The Department of English at Valdosta State University offers two "add on" certificate programs designed specifically for individuals who have earned a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in another related field, but who would like to teach concurrent enrollment and beginning undergraduate courses in English at a college level without seeking an additional, full MA in English.

As opposed to a full 36-credit-hour MA degree, the certificate programs require 18 credit hours of graduate coursework. The program is expected to be completed in approximately two years or fewer; however, students have up to seven years to complete the program at their own pace.

Courses are offered by distinguished professors with Graduate Status (Ph.D. and publication in their fields of expertise), several recipients of university teaching and online teaching awards.

The certificates are offered through two different tracks:

Traditional track: a mixture of online and face-to-face (evening) courses with the option to apply to continue for an MA in English degree (Ph.D.; preparatory for teaching upper-division as well as concurrent enrollment and lower-division undergraduate courses). This certificate track can be completed in 1-2 years. For more information on admissions criteria and course descriptions, please visit 

https://www.valdosta.edu/english/programs/english-ma/admission.php or

https://www.valdosta.edu/english/programs/english-ma/course-options.php.

Students who complete the certificate may apply to enter into the full Traditional MA degree program.

For more information on the MA program, please visit 

http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts-sciences/english/programs/english-ma/.

MAESLAT track: fully online courses with the option to apply to continue for an MA degree in English Studies (greater secondary emphasis; preparatory for teaching concurrent enrollment and lower-division undergraduate courses.) This track can be completed in 1-2 years. For more information on admissions criteria and course descriptions, please visit 

https://www.valdosta.edu/english/programs/ma-language-arts/admission.php or

https://www.valdosta.edu/english/programs/ma-language-arts/course-descriptions.php.

For more information on the MAESLAT program, please visit 

https://www.valdosta.edu/english/programs/ma-language-arts/.

Additional Information:

Both tracks offer the option to apply to continue for an MA degree under the following titles:

  • Traditional: Master of Arts in English.
  • MAESLAT: Master of Arts in English Studies for Secondary Language Arts Teachers.

There is a rolling admissions period with the following application deadlines for either certificate program: Fall (July 15); Spring (November 15); Summer (April 15).

Both certificate programs prepare students to meet the accreditation standards for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) for teaching college freshman and sophomore writing and literature courses and are offered by a SACS-accredited, non-profit, regional comprehensive university.

Requirements for the Certificate for Teaching College English (Face-to-Face Option)

ENGL 7000 Approaches to Graduate Study 3
Two 8000-level ENGL literature courses (6000- or 7000-level courses may be substituted with permission of graduate coordinator) 6
ENGL 7600 Studies in Rhetoric and Composition 3
ENGL 8800 Teaching College Composition 3
ENGL 8300 Seminar in Special Topics 3
or LING 6000 Principles of Language Study
Total Hours 18

Requirements for the Certificate for Teaching College English (M.A.E.S.L.A.T. Online Option)

ENGL 7005 Introduction to the Graduate Study for Middle and Secondary English Teachers 3
ENGL 7100 British Literature for Language Arts Teachers 3
ENGL 7200 American Literature for Language Arts Teachers 3
ENGL 7610 Composition Theory for Language Arts Teachers 3
ENGL 7720 English Grammar for Language Arts Teachers 3
Select one course from the following: 3
ENGL 7400
 Multicultural Literature for Language Arts Teachers
ENGL 7500
 Creative Writing for Language Arts Teachers
ENGL 7620
 Rhetorical Theory for Language Arts Teachers
ENGL 7710
 English Language Change Past and Present
Total Hours 18