Program Overview 

Program Coordinator So Lim Kim, (845) 257-2826, kims23@newpaltz.edu
Program ID 066
Credits 15
Modality In-person
Full-time/Part-time Part-time
Licensure/Certification NYSED Initial/Professional ESOL (all grades)

Program Description

In response to the regional need for professionals prepared to educate linguistically and culturally diverse students, SUNY New Paltz offers a clinically rich Advanced Certificate in Teaching English to Second Language Learners. This 15-credit certificate is designed for New York State initially/professionally certified teachers who have an interest in working with multilingual learners and leads to certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages (all grades). 

Apply to a SUNY New Paltz graduate programAdmission Requirements

  • Official transcripts from every college/university attended with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

  • Completion of 12 credits of study of a language other than English. All courses must be taught in the target language. 

  • Current NYS professional certification in any subject area. 

  • An admission essay demonstrating experience and/or interest in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students. 

  • Letter from current employer verifying employment in a NYS school district. 

  • Professional reference who can speak to the applicant’s interest in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students. 

Application Deadlines

April 15 Fall Admission

Application review starts April 15th and continues until capacity is reached or July 31st.

No Spring admission.

Curriculum Requirements

SED573Teaching English as a New Language I3
SED576Teaching English as a New Language II3
SED577Applied Linguistics for Teachers of English as a New Language (ENL)3
SED580English Grammar for Teachers of English as a New Language (ENL)3
SED575Teaching Literacy in English as a New Language3
Total Credits15

Degree Requirements

  • File a “plan of study” during the first semester after matriculation.
  • Any deficiencies in the candidate’s previous training must be completed prior to graduation.
  • Completion of prescribed course work and other requirements within five years after matriculation.
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better with no more than two grades below B-.

Additional State Certification Requirements

In addition to degree requirements, candidates must meet several New York State certification requirements which include:

  1. Participants must successfully complete the NYS Content Specialty Test (CST) in English to Speakers of Other Languages.
  2. Participants must have completed all the required state-mandated workshops.

Program Learning Outcomes 

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Adv Cert)

Candidates who successfully complete all required components of the Adv Cert in TESOL K-12 program at SUNY New Paltz will: 

  • Content Knowledge: Demonstrate content area mastery by completing at least 15 hours of coursework in TESOL methods and content. 
  • Planning: Be able to plan lessons in TESOL that are standards-based, clear, logical and organized, rely upon a variety of appropriate instructional strategies and appropriate technologies, and differentiate instruction, providing opportunities to promote appreciation of diversity, tolerance, and inclusion in safe, democratic, and equitable learning environments. 
  • Assessment and P-12 Learning: Be able to choose, design, and implement authentic and appropriate formative and summative assessments to evaluate student learning, differentiate and adapt assessments for ELLs through logical decision-making, consider assessment data when making instructional decisions, and identify effective or problematic teaching moments as they are occurring in order to facilitate student growth in specified content, cognitive skills, and/or social skills. 
  • Pedagogical Practice: Demonstrate the ability to maximize student learning by incorporating content and pedagogical content knowledge, appropriate and effective technology, and a variety of developmentally and contextually appropriate evidence-based instructional strategies to make learning meaningful for students while teaching. 
  • Dispositions: Exhibit the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to practice an ethically informed and self-reflective philosophy, demonstrate the ability to respond appropriately to challenges that arise in teaching, and develop respectful relationships with students, families, communities and colleagues. 

  • Critical Thinking and Reasoning:  Clearly articulate an issue or problem; identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, and arguments as they engage in planning, assessing, and teaching; and acknowledge limitations such as perspective and bias as they develop well-reasoned arguments to form judgements and/or draw conclusions that support pedagogical decisions. 

  • Information Literacy:  Locate appropriate resources effectively using appropriate tools; evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias; and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination as they relate to the field of education.