Certificate in the Teaching of Composition
Coordinator
Mark Roberge 
Email: roberge@sfsu.edu
Phone: (415) 338-7457
Office: Humanities 467
Description
The program is designed for people who want to teach composition at the senior high school, community college, college and adult levels. It is aimed at both experienced and aspirant teachers who wish to learn about the field of composition and who wish to improve their classroom practice.
Requirements/Guidelines
Admission to the Program
If you currently are NOT a matriculated M.A. student at SF State, and you wish to apply for admission to the certificate program, you must apply to the university. To do so, you will need to apply to SF State Graduate Studies online through Cal State Apply. You will also need to upload the following documents (1-3) to the Cal State Apply site’s “Program Materials” section:
- Internal Department of English application (pdf)
- A statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should:
- Explain your interest in pursuing the degree.
- Describe any previous experience that may contribute to your success in the program.
- Establish your readiness to do graduate-level coursework.
- Explain what you plan to do with the degree/certificate upon completion.
- In addition, be sure your statement of purpose demonstrates your ability to produce clear, cogent, and polished prose.
3. Please upload legible unofficial copies of transcripts from each college or university attended. Including study abroad coursework, or community college coursework, even if this coursework appears as transfer credit appears on your degree transcript. Full academic disclosure is required. Photographs or screenshots of transcripts will be rejected. An incomplete academic history will significantly delay review of your application. The Division of Graduate Studies may request official transcripts from you at any point during the application review process.
If selected for admission, you will be required to submit official transcripts to the Division of Graduate Studies in order to secure your offer of admission. Please note: if you previously attended SF State, you do not need to submit a SFSU transcript.
If selected for admssion, please mail official transcripts to:
Graduate Admissions Office, ADM 250
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
- If you currently ARE a matriculated M.A. student at SF State, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you do not need to apply to the University, but you must fill out the internal Department of English application and submit the application, statement of purpose, and unofficial transcripts to the Department of English office in HUM 484. Details on what should be included in the statement of purpose are above. The application (pdf) is available online. The deadline to apply for fall semester is May 1; the deadline to apply for spring semester is November 1. Fall 2020 deadline has been extended to July 31.
Please note that you cannot take more than one course for the certificate program through College of Extended Learning. Also, certificate students who are not enrolled in a master’s program are not eligible for financial aid.
Courses
The certificate consists of four courses: English 700, 704, 709, and 710.
- English 700: Introduction to Composition Theory: Issues of composition theory, research, and classroom practice. Introduction to graduate studies in Composition.
- English 704: Pedagogical Grammar for Composition: Theory and practice of responding to linguistic, stylistic, and rhetorical issues in student writing.
- English 709: Seminar in Teaching Integrated Reading and Writing: Exploration of the integration of reading and writing from both a theoretical and pedagogical perspective.
- English 710: Course Design in Composition and Post-Secondary Reading: Theory and practice of designing post-secondary reading and composition courses. This course is offered only in spring semesters. Prerequisite: English 709.
Requirement Upon Completion
For the final award of the degree, students must fill out a Certificate Approved Program (CAP) form (pdf) available on the Graduate Studies website, pay the $7.00 application fee at the Cashier's Office, and submit the form to the Department of English Office in HUM 484 for the Certificates in the Teaching of Composition and Post-Secondary Reading.
No course applied to the Certificate may be taken CR/NC, and a grade of A or B must be earned in each course. Students wishing to earn the Certificate must follow all University requirements and procedures for graduate certificate programs as outlined in the San Francisco State University Bulletin. For further information, contact the English Department, HUM 484, (415) 338-2264 or Graduate Studies at 338-2234.
Certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading
Coordinator
Mark Roberge
Email: roberge@sfsu.edu
Phone: (415) 338-7457
Office: Humanities 467
Description
The certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading is designed to assist prospective and already practicing post-secondary teachers in meeting specific individual professional needs in the areas of basic literacy and reading instruction. The certificate can help prepare students for teaching position in the community colleges and community agencies where specialized background and techniques in reading instruction are desirable.
The certificate meets new requirements for teaching reading in the community colleges (Assembly Bill 1725) which specifies that new instructors must possess a master’s degree in Education with a specialization in reading, or master’s in English or ESL with additional certification in the teaching of reading.
Requirements/Guidelines
Admission to the Program
This 12-unit program is open to all graduate students in English, unclassified graduate students, and candidates for degrees in other departments. For M.A. Literature candidates, the sequence of courses is separate from the 30 unit Literature requirement. Candidates pursuing the Certificate or M.A. in Teaching of Composition may concurrently complete the requirement for the certificate in Post-Secondary Reading.
-
If you currently are NOT a matriculated M.A. student at SF State, and you wish to apply for admission to the certificate program, you must apply to the University. To do so, you will need to apply online at Cal State Apply. You will also need to upload the following documents (1-3) to the Cal State Apply site’s “Program Materials” section:
- Internal Department of English application (pdf)
- A statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should:
- Explain your interest in pursuing the degree.
- Describe any previous experience that may contribute to your success in the program.
- Establish your readiness to do graduate-level coursework.
- Explain what you plan to do with the degree/certificate upon completion.
- In addition, be sure your statement of purpose demonstrates your ability to produce clear, cogent, and polished prose.
