Earn a TESOL Certificate in a Single Summer!

The AU Summer TESOL Institute grows out of more than thirty years of TESOL experience in the Department of Language and Foreign Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences at American University. AU offers a Certificate in TESOL (at the undergraduate or graduate level), consisting of five 3-credit courses; a Master's in TESOL, consisting of twelve 3-credit courses; a program combining a Bachelor's in any field with an MA in TESOL, and a 39-credit MAT: ESOL program for students interested in teaching grades K-12. All courses in the Summer Institute may count toward any of these degrees. Courses taken for the Certificate by non-degree students are transferable to the MA. The TESOL Summer Institute consists of two 7-week sessions and an intensive workshop, which may be taken on a non-credit, 1-credit, or 3-credit basis. Each of the Summer Institute courses carries 3 academic credits. All courses in the Summer Institute are open to both degree and non-degree graduate and undergraduate students. Students enrolled in Summer Institute courses are invited to additional events and activities, such as receptions and lectures.

Complete a TESOL Certificate over one summer

A Certificate in TESOL opens many doors. It provides an excellent foundation for Americans teaching abroad and for international English teachers who wish to enhance their skills. K-12 teachers licensed in other disciplines will find that obtaining a TESOL Certificate is a practical step in broadening their skills to include the ESL classroom. It is also a valuable qualification for those seeking part-time volunteer or paid opportunities. Students can earn a 15-credit TESOL Certificate during the Summer Institute by taking the following five courses: 

• TESL 500 Principles of Linguistics
• TESL 501 English Language Teaching I
• TESL 502 English Language Teaching II
• TESL 523 Second Language Acquisition
• TESL 527 Cultural Issues in the ESL/EFL Classroom
• TESL 560 Summer Intensive Workshop
• TESL 596 TESOL in a Nutshell (1 credit)

If you would like to obtain a Certificate (5 classes), please apply through CAS Graduate Admissions (http://www.american.edu/cas/admissions/). If you would like to try a class or two without committing to the Certificate track, you may do so as a non-degree student by registering here (http://www.american.edu/cas/advising/nondegree.cfm). If you have any questions or would like to meet the TESOL Program Director to discuss the different courses and tracks, please email us at tesol@american.edu.