ESL Specialist, Certification
Penn GSE’s Educational Linguistics Division offers a state-approved certification program for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s English as a Second Language Program Specialist Certification (PDE Program Specialist Code 4499, CSPG 68). Our program consists of six graduate-level courses that prepare teachers to work under licensure with multilingual, multicultural populations in K-12 settings, supporting English learners in meeting the challenges of academic mastery, cultural validation, and linguistic development in public school settings.
Curriculum
To be eligible for the ESL Program Specialist Program, applicants must:
- Be an in-progress student or recent graduate of the Penn GSE Urban Teaching Apprenticeship or Urban Teachers Residence program, earning or having earned at least a Level 1 PA teaching certification.
- Provide a recent academic reference
- Provide a professional reference from current field practice or employer
In order to be eligible to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate, candidates must have successfully completed program requirements. These include:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of required field practice hours | ||
| Satisfactor assessments on teaching competency and disposition measures | ||
| Maintenance of academic good-standing in the following courses: | ||
| EDUC 6205 | Linguistics in Education | 1 |
| EDUC 6215 | Approaches to Teaching English and Other Modern Languages | 1 |
| EDUC 5252 | Language Diversity and Education | 1 |
| EDUC 5248 | Language Assessment | 1 |
| EDUC 8215 | TESOL Practice Teaching | 1 |
| EDUC 8225 | TESOL Seminar | 1 |
| Total Course Units | 6 | |
Upon completion of the program, candidates must register with the state and submit an online application in the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Teacher Information Management System. Candidates will apply for the Program Specialist credential, with the subject being English as a Second Language Code 4499, CSPG 68.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.