About this Program

This certificate may be of interest to students who want to teach English to speakers of other languages. There are two concentrations for this certificate. The first is the Adult Learner concentration which would be used for teaching adult learners or for students abroad. The second concentration is designed for teachers in K-12 who need licensure or an endorsement. Each concentration is a total of 15 credit hours, with the ability to be completed online or traditionally.

Program Highlights

  • Qualifies students to teach English or other languages in various settings in the U.S. and abroad

  • Designed for people who want to teach English as a foreign language (EFL) abroad or teach English as a second language (ESL) in the private sector or in non-governmental organizations (e.g., private language institutes, agencies, and schools, corporate settings, immigrant and refugee centers, etc.)

  • Provides students not only with TESOL pedagogical qualifications, but also with linguistic and cross-cultural expertise relevant to working with speakers of other languages

  • Offers two concentrations: Adult Learner and K-12 Learner

AT A GLANCE
Degree Level
Graduate
Degree Earned
Certificate
Delivery Modes
On-Campus

Careers

Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

$77,660 Median Salary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

$83,330 Median Salary

Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors

$56,800 Median Salary

Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.

Education Teachers, Postsecondary

$72,410 Median Salary

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Alumni Careers

Public Schools
Virginia
Community Colleges
Nationwide

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages at ODU?
Students entering the Certificate program in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages should meet the minimum university admission requirements Graduate Admission.

Cost of Attendance

We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance. 

Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.

Virginia Resident
Cost Per-Credit $620
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Cost Per-Credit $642
Non-Resident
Cost Per-Credit $1,486

Ways to Fund Your Degree

There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.

Contact

Associate Professor

4032 BATTEN ARTS & LETTERS
NORFOLK, 23529