Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate

• The University of San Diego Graduate School Admission Application and $45 application fee
  • Upload the following to submit your online application:
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Resume
    • Copy of Official Transcript
    • Recommenders’ Contact Information
  • Letters of Recommendation and International Transcript Evaluations must be received by the program deadline to complete your application.
• A copy of your unofficial transcripts from the university where you earned your bachelor’s degree is required at the time of application.
  • Unofficial transcripts from student portals without a registrar’s signature are not acceptable.
  • Students who earned their bachelor's degree from an institution outside the United States must submit a course-by-course degree evaluation conducted by a NACES current member.  
    • Applications for students educated outside the United States will not be considered complete nor can an admissions decision be made until this degree evaluation has been submitted.
  • NOTE:  If admitted to the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, you will be required to submit an official sealed transcript from all colleges and universities from which you received credit, including community colleges.
    • Official E-Transcripts are acceptable only if emailed to grads@sandiego.edu.
    • Transcripts from study abroad courses are not required.
• 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.
• A current resumé or curriculum vita
• Statement of Purpose. Address both of the following questions. Each response has a maximum length of 500 words, for a total maximum length of 1000 words for the Statement of Purpose. 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. 

Admission Requirements

Standardized Testing Requirements

• Applicants who feel that their Grade Point Averages do not adequately represent their ability to succeed in a graduate program may find it helpful to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores for consideration. However, the GRE is not required for admission.

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 Requirements

• Professional teaching experience is helpful but not required.

International Applicants

• International students are not eligible to apply to the certificate program because they must be enrolled as degree-seeking students in order to qualify for a student visa. However, international students are welcome to apply to our  M.Ed. in TESOL, Literacy and Culture, in which the coursework for this certificate is combined with the coursework for a master's degree. Because the M.Ed. in TESOL, Literacy and Culture program includes a degree in its course of study in addition to the certificate, international students may enroll in that program and receive a student visa.

Application Process

Application Deadline

All application materials, including transcripts, test score reports and letters of recommendation, must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions by the final deadline in order for your application to be considered.  View current deadlines for admission.

Application Status and Decisions

To confirm that application materials have been received or to check the status of your application, please log in to the  MySanDiego portal with your applicant login or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (619) 260-4524. Admissions decision letters are sent via US Mail.

Submit all application materials online, or to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Email:  grads@sandiego.edu

For questions about this program or the admissions requirements contact:

Office of Admissions and Outreach
School of Leadership and Education Sciences
University of San Diego
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall 149

Phone: (619) 260-7988
Email: solesadmissions@sandiego.edu