Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the Advanced Certificate, TESOL: ITI program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership is made to the Graduate Admissions Office. Students who do not fully meet admission requirements may be required to complete prerequisite courses concurrently with completion of the certification program requirements. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s, master’s or higher degree in education
2. New York state certification in an area other than TESOL (provisional, permanent, initial or professional.)
3. Employment as an ESL teacher.
4. An overall GPA of 2.75 or higher for applicants with a baccalaureate degrees or 3.0 or higher for applicants with master’s degrees in all prior course work. Additionally, applicants are required to have a  GPA of 2.75 or above in liberal arts course work.
5. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in the program course work.
6. A written personal statement of professional intent or rationale.
7. 12 semester hours of foreign language study or demonstrated proficiency in a second language.
8. Students who hold provisional or permanent certification in contents other than TESOL must also satisfy General Education and content core prerequisites

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Candidates may wish to apply even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 15

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 while in the program. Grades of D or lower will not be counted toward the graduate degree but will be included in determining the grade point average. Students must earn a B or higher in all courses in the program.

Field Experiences Prior to Student Teaching

Participation/observation field experiences in designated schools are required in each of the following courses:
ELED 225        25 hours in settings with English-language learners
SED 267           25 hours in settings with English-language learners

A minimum of 50 clock hours of participation/observation is required prior to practicum. One placement may be in the district in which the student is employed. At least one field placement must be in a district identified as high needs by New York State Education Department. All field experiences are incorporated into the course curricula. Placements are arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Department policy is to place prospective teachers in districts other than those in which they currently reside or in schools that they attend or have attended.

Practicum

The field work course (CT 218) involves 20 days of college-supervised teaching practiced by teacher candidates in the elementary and secondary level ESL classrooms. Students will qualify for admission to practicum after they have satisfied the following requirements: (1) completion of ELED 225 and SED 267, with a B or higher grade, and (2) a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in overall course work. Applications are obtainable in the Office of Field Placement in Hagedorn Hall. Applications are obtainable from the Office of Field Placement and are due on May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester. *See Note below regarding the teacher certification examination.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfaction of all outstanding General Education Core and Content prerequisites by those who hold provisional or permanent certification.
2. Completion of all course work for the certification program with an overall GPA of 3.0; no grades below B required in courses;
3. Completion of the 15 s.h. course requirements in the certification program with no fewer than 12 s.h. in residence;
4. Completion of a portfolio illustrating the student’s educational and professional accomplishments. All course work taken in satisfaction of the certification program requirements must have been completed within a three-year period.
5. Completion of all Education Law seminars.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon the successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state initial certification. For initial certification, students are required to have passing scores on the following New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE): Content Specialty Test in ESOL (CST in ESOL). Students not receiving passing scores on the CST in ESOL examination will not be eligible for certification. Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for additional information regarding fingerprinting, Education Law seminars and any other specific certification requirements.

*NOTE: It is strongly recommended that students completed prior to graduation.