Due to visa regulations, the certificate program is not available to applicants that require a student F-1 visa. Applicants who will need a student visa are encouraged to apply to our degree-granting programs.
Fall Start Term Only
Application deadlines
$45 Application Fee
Please note we are not accepting new applications for the 2024-25 academic year.
Graduate Application Process
All applicants are considered utilizing a holistic review process, including the following factors:
- Strength of academic history
- Professional and/or extracurricular experiences relevant to the program
- Content of personal statement and its connection to learning outcomes; and
- Letters of recommendation with specific examples of your competencies and aptitudes relevant to the program
Admission decisions are made approximately 30 to 60 days after each deadline.
Application checklist
The TESOL Certificate Program does not require the GRE or specific coursework for admission.
Official (Degree-Granting) Transcripts
Must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission:
Office of Graduate Admission
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
grads@sandiego.edu
Official E-Transcripts are acceptable only if emailed to grads@sandiego.edu.
Official transcripts from the university where you earned your bachelor’s degree are required at the time of application. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale) in all graduate coursework.
If you earned a degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to submit an official international transcript evaluation (also called a foreign credential evaluation) as part of your application. Please note that the evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation. You must order your official course-by-course evaluation from one of the following evaluation services.
- World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
- International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
- Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (JSA)
- SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service (FACS)
Please be sure to carefully read the application checklist for international students found on the University of San Diego's Graduate Admission website.
Resume
Current resumé or curriculum vitae
Two Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of two professional letters of recommendation from a current supervisor or a professor attesting to both academic and personal skills, and if possible, to teaching abilities.
Statement of Purpose
Please address the following questions in a maximum of 1000 words (500 words per question). When writing your response please remember that this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing skills and academic readiness.
- What are your strengths and challenges as an educator? How do you want to improve?
- Why are you interested in this program? Connect your response to the program's goals and your intended area of focus.
Interviews
After an initial review of applications to the program, applicants may be invited to interview in-person or via video conference with the program faculty.
Education requirements
- Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the program. Applicants may apply prior to completing their bachelor's degree. In this case, please submit your most up-to-date transcripts, and if admitted, submit a second set of official transcripts after your degree is conferred.
- The minimum cumulative Grade Point Average is 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- This program does not have any specific prerequisite courses.
Experience
Teaching experience is helpful but is not required for admission.
Questions?
Connect with the Office of Admissions and Outreach team to learn more information about SOLES master's and doctoral programs. Additional information for international applicants is also available.