Certificate in Immigrant Literacies
The Certificate in Immigrant Literacies is designed to provide academic training in the study of language, literacies, and the immigrant experience. The program integrates community service learning to enable certificate students to integrate their professional expertise and cross-disciplinary thinking with meaningful civic action.
Admissions Requirements and Application Process
All applicants must submit the following to the English Department:
- a short personal statement which outlines the applicants’ interests in immigrant language and literacy issues;
- transcript, (official transcripts from all previous colleges attended; unofficial transcript from your current program);
- current vita or résumé;
- names and contact information for TWO references. (provide name, job title or relationship, address, phone number); and
- evidence of completion of the University’s Level I written English proficiency requirement1;
- for non-matriculated students only: documentation of a passing score on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE or GMAT; or a 3-4 page academic writing sample (e.g., research paper, grant proposal, publication).
- 1
For matriculated graduate students in TESOL: Evidence of completion of the written English proficiency requirement is determined based on a satisfactory evaluation of the student’s Statement of Purpose, submitted to the department as part of the student’s original application to the MA TESOL program.
For matriculated graduate students in other departments: Students should check the requirements as stipulated by their program area.
Applicants who are matriculated graduate students may enter the certificate program at any point after acceptance into an SF State graduate degree program. Graduate students who wish to apply must consult with their advisor immediately to find out how best to sequence their coursework to satisfy both home Department requirements and certificate requirements.
Applicants who are not currently matriculated in any SF State graduate degree program (e.g., in-service ESOL teachers, health professionals) must apply (via graduate admissions) and be admitted to the University and the graduate certificate program. Acceptance into the program is with the approval of the certificate program director and consent of program faculty following review of the application materials (listed above).
Students interested in admission to the certificate programs need not have completed undergraduate degree programs in English literature or language studies, nor do they need to be enrolled in master's programs offered in the Department of English. Graduate students from master's programs offered in this department should contact their advisors to find out how many of the certificate courses may be used towards meeting degree requirements in their M.A. program. Unclassified graduate students and candidates for degrees in other departments may be accepted into the program with the approval of the certificate faculty.
Out-of-state and international students are welcome to apply to the program. For applicants whose native language is not English: a recent internet-based TOEFL (IBT) score of 95, with an essay rating of 24. Applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement will NOT be admitted; there is NO conditional admission. A TOEFL score of 95 is considered to be very minimal; applicants who demonstrate stronger English proficiency with a higher TOEFL score (and higher essay rating) will have a better chance of being admitted.
Immigrant Literacies Certificate — 12 units
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 832 | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar: Asian American Family and Identity | ||
| Asian American Community Health Issues | ||
| Theories and Issues in Ethnic Studies | ||
| Public Health and Principles of Community Organizing | ||
| Public Health Policy | ||
OR other graduate-level SF State course related to the topic of immigrant literacies and civic engagement (with approval of advisor). | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Independent Study, e.g., ENG 899 for MA TESOL students; H ED 899 for Master of Public Health students; ETHS 750: Ethnic Community Practicum for Ethnic Studies students; or equivalent graduate-level community service-learning course (with approval of advisor) | ||