Research from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that public school enrollment of children for whom English is a second language has increased 114 percent in Pennsylvania within the last ten years. This has created a critical need for qualified education specialists to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). ESL teachers may find employment in diverse learning environments, such as elementary, middle and high schools; community and four-year colleges; and continuing education programs. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all teachers working with ESL students in a K-12 environment to have an ESL specialist certificate.

Saint Joseph’s University’s English as a second language (ESL) specialist program prepares individuals who possess Level I or Level II instructional certification to teach non-native speakers of English the be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English. Delivered online, the ESL specialist program offers a convenient and flexible option for certified teachers to expand their skills and knowledge in this area and earn certification in as little as three semesters.