The ESL Program Specialist Postbaccalaureate Certificate (or ESL Program Specialist for short) is a program offered cooperatively by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and the Department of Applied Linguistics. The program offers a path for in-service teachers and graduate students to complete the ESL certificate to prepare to work with English learners in public school classrooms in the state of Pennsylvania.

On Campus and Immersion Experience Options

The ESL Postbaccalaureate Certificate may be completed on campus or through an intensive study immersion experience option. The ESL courses are offered at the University Park, Berks, York (Lancaster Center), and Lehigh Valley campuses. Applications to the on campus program may be made at any time. Visit the web site for the on campus option at https://ed.psu.edu/esl-specialist

The immersion experience option, called Teaching ESL with Immersion Experience, offers the opportunity to complete the program over two academic sessions (Spring and Summer) and includes an international practice teaching experience. A specific application process is required. Applications for the Immersion experience are submitted in November for the program beginning the following January. Visit the web site for the immersion experience option at https://ed.psu.edu/tesl-ecuador

If you have questions, please contact the program directors in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction:

On Campus Option:

May Lee
mhl11@psu.edu
254 Chambers Building
(814) 863-5933

Immersion Experience Option:

Elizabeth Smolcic
eas260@psu.edu
257 Chambers Building
(814) 867-3199