Graduate Certificates
For matriculated graduate students, admission to either or both of the certificate programs requires completion of the internal English Department application, which should be submitted to the department. This internal application is available in the main department office in HUM 289 or at www.sfsu.edu/~english. Those seeking the Certificate in Teaching Composition must submit the application during their first semester of certificate coursework.
Anyone who wishes a certificate, but is not currently a matriculated graduate student, will need to apply to the university, using the published admissions process, before being considered for admission to the composition or reading certificate programs. For information about how to complete this application, students should consult the appropriate graduate coordinator of the Division of Graduate Studies.
Students interested in admission to the certificate programs need not have completed undergraduate degree programs in English literature or language studies, nor need they 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 advisers to find out how many of the courses taken for composition or reading certificates they may use to meet degree requirements in their MA program. Unclassified graduate students and candidates for degrees in other departments may be accepted into the program with the approval of the composition or reading faculty.
Upon completion of all the certificate courses, for the final award of the degree, students must fill out a CAP form (Certificate Approved Program), pay the $7.00 application fee at the Cashier's Office, and submit the form to the Composition Office in HUM 209 . Please contact the English Department in HUM 289 with any questions.
Certificate in the Teaching of Composition
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.
For a more detailed description of the program, click here.
Application Procedures
If you currently are NOT a matriculated MA student at SFSU, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you:
- must apply to the University. To do so, you will need to apply to SFSU online at CSU Mentor at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/.
- must fill out the internal English Department application and submit it to the department. Download interactive PDF
If you currently ARE a matriculated MA student at SFSU, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you:
- do not need to apply to the University
- must fill out the internal English Department application and submit it to the department. To do so, please Download interactive PDF
When you fill out your online application through CSU Mentor, you will need to write, "Regular University Certificate Only," in the area that asks you to state "Major/Program Objective." The program code is 831902.
The deadline to apply for Fall semester is May 1; the deadline to apply for Spring semester is November 1.
The phone number for the Graduate Division is (415) 338-2234.
Certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading
This certificate has been 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.
For a more detailed description of the program, click here.
Application Procedures
If you currently are NOT a matriculated MA student at SFSU, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you:
- must apply to the University. To do so, you will need to apply to SFSU online at CSU Mentor at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/.
- must fill out the internal English Department application and submit it to the department. To do so, please click here.
If you currently ARE a matriculated MA student at SFSU, and you wish to apply for admission to the program, you:
- do not need to apply to the University
- must fill out the internal English Department application and submit it to the department. To do so, please click here.
When you fill out your online application through CSU Mentor, you will need to write, "Regular University Certificate Only," in the area that asks you to state "Major/Program Objective." The program code is 831902.
The deadline to apply for Fall semester is May 1; the deadline to apply for Spring semester is November 1.
The phone number for the Graduate Division is (415) 338-2234.
For more information on the Reading Certificate, please go to http://online.sfsu.edu/~hpg4481/
