University of Wisconsin–Madison

Undergraduate Requirements

Admission Requirements

Undergraduates: Enrollment in any one of the required certificate courses and a degree program at UW-Madison.

Undergraduate Certificate Requirements

Starting Fall 2023 academic requirements for the program are as follows:

  • Complete a 15-credit program of prescribed upper-division courses, including a practicum (covered during your course work).
  • Maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 in all TESOL courses.
  • Native English speakers must satisfactorily complete at least four college-level semesters (or the equivalent, such as 4 years in high school) of one language prior to or completed concurrently with certificate coursework. For non-native English speakers, English fulfills this requirement.
  • Demonstrate English proficiency of spoken and written English commensurate with the role of language model. Nonnative English speakers must have a score of at least:
    • 50 on the SPEAK test or
    • A minimum overall TOEFL iBT score of 5, with at least 5 on the speaking section for tests taken on and after January 21, 2026
    • 26 on the iBt speaking section, with an overall score of 100 on the iBt for tests taken before January 21, 2026 or
    • 600 on the paper version of TOEFL or
    • A minimum overall score of 7 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

This certificate records a course of study at UW-Madison; it is not necessarily equivalent to professional certification by other bodies, such as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Application Process

  1. Download the Undergraduate TESOL application.
  2. Return signed application to asktesol@english.wisc.edu.

Courses

Foundation Courses 

  • English 314 3 cr. Structure of English
  • English 318 3 cr. Second Language Acquisition
  • English 415 3 cr. Introduction to TESOL Methods – must precede English 515 and 613-618

Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Courses

  • English 515 3 cr. Techniques and Materials for TESOL

Students must take 3 credits of TESOL Workshops during the same semester. Each spring, 3 of the 6 one credit workshops are offered in alternate years:

  • English 613 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: Pedagogical Grammar I (spring)
  • English 614 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: Pedagogical Grammar II (spring)
  • English 615 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: The Teaching of Listening and Speaking (spring)
  • English 616 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: The Teaching of Reading (spring)
  • English 617 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: The Teaching of Writing (spring)
  • English 618 1 cr. TESOL Workshop: The Teaching of Pronunciation (spring)