Certificate in Adult English as a Second/Foreign Language

Program Overview

The certificate in adult English as a second/foreign language is designed for individuals who desire to teach, design, and coordinate English as a second/foreign language (ESL or EFL) education programs for adults in community colleges, study abroad programs, and profit and not-for-profit institutions offering adult ESL/EFL instruction. Objectives for the certificate include preparing instructors through:

• Studying and discussing research related to contemporary adult ESL/EFL learning practices,
• Exploring theoretical perspectives supporting innovative adult ESL/EFL methodologies and approaches to assessing/testing adult students' language learning,
• Articulating the relationships and connections between assessment/testing of student performance and program evaluation,
• Designing activities that support and enhance inclusive adult ESL/EFL learning environments that cultivate respect for different cultural and linguistic backgrounds,
• Designing activities and materials to teach listening, speaking, reading, and writing to adult ESL/EFL students, keeping in mind integration of language skills, and
• Making informed/appropriate decisions when choosing textbooks, teaching materials, and assessment/evaluation methods congruent with program and student needs.

Application Requirements

Application requirements consist of institutional and program requirements for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Additional information and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website.

Unless otherwise noted on The Graduate College program page, AI tools can only be used to correct spelling and grammar errors in application materials.

Institutional Requirements

Institutional requirements are the minimum standards for admission to any graduate program at Texas State. These include:

• Completed online application
• Nonrefundable application fee
  • Degree Programs (Doctoral and Master’s)
    • $55 fee, or
    • $90 for applications with international credentials
  • Post-Baccalaureate Programs (Certificate, Certification, Non-Degree, and Visiting)
    • $20 fee, or
    • $60 for applications with international credentials
• Official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted. Final transcripts showing degree completion are required before the student may register for their second term of enrollment. 
• GPA requirements (a higher GPA may be listed in the Program Requirements)
  • Doctoral programs require a 3.00 overall GPA or a 3.00 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
  • Master’s and Specialist programs require a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
  • Post-Baccalaureate programs require a 2.50 overall GPA or a 2.50 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)

Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list. Some programs may restrict acceptable tests or require higher scores than the institutional scores; this will be noted in the Program Requirements.

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall if taken on or before January 21, 2026
• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 4 overall if taken after January 21, 2026
• official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
• official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
• official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
• official Texas State Intensive English Program score of 90% or higher in the highest-level course (level 5)

The institution does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

• completed online application
• $20 nonrefundable application fee

         or

• $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
• official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
• minimum 2.5 overall GPA or a 2.5 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work 
• minimum 3.0 GPA in all completed graduate course work (if applicable)
• GRE not required

Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of 19
• official PTE scores required with a 52
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
• official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
• official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

The student may qualify for English-based conditional admission if the minimum scores below are met:

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 59 overall and minimum individual module scores of 14
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 5.5 overall and
  • minimum individual module scores of 5.5

Course Requirements