Teaching English Learners in PreK-12 Education Online Certificate

Program Details

• Add-on endorsement requirements

  Individuals can work with an advisor to pursue an add-on endorsement while completing the certificate.

• Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

  The certificate program is intended for students who already hold a teaching license in Virginia or another state. Any student who wishes to apply for the certificate must submit an online application, two letters of recommendation, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and a current statement of professional goals (1-2 pages). Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts with their application; however, official transcripts are required prior to matriculation. Students are responsible for knowing the requirements for admission to, and completion of, the certificate and for contacting their advisor for planning.

  Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be cancelled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application.

  The Graduate Record Exam is not required for the Teaching English Learners in PreK-12 certificate.

• Transfer Credits

  Students may be eligible to transfer up to 6 credits from other academic institutions (or other programs at UVA prior to admission) if the following criteria are met: courses are listed on the transcript from the transferring institution as “graduate level”; the student earns a final grade of B- or higher; the courses are deemed aligned with the rigor and content of the student’s program of study; and the course credits are no older than 5 years at the time of matriculation.

• Application Due Date

  ALL application materials, transcripts, and recommendations, must be received by the deadlines below in order for an application to be considered complete. You may begin, or return to, your application.

  • Fall entry: April 15th, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until July 1st
  • Spring entry: November 1st
  • Summer entry: March 15th, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until May 15th

  Decisions will be released 6 weeks after the deadline. Applicants will be assigned an advisor after they accept an offer of admission.

  Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be cancelled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application.

• Funding Opportunities

  Discounted tuition is available for Virginia preK-12 educators. To receive the discount, educators must fill out the special tuition application form. Districts enrolling cohorts of teachers may also receive a group discount.

  Tuition rates can be found on the Tuition & Fees page.

• Typical Length of Study

  Students may begin taking courses in either the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Enrollment can be part-time or full-time. Part-time students typically take one or two courses per semester. Courses must be completed within five years of being admitted to the program.

• Course Overview

  The VDOE has recently changed ESL endorsement requirements. Course offerings are currently under revision to align with these changes. Students will work with an advisor to select 6 of the 8 courses; students with individual questions may talk to an advisor (April Salerno).

  All courses online and on a set schedule each Term as follows:

  Course	Course Offerings Fall	Course Offerings Spring	Course Offerings Summer
  English Linguistics EDIS 5423		X	X
  Cross-Cultural Education for Diverse Learners EDIS 5422	X	X	X
  Second Language Acquisition EDIS 5424			X
  Foundations of Reading Instruction EDIS 7700	X	X	X
  Teaching Reading & Writing for ELLs EDIS 5270	X	X	X
  ESL Methods PreK-12 EDIS 5428	X	X
  ESL Assessment & Curriculum Design EDIS 5470	X	X

  An ESL elective course (to be selected with advisor approval), which might include:
  Differentiating Instruction EDIS 5080	X	X	X
  The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom EDIS 5014		X (spring)

   

• Steps for Adding the Endorsement

  Ready to add the endorsement to your teaching license? Check out the advising guide to add an endorsement.