Program Overview

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Advanced Certificate)

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Advanced Certificate) program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach English to speakers of other languages. The program is offered by the School of Education at Hunter College.

Academic Plan

The academic plan for the TESOL (Advanced Certificate) program is as follows:

• Academic Plan: TESFESL-AC
• Total Credits: Earn at least 18 credits
• Program Code for Certification: 37719 – TEACHING ENG TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANG

Advisors

The program advisors are:

• Christine Rosalia, Faculty Advisor
• Bonnie Veronico, Certification, Graduation and Administrative Advisor
• Carolina Gomez, Clinical Placement Specialist

Program Sequences

The program sequence provides a suggested order of courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements.

Transfer of Credits and Waivers

Transfer of Credits

A matriculated student may request a transfer of credit for a graduate-level course completed at another institution. To be eligible, the course must have been taken within the past five years and closely match the content of a required course in the student’s Hunter College program.

Waivers

For students who have taken equivalent courses more than five years ago or at the undergraduate level, the program allows for waivers. A waiver requires students to take an approved elective course of at least the same number of credits at Hunter to replace the waived course.

Courses Permitted for Transfer or Waiver

The program will review transfer and waiver requests for the following courses:

• BILED 70100 Foundations of Bilingual Education
• LING 70300 Analysis and Structure of English 1
• LING 77300 Instructed Second Language Acquisition (KC)
• EDESL 73200 Second Language Literacy and Language
• EDUC 72000 DASA, Health & Safety in Birth through 21
  • Eligible for transfer with equivalent health course and the completion of Child Abuse, School Violence and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshops.
• EDESL 78300 Methodology of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (KC)
  • Eligible for transfer credit only in exceptional cases, with rigorous faculty review and approval.
  • First semester course
• EDESL 78700 K-12 ESL Curriculum and Materials across the Content Areas (KC)
  • Eligible for transfer credit only in exceptional cases, with rigorous faculty review and approval.

Clinical Experiences

Students in the TESOL (Advanced Certificate) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) in all TESOL PreK-12 courses, and one semester of supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum).

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.

Supervised: Student Teaching/Practicum

Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester.

Graduation

Graduation is the official completion of the program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines.

Certification and Licensure

This program leads to New York State certification in ESOL PreK-12. Students must wait to apply for certification until they receive an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered. This usually occurs six to eight weeks after the conferral of their degree.

Types of Certification

Students are recommended for both initial and professional certification:

• The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate and is valid for five years.
• The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification.

Application Checklist

• Review fingerprint status
• Take required certification exams and workshops
• Apply for graduation
• Apply for certification

Additional Resources

• Expiring Certifications
• Out of State Certification or Licensure
• Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure
• Letter Requests
• Internship Certification for Graduate Teacher Education Students

Program Related Events

• General New Student Orientation–Teacher Education, Leadership and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Fingerprinting Support Session
• Certification Info Session – Teacher Education
• General New Student Orientation–Teacher Education, Leadership and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Spring 2026 Student Teaching Conference: Gearing Up For Student Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities