Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate
As an English teacher, you can gain the expertise to empower secondary school students by enhancing their literacy, language comprehension and writing abilities, preparing them for success in both higher education and the professional world.
- Offered 100% Online as well as Hybrid Online and Face-to-Face in Commerce.
- 1-1.5 years
- 18 credit hours
- No thesis required
- Foreign language credits optional
Inspire Minds. Shape Futures.
Designed for those with a non-English degree, this 18-hour graduate certificate can prepare you to teach high school and college English courses, including dual-credit classes. Empower students by enhancing their literacy and writing skills, while advancing your own career. Please verify with your school district if the certificate qualifies you to teach dual enrollment courses.
Spring 2026 Graduate Flex Term.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
This certificate can open up a wide range of teaching opportunities at the high school and college levels, and can help prepare you for roles that shape the future of education.
Career Possibilities
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023
Program Details
This graduate certificate offers a flexible curriculum designed to enhance your knowledge in English, literature and writing while supporting professional growth in related fields.
What Might I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
Literary Analysis
Refine your ability to critically analyze literary works, focusing on themes, devices and historical context. Practice deepening your understanding and interpretive skills.
Advanced Research and Critical Thinking
Enhance your research capabilities and explore how to evaluate sources and develop original arguments. As you progress, learn to strengthen your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
Professional Writing and Communication
Improve your writing skills across various genres, learning to craft clear, compelling content. Doing so can help prepare you for success in professional and academic communication.
English Language Teaching
Explore practical strategies for teaching English, including course design and student engagement techniques. Study closely with faculty to hone skills for effective language instruction.
Taking Classes
Our 18-credit-hour graduate certificate aims to build on your academic background to deepen your English language and literature expertise, and to prepare you for professional growth and career advancement.
Course Formats
Courses are offered in person at our main campus, providing an immersive, face-to-face learning experience. Additionally, courses are available entirely online, offering flexibility for working professionals. A hybrid option is also available, combining online and in-person classes for a balance of flexibility and direct engagement.
Please refer to the schedule of classes for up-to-date details on course locations, times and formats, as they may change.
Course Requirements
You must complete 18 hours of coursework for the Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate. No course substitutions are allowed.
Choose Six Courses:
- ENG 503 Marginalized Literatures
- ENG 504 Picture Books, Graphic Narratives, and the Art of Images
- ENG 509 Literary Genres
- ENG 513 Composing in the 21st Century
- ENG 515 Histories & Theories of Rhetoric
- ENG 522 Major Figures in American Literature
- ENG 537 Modern Transformations: British and Irish Literature
- ENG 555 General Linguistics
- ENG 611 Writing with Digital Media
- ENG 776 Methods and Methodologies in Writing Studies
Adding Value with Certificates
In addition to your core studies, our program allows you to add value to your education by earning additional certificates, further enhancing your professional qualifications.
Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate
The Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate provides students with the necessary English hours for students who wish to teach dual-credit or college-level courses in a field other than English. Students who pursue this certificate should already have a bachelor’s, master’s or PHD in a discipline other than English.
Studies in Children’s and Adolescent Literature Culture Graduate Certificate
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Graduate Certificate
This certificate is ideal for students who either already hold a completed graduate degree or are actively in the process of earning a graduate degree and wish to earn this certificate in conjunction with their degree. In addition to the enhanced professional status that the Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) brings, this Certificate will enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the College level.
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Ashanka Kumari, Ph.D.
Faculty
Shannon Carter, Ph.D.
Faculty
Mo Reeves, Ph.D.
Alum Staff
Charles Woods Ph.D.
Faculty
Student Organizations
At East Texas A&M University, students have access to a variety of student organizations that support academic and professional growth. Notable groups include the English Club, the Literature Society, the TESOL Association and the Women's and Gender Studies Club. These organizations strive to offer students opportunities for networking, professional development and engagement with the academic community through events, discussions and conferences related to their fields of interest.
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
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Financing My Future
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship. Financial Aid and Scholarships
Back to menuOn-Campus Employment Opportunities
Enhance your expertise through on-campus employment opportunities.
Graduate Assistant/Research/Teaching
Graduate assistant teaching (GAT), graduate assistant research (GAR), and graduate assistant non-teaching (GANT) assistantships at East Texas A&M offer financial support and professional development for graduate students. Assistantships are available in academic and non-academic departments.
Back to menuCost Before Financial Aid
East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.
$3,669
for Texas residents
/
$7,341
For non-residents
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are
Back to menuAdditional Fees May Apply
- Online Courses ($50 per hour)
- Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
- Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- GPA minimum 2.5
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Once admitted, you must:
- Earn a 3.0 GPA on all required coursework (No course substitutions may be applied on graduate certificates)
- Submit a Completion of Certificate Request while taking your final graduate certificate courses.
Admission Process
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Professional Advancement in English Studies, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.
Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Note: This graduate certificate does not qualify from Financial Aid.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Note: International students interested in graduate certificates must do so in conjunction with a graduate degree.
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Professional Advancement in English Studies, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following document to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.
Your Graduate Coordinator
- Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Note: This graduate certificate does not qualify for Financial Aid.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- Department of Literature and Languages
- 903.886.5260
- 903.886.5980
- [email protected]