TESL/TEFL Certificates

Basic Certificate Advanced Certificate

San Diego State University offers two specialized training programs for teachers of English as a second language, the Basic Certificate and the Advanced Certificate.

Both Certificates are widely recognized as evidence of superior training in applied linguistics and ESL/EFL teaching. The Basic Certificate program features training in the fundamentals of language structure, language processing and acquisition, and language variation, and applies these areas to ESL/EFL teaching. The Advanced Certificate program requires the Basic Certificate (or equivalent) as a prerequisite, and emphasizes second language acquisition and ESL methodology, while offering flexibility for students with different interests and backgrounds. All courses in both programs are part of the regular departmental curriculum of the SDSU Department of Linguistics, and are taught by Linguistics Department faculty, which includes internationally known leaders in applied linguistics and TESL/TEFL.