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. 

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.