English Certificates

The following certificates are directed by members of the department. Please contact the following directors for more information.

1. Certificate in Linguistic Studies
Director, Dr. Arthur L. Palacas

- Certificate Requirements -
To obtain the certificate, a student must have at least two semesters of language.

Foundation: (Required)
3300:371 Introduction to Linguistics

Core: (Minimum of two of the following)
3300:472 Syntax
3600:481 Philosophy of Language
3870:461 Language and Culture
7700:230 Speech & Language Development

7700:430 Aspects of Normal Language Development

2. Certificate in Professional Communication
Co-Director, Dr. Joseph F. Ceccio

- Certificate Requirements -

This certificate must be earned concurrently with an undergraduate (associate or bachelor's) degree. A student who already possesses an undergraduate degree may directly pursue this certificate.

3300:390 Professional Writing I
3300:391 Professional Writing II
7600:309 Public Relations Publications
7600:345 Business & Professional Speaking

3. Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
Director, Dr. Kenneth J. Pakenham

The TESL Certificate Program at The University of Akron offers programs at the undergraduate and graduate level leading to a University Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. This certificate will give you a basic formal qualification in teaching English to speakers of other languages, either here in the United States or overseas.

- Certificate Requirements -

Undergraduate Program:
3300:473 Teaching ESL Theory and Practice
3300:489 Grammatical Structures
5500:487 Techniques for Teaching ESL
3300:489 Sociolinguistics
OR
5500:481 Multicultural Education in the U.S.
(Plus six credits from courses listed in the University Bulletin)

Graduate Program:
3300:573 Teaching ESL Theory and Practice
3300:589 Grammatical Structures of English
5500:543 Techniques for Teaching ESL
3300:589 Sociolinguistics
OR
5500:570 Multicultural Education in the U.S.

4.Graduate Certificate in Composition
Director, Dr. Lance Svehla

- Certificate Requirements -

To be eligible for the certificate in composition, a person must be admitted to the University as a graduate student (with either full or provisional status).

Five Courses in Composition and Rhetoric:

Required Courses:
3300:673 Theories of Composition
3300:674 Research Methods in Composition
3300:676 Theory & Teaching of Basic Comp

Optional Courses:
3300:650 New Rhetorics
3300:625 Autobiographical Writing
3300:679 Scholarly Writing
3300:689 Contemporary Reading Theory
3300:689 Composition and Rhetoric
3300:689 Literature and Composition
3300:689 Cultural Studies in Comp Theory
3300:589 Grammatical Structures
3300:589 Sociolinguistics
3300:670 Modern Linguistics
3300:651 Pragmatists

5. Graduate Certificate in Literature
Director, Dr. Alan Ambrisco

- Certificate Requirements -

To be eligible for the certificate in literature, a person must be admitted to the University as a graduate student (with either full or provisional status). Five courses in literature(15 Credits) are required. At least three courses must be at the 600 level, and one must be in American literature

Required Courses:
3300:506 Chaucer*
3300:615 Shakespearean Drama
A course in American literature (3 Credits)
Two other literature courses (6 Credits)
*Unless the student has passed a comparable course at the Undergraduate level with a grade B or better.