The Graduate Certificate Program in English Language Studies enables professionals to focus and solidify or update their work with language teaching and research applications. As technology-supported applications of language theory increase, and as teaching and research opportunities change in response to demographic and educational demands, both in the U.S. and in the global community, this Certificate grounds the participants in both current theory and practice and makes courses in the English Language Studies Concentration available to persons with related degrees and professional aspirations.

Certificate requirements. The Graduate Certificate in English Language Studies requires 15 hours in approved courses, including at least 6 hours at the 6000-level. Students must earn a "B" or better in all courses presented for the certificate, and must complete the program within four years from the time of first enrollment in a certificate course.

A typical program might include four courses from the following:

• ENGL 5161 Modern English Grammar
• ENGL 5165 Language and Culture
• ENGL 5166 Comparative Language Studies for Teachers
• ENGL 5167 The Mind and Language
• ENGL 5260 History of the English Language
• ENGL 5263 Linguistics and Language Learning
• ENGL 5264 Literacy in Family and Community
• ENGL 6127 Seminar in Language, Culture and Society
• ENGL 6161 Introduction to Linguistics
• ENGL 6162 History of the English Language (may not also receive credit for 5260)
• ENGL 6163 Language Acquisition (may not also receive credit for 5263)
• ENGL 6195 Teaching College English

It is expected that students will structure their program to gain a concentration in theory and content either of applied linguistics or second-language. Substitutions from the broader emphasis and program will be allowed with approval of the Certificate Coordinator and the Director of the Emphasis in English Language Studies, who will act as advisors for those enrolled in the Certificate program.

Students whose dominant language is not English additionally will take one or both courses in a two-semester sequence in Second Language Writing: Theory and Applications. The first elective course, offered as a topics course in rhetoric, covers the theory of second-language writing. The second part of the sequence, offered as an independent study, consists of a workshop in written discourse, with special emphasis on western academic discourse. It includes documentation and bibliographic searching techniques at the graduate level.

Transfer credits are not accepted in the Certificate program. Students seeking licensure for the teaching of English at levels K-12 should consult the College of Education.