3. Please upload legible unofficial copies of transcripts from each college or university attended. Including study abroad coursework, or community college coursework, even if this coursework appears as transfer credit appears on your degree transcript. Full academic disclosure is required. Photographs or screenshots of transcripts will be rejected. An incomplete academic history will significantly delay review of your application. The Division of Graduate Studies may request official transcripts from you at any point during the application review process.
If selected for admission, you will be required to submit official transcripts to the Division of Graduate Studies in order to secure your offer of admission. Please note: if you previously attended SF State, you do not need to submit a SFSU transcript.
If selected for admission, please mail official transcripts to:
Graduate Admissions Office, ADM 250
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
- If you currently ARE a matriculated M.A. student at SF State, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you do not need to apply to the university, but you must fill out the internal English Department application and submit the application, statement of purpose, and unofficial transcripts to the Department of English office in HUM 484. Details on what should be included in the statement of purpose are above. The application is available online (pdf).The deadline to apply for fall semester is May 1; the deadline to apply for spring semester is November 1. Fall 2020 deadline has been extended to July 31.
Please note that you cannot take more than one course for the certificate program through College of Extended Learning. Also, certificate students who are not enrolled in a master’s program are not eligible for financial aid.
Certificate Program Courses
The courses of the Certificate program, English 701, 709, 710 and 715, emphasize both theory and practice. While students receive theory primarily in English 701 and 709, coursework in all four courses, provide opportunities for immediate benefits in the practice of teaching.
- English 701: Theoretical Backgrounds in College Reading Instruction - Exploration of history, policy, research, and theoretical approaches that inform the practices of college reading instruction.
- English 709: Seminar in Teaching Integrated Reading/Writing - Exploration of the integration of reading and writing from both a theoretical and pedagogical perspective. This course is only offered in fall semesters.
- English 710: Course Design in Composition and Post-Secondary Reading - Theory and practice of designing post-secondary reading and composition courses. This course is offered only in Spring semesters. Prerequisite: English 709.
- English 715: Pedagogy and Practice of Post-Secondary Reading - Application of theories of reading to the design of teaching activities and course designs.
Requirement Upon Completion
For the final award of the degree, students must fill out a Certificate Approved Program (CAP) form (pdf) available on the Graduate Studies website, pay the $7.00 application fee at the Cashier's Office, and submit the form to the Department of English Office in HUM 484 for the Certificates in the Teaching of Composition and Post-Secondary Reading.
Certificate in Immigrant Literacies
Coordinator
Maricel Santos
Email: mgsantos@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415-338-7445
Building: HUM 465
Description
The certificate program 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.
Requirements/Guidelines
Admission to the Program
Required application materials for all applicants:
- a short personal statement which outlines your interests in immigrant language and literacy issues
- transcripts
- current vita or resume
- names and contact information of TWO references (provide name, job title or relationship, address, phone number)
- evidence of completion of the university’s Level I written English proficiency requirements*
- 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)
Please note: If you are currently a matriculated graduate student, you DO NOT need to apply to the university; submit the department application (pdf) along with items 1-5 listed above to the English Department.
If you are a prospective, non-matriculated student, you need to apply to the university through Cal State Apply, and submit the department application (pdf) along with items 1-6 listed above to Cal State Apply's "Program Materials" section. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded to the Cal State Apply's "Program Materials" section and then official transcripts should be mailed to Graduate Studies.
Please note: if you previously attended SF State, you do not need to submit a SFSU transcript.
Mail official transcripts to:
Graduate Admissions Office, ADM 250
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132
The deadline to apply for Fall semester is May 1; the deadline to apply for Spring semester is November 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 application.
Please note that you cannot take more than one course for the certificate program through College of Extended Learning. Also, certificate students who are not enrolled in a master’s program are not eligible for financial aid.
| Program | Units |
|---|---|
| ENG 832 - Seminar on Immigrant Literacites & Community-based Project | 3 |
| Select on of the Following: | |
| ENG 735 - Community-based Curriculum Development | 3 |
| ENG 736 - Teaching ESOL in the Community | 3 |
| Select one of the following (see note below): | |
| HED 810 - Public Health and Community Organizing | 3 |
| HED 835 - Health Policy | 3 |
| HED 845 - Training and Educational Process | 3 |
| AAS 833 - Seminar: Asian American Family & Identity | 3 |
| AAS 875 - Asian American Community in Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHS 710 - Theories and Concepts in Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Captsone | |
| XXX 899 - Special Study, e.g., ENG 899 for MA TESOL students, HED 899 for MPH students, ETHS 750 - Ethnic Community Practicum for ETHS students, or equivalent graduate-level community service-learning course (with approval of advisor) | 3 |
| Total for Certifcate | 12 |
Requirement Upon Completion
For the final award of the degree, students must fill out a CAP form (Certificate Approved Program) (pdf), pay the $7 application fee at the Cashier’s Office, and submit the form to the English Department in HUM 484. Please contact the English Department at (415) 338-2660 if you have any questions.
No course applied to the Certificate may be taken CR/NC, and a grade of A or B must be earned in each course. Students may enroll in any of the courses listed above even if they do not wish to complete the certificate. Students wishing to earn the Certificate must follow all University requirements and procedures for graduate certificate programs as outlined in the San Francisco State University Bulletin. For further information, contact the English Department, HUM 484, (415) 338-2660 or 338-2264.