Undergraduate students from all disciplines are encouraged to participate in the program.  After you have completed ENG 200 or 200H or ASI 120, you may apply, but you must apply before the first term of your senior year. Contact Dr. Margaret Strain for more information.

There are three requirements for the Writing Certificate:

1. Complete 18 semester hours of approved courses with a grade of “B” or higher. The 18 credit hours must include:
   - 3 hours in either ENG 272 Writing & Research or ENG 316 Elements of Style
   - 6 hours in additional approved English courses
   - 9 hours in additional writing courses, which may include approved courses in English, Communication, and Art & Design
   Note: 12 hours must be upper-level (300-, 400-level courses); No more than 6 hours in creative writing courses.
2. Submit a portfolio with polished writing samples to the Writing Certificate Coordinator
3. Pass a final writing task that will be evaluated by the Writing Certificate Committee. Upon completion, a statement noting the credential will be posted to your official transcript.

Contact Lori Phillips-Young, Writing Certificate Program Coordinator at lphilipsyoung1@udayton.edu or visit her in HM 246.

Approved courses 

English >

Communication >

Art and Design >

Undergraduate in English and other disciplines now have the opportunity to earn a TESOL Certificate - a credential that prepares one to teach English to speakers of other language (TESOL/ESL) in the U.S. and/or abroad. The TESOL certificate program is an interdisciplinary program, drawing from courses in the departments of Teacher Education, English, and Global Languages and Cultures.

GPA: 2.75 or higher undergraduate GPA

• If GPA is below 2.75, one of following: MAT — raw score 40+/scaled score 396+ or GRE scaled scores of 149+ (verbal) and 4.0+ (analytical writing).

English proficiency

• Professional and academic proficiency in written English as demonstrated through application materials;
  If English is not a first language, prior degree from English-medium university OR minimum test scores as follows:
  TOEFL iBT – 94 (listening – 22, speaking – 26, reading – 22, writing – 24) or IELTS – 7.0 (6.5+ for all subscores);
  Exceptions considered for strong candidates whose scores approach these minimums.

Current UD undergraduate students only need to fill out and submit the TESOL application, an updated statement of purpose, and test scores if applicable.

1. Electronic Application Form
2. A statement of purpose that addresses your future goals and motivation for joining the program; your prior experience with language, international populations, education, and any other relevant areas
3. TOEFL iBT, IELTS, MAT or GRE scores, as needed.

Required Undergraduate Certificate Courses* (13 sem. hrs. total)

• LNG/ENG 468: Introduction to Linguistics (3 sem. hrs.)
• ENG 472: Structure of English (3 sem. hrs.)
• EDT 437: Second Language Learning and Teaching (3 sem. hrs.)
• ENG 466: TESOL Methods (3 sem. hrs.)
• EDT 438: TESOL Practicum (1 sem. hrs.)*

* Pre-requisite: all other TESOL certificate courses or permission of instructor

• Completion of assignment-embedded field experiences prior to the practicum
• Completion of a 50-hour practicum as part of EDT 438
• TESOL portfolio to be completed throughout the program and submitted in EDT 438

For more information, contact Colleen Gallagher, Director of TESOL Programs at (937) 229-3271 or cgallagher1@udayton.edu.

As part of a new federal regulation focusing on Title IV programs, the University of Dayton is providing required information about how our non-degree programs lead to gainful employment in recognized careers. You may download gainful employment information for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate program from the Employment Information link.