.

Grade of "Incomplete." The following regulations apply to students who receive what at OSU is termed the “composite incomplete” grade ( “IB,” “IC,” “ID,” or “IF” ) for any of their coursework within the English Department:

• Students must complete coursework within one calendar year, after which time the preliminary grade (expressed by the second letter of the composite) becomes permanent in accordance with University policy. Individual faculty members, however, may establish a shorter time limit for completing coursework. Faculty will identify time limits in the “remarks” dropdown of the electronic grade sheet.
• Teaching assistants or associates having more than three incomplete grades on their records will not be recommended for reappointment.
• Teaching assistants or associates having any incomplete grades on their records will not be recommended for summer employment.

Students should familiarize themselves with Section 6.2 of the University Academic Regulations found in the University Catalog for a full explanation of university policy governing incomplete grades.

Student Tenure

Students must complete all requirements within seven years from their first enrollment in classes for the TESOL Certificate program.

Appeals and Petitions

All appeals involving grades or charges of academic dishonesty or misconduct must be directed to the OSU Academic Appeals Board. Contact the Provost’s office (101 Whitehurst) for information and forms.
Petitions involving teaching assistantships must be directed to the Department Head.

All other petitions or appeals must be directed in writing to the Graduate Director, who will then forward the petition to the appropriate body, usually one of the following: the Graduate Studies Committee (for special requests as described within the English Graduate Guidelines), the English Graduate Faculty (for exceptions to English Department policy), or the Faculty Council (for exceptions to OSU policy). Students are urged to discuss matters with their advisers and with the Graduate Director before making a formal petition or appeal.

If the Graduate Director does not act upon the student's written request within a reasonable amount of time, the student and/or adviser may appeal directly to the Department Head. If a student has exhausted all appeals procedures within the Department and is still not able to resolve the problem, he or she may appeal to the Graduate College.

English Department
College of Arts & Sciences
Oklahoma State University
205 Morrill Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-9474
For Information about English Programs: english.information@okstate.edu
Webmaster: engweb@okstate.edu

Admission Checklist:

1) Apply to OSU Graduate College

2) Submit transcripts to:

• OSU Graduate College
  202 Whitehurst Hall
  Stillwater, OK 74078

3) Non-native English speakers must also submit TOEFL iBT, or TOEFL and TWE, or IELTS scores to the Graduate College.

View English Proficiency Requirements

4) Send Statement of Purpose to English Department:

• English Graduate Programs
  205 Morrill Hall
  Stillwater, OK 74078

5) Have two references send letters of recommendation to English Department.

Application Deadline

Unlike other graduate programs in the Department of English, the TESOL certificate program will accept applications at any time.  If you have begun the program as a “special student,” it is very important to complete your application within the first semester of your coursework.