Certificate in EFL/ESL Teaching (Online)

Literacy, Culture, and Language Education

Certificate in English as a Foreign Language/English as a Second Language (EFL/ESL) Teaching (Online)

In an increasingly interconnected and global business environment, the demand for English As a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers is growing rapidly. Since 2002, there has been a 300-percent increase in demand for EFL teachers in countries such as China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Meanwhile, in the United States, there are more than 5 million students who need help learning English.

Now, you can earn a graduate-level certificate in the specialty of EFL/ESL instruction. This 12-credit hour program is designed for both new and experienced teachers.

CAVEAT: Please be aware that the EFL/ESL certificate program is not an ENL Indiana teacher certification nor a state licensing program. It is a professional development certificate issued by the School of Education. If you are interested in our ENL license addition program, see this page or contact Professor Beth Samuelson at blsamuel@indiana.edu.

  • Application Deadlines
    Starting SemesterDeadline
    Fall Mar 1
    Spring Nov 1
    Summer Mar 1
    International students are encouraged to apply early to allow extra time for their materials to arrive.
  • Admission Requirements

    In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate Studies Office will accept unofficial transcripts and self-reported test scores for admission reviews. Any admission made with these documents would be conditioned on receipt of official documents, which should be provided as soon as possible.

    Note: If you are currently enrolled or have applied in the past year, you should qualify for an application fee waiver. Click here for criteria and how to obtain the waiver.

    1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
    2. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00
    3. Completed online application that includes:
      • Personal statement
      • Resume
      • One letter of recommendation
      • Minimum 79 TOEFL score or minimum 6.5 IELTS score (international students only)

    Learn more about how to apply

  • Program Requirements
  • Tuition and Fees

    Per credit hour

    ResidencyTuitionDE FeeTotal
    IN Resident$480.93$39$519.93
    Non-resident$576.45$39$615.45

    Find more information and calculate your expected costs at Student Central.

EFL/ESL Teacher Trainer Program

You can also choose the EFL/ESL Teacher Trainer Program for experienced teachers who want to train future EFL/ESL teachers.

Learn more

If you choose to pursue a master’s degree in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education, your certificate course work may apply to your degree requirements.

Please note that if you are a current Master's degree student and hope to graduate with the EPDE certificate, you should have applied for the EPDE and complete its four courses before you graduate. Once a student graduates with a Master's degree, any courses used for that degree cannot be used toward the certificate. Likewise, if you are a doctoral student, you should apply and take all four EPDE courses before you graduate. As a doctoral student, all courses used in your Master's program cannot be used toward the EPDE certificate.

Contact Us

Beth Lewis Samuelson
ED 3022
(812) 856-8256
blsamuel@indiana.edu

Start your life-changing journey

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