Teaching English Learners in PreK-12 Education Certificate

Return to: School of Education and Human Development: Certificate Programs

This online graduate certificate program helps practicing PreK-12 teachers gain the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality instruction for English learners across content areas and grade levels. The curriculum is designed to provide candidates with a deeper understanding of second language acquisition and to help candidates develop skills in tailoring instruction and assessment practices to English learners’ unique needs. The Teaching English Learners in Prek-12 Education certificate is designed to equip licensed elementary, middle, and high school teachers who work with English Language Learners (ELL) with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the distinct learning needs of the ELL population, such as pedagogical approaches to support reading comprehension of non-native English speakers, and multicultural competency development. The certificate will provide teachers with research-based strategies to effectively support the educational requirements of a growing student population in the Commonwealth. Target skills addressed include helping teachers understand:

How to provide culturally relevant instruction for their students;
How humans learn language;
How to support their students’ literacy development; and
How to assess their students’ English proficiency.

This certificate provides the coursework necessary to satisfy the pedagogical content coursework component of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) ESL endorsement.

Curriculum Requirements

Students will be required to take six core courses that provide a foundation for teachers to understand language pedagogy, including their students’ cultural differences, aspects of human language, language development and English teaching methods, language assessment and curriculum, and supporting students’ literacy development.

If seeking to add the ESL endorsement to their teaching license, students may then be required to take two additional courses or the ESL Praxis. An advisor will work with students to develop a plan based on their previous coursework and licensure needs.

This certificate program does not satisfy initial teaching licensure requirements.

Program Requirements

This program requires a minimum of 18 credits of graduate coursework.

Required Courses

Select six (6) classes from the list below. If seeking to add the ESL endorsement to a teaching license, students will need to take two (2) additional courses or the ESL Praxis. An advisor will work with students to develop a plan based on their previous coursework and licensure needs.

EDIS 5270 - Teaching Reading Writing to ELs Credits: 3
EDIS 5422 - Cross-Cultural Education for Diverse Learners Credits: 3
EDIS 5423 - English Linguistics Credits: 3
EDIS 5424 - Second Language Acquisition Credits: 3
EDIS 5428 - ESL Methods PreK-12 Credits: 3
EDIS 5470 - ESL Assessment and Curriculum Design Credits: 3
EDIS 6710 - Reading and Writing Foundations for Diverse Learners Credits: 3
ESL Elective (3 credits) - selected with advisor approval

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer in up to six (6) credits of equivalent graduate coursework, provided they attained a minimum of a B- in the course; the coursework is no older than five (5) years at the completion of the certificate; and has been approved by the academic advisor.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

UVA participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which establishes comparable national standards for interstate postsecondary distance education without additional regulatory authorization from member states. SARA also provides limited authorization to place students in supervised field experiences. Except for California all U. S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands participate in SARA. Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs. Additional information is available on the NC-SARA website.

Upon completion of the Teaching English Learners in PreK-12 Education Certificate at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates are eligible for an add-on endorsement in Virginia.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).