Image
TEFL UG Cert

Teaching English as a Foreign Language - Undergraduate Certificate

The Teaching English as a Foreign Language undergraduate certificate immerses students within another culture while at the same time giving them the structure and support that allows them to succeed as teachers of English. With the world’s growing need for individuals who speak English, the demand for people who can teach English as a foreign language has grown rapidly over the past few decades.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit

Undergraduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is one of the fastest-growing educational fields in the world.

Kent State is one of few institutions in the nation offering a hands-on, comprehensive certificate program in TEFL., where they gain experience as teachers of English while immersing themselves within another culture.

With the world’s growing need for individuals who speak English, the demand for people who can teach English as a foreign language has grown rapidly over the past few decades.

Program Information for Teaching English as a Foreign Language - Undergraduate Certificate

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

ENG 31001FUNDAMENTAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR 3
ENG 31003LINGUISTICS 3
ENG 31007PEDAGOGY FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 3
ENG 31008GRAMMAR FOR TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND/FOREIGN LANGUAGE 3
ENG 41292TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PRACTICUM (ELR) 16
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

Students also enrolled in the B.A. Teaching English Second Language [TESL] major with a minor in Education should take 3 credit hours of ENG 41292 in Florence and 3 credit hours of ENG 41192 in Ohio.

 

Graduation Requirements
 
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours at Kent State.
Admissions for Teaching English as a Foreign Language - Undergraduate Certificate

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Course Offerings

Classes such as ENG-31007 TESL Pedagogy and ENG-31008 Grammar for TESL/TEFL are only offered in the spring semester. Please check with your advisor to make sure you are taking these courses at the most advantageous time and are kept up-to-date on any prequisites.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Teaching English as a Foreign Language - Undergraduate Certificate

Graduates of Kent State’s Undergraduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language are well-prepared for careers in international education and language instruction. The program’s focus on language acquisition theories, teaching methodologies, and cross-cultural communication equips students with the skills to effectively teach English to non-native speakers. Graduates often pursue roles as ESL instructors, language program coordinators, and educational consultants, contributing to global education efforts and fostering language development across diverse cultural contexts.

Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and English as a Second Language instructors

-10.4%

decline

59,300

number of jobs

$55,350

potential earnings

Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other

7.4%

faster than the average

406,200

number of jobs

$40,590

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Teacher of English as a foreign language
  • Language school instructor (in the U.S. or abroad)
  • Assistant language teacher
  • Educational materials writer/editor
  • Language assessment writer/editor
  • Curriculum designer
  • Educational consultant
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
© 2025 Kent State University All rights reserved.