Teaching English to speakers of other languages

University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduate certificate in teaching english to speakers of other languages
sticky notes with the words: "english" "talk" "learn" "write"
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Overview

A graduate certificate in TESOL from MU can help you advance your teaching career in contexts where English is taught as a second or foreign language. If want to help non-native speakers tap the possibilities offered by the English language, this may be the program for you.

Quick facts

Official name

Graduate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages

Campus

University of Missouri-Columbia

Program type

Graduate certificate

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

Credit hours

18

Estimated cost

$10,112.40

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

A male teacher leaning over to help a female student on her laptop

Career prospects

This certificate has potential benefits for

  • English language instructors
  • Language program administrators
  • Language testers
  • Writers for educational materials
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
11.54%
employment growth
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
$69,000
Median salary

Program structure

Delivery of this program is 100 percent online: no campus visits are required.

Courses are generally semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and earn their graduate certificates in under two years.

Course work includes

  • Structure of the English language
  • How languages are used and learned
  • Design and implementation of tasks to facilitate language learning

Note: This program does not confer K–12 ESOL certification in any U.S. state. If you are interested in pursuing Missouri K-12 ESOL certification, visit the Missouri K-12 ESOL certification preparation page for more information.

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

2 years

Typical course load

1 or 2 classes each semester

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. 

Faculty spotlight

Nikki Ashcraft

Nikki Ashcraft is an expert in language teaching methodology and adult learning, with extensive international experience in Latin America and the Middle East. Dr. Ashcraft has held numerous leadership positions in the Mid-America Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) association and TESOL International Association and has served as an English language specialist with the U.S. Department of State on projects in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Russia. She publishes and presents widely on classroom instruction and teacher professional development topics.

Nikki Ashcraft, PhD
Teaching Professor, Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum
Rachel J. Pinnow

Rachel J. Pinnow is interested in the multimodal ways second language learners gain interactional competencies in academic contexts. Dr. Pinnow conducts both national and international research, funded through the National Science Foundation, to foster expert praxis among teachers of English to speakers of other languages and second language acquisition educators.

Rachel J. Pinnow
Associate Professor, Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum

Learn more about this program

This program is administered by the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum