Admission Requirements

Freshmen and Transfers

• See University Admission Requirements  
• Students wishing to minor in Teaching English as a Second Language must be approved for admission to the minor by meeting statewide teacher education program admission requirements. Advising and admission to the minor are administered through the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) in the Cato College of Education. The criteria for admission include:
  • 30 earned credit hours
  • GPA of 2.7 or above
  • Major or minor in a subject area for which there is teacher licensure (Elementary Education, Special Education, Secondary or Middle Grades Education, etc.)
  • Grades of C or above in either:
    • MDSK 2100   
    • EDUC 1100 /EDUC 1511  and SPED 2100   
  • A passing score on the Praxis Core exam or acceptable alternatives (SAT or ACT scores)
  • Signed Statement of Commitment to Professional Dispositions
  • Pass a criminal background check (completed at time of application in TEAL)
• Students should consult with an advisor in the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) as soon as they begin considering teacher education in order to graduate on time.
• After admission to the minor, advising is offered through the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education in collaboration with advising in the student’s major department. Contact the Cato School of Education for advising.
• The minor is designed to be coordinated with Junior and Senior level coursework in the major. The final semester includes an advanced seminar/practicum in TESL taken in conjunction with the major area of studies internship in a high-needs ESL setting. Successful completion of the minor and passing licensure testing requirements lead to a recommendation for North Carolina add-on K-12 licensure in ESL.

Minor Requirements

• TESL 4103 - Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
• TESL 4104 - Authentic Assessment (3)
• TESL 4204 - Inclusive Classrooms for Immigrant Students (3)

•  

• TESL 4205 - Second Language Acquisition and Linguistics in K-12 Schools (3)
• or  ENGL 3132 - Introduction to Contemporary American English (3)

•  

• TESL 4469 - Advanced Seminar/Practicum in Teaching English as a Second Language (3) *
• TESL 4600 - Literacy Development for Second Language Learners (3)

Total = 18 Credit Hours

Progression Requirements

• While it is recommended that the TESL Minor be declared prior to beginning the professional education courses in the major area of studies, candidates’ situations with special circumstances for later TESL Minor declarations will be considered by the TESL Minor Program Director on a case-by-case basis. 
• For a degree to be conferred, students must successfully complete all program requirements which include:
  • Grades of C or above in all professional education courses
  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher

Requirements for Licensure and Graduation

A grade of P in student teaching with recommendation from Cooperating Teacher, University Supervisor, and Principal

Special Policies or Requirements

TESL Minors must complete their major area of studies year-long internship in a high-needs ESL setting.