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Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

Graduate Certificate

Increase Your Value in Today's Diverse and Globalized Educational Environments

The graduate Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) certificate is a 16-credit program that prepares you to teach Chinese as a Foreign Language in international settings, or Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) in domestic settings in adult education or other contexts in which a teaching license is not required.

Participants take five courses, including one with an experiential component which will allow you to apply concepts and skills you've learned by working one-on-one with an English language learner. The certificate program can be completed in two semesters as a full-time student, or longer if you are a working professional. This program is not associated with a teaching license.

Application Process and Admission Requirements:

Applicants must apply to the University of Northern Colorado Graduate School before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. 

Graduate Admission Process

Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the graduate school then sent to the faculty/program for an admission decision. A completed application typically takes four to six weeks to process.

International Applicants

All international (non-U.S. citizen) applicants will also need to prepare the following for your application:

  • Demonstration of Language proficiency or petition for exemption (UNC’s institutional code is 4074).

UNC’s minimum scores:

  • TOEFL 80
  • IELTS 6.5
  • PTE: 60
  • UNC Intensive English Program Level 7

Copy of passport bio page** (you will upload this after you have completed and submitted the online application.)

Financial Documentation**– we will need to verify that you can financially cover the estimated costs (tuition, fees, room, board, insurance, books, supplies, travel) of the time you will be in the U.S. Those applying to programs that last longer than one year will only need to provide proof for the first year at the time of application (you will upload this after you have completed and submitted the online application.

**Items marked with ** are only required for applicants who will be coming to the United States.

Catalog Listing

For more information about the admission process, please email the Graduate School & International Admissions at internationaladmissions@unco.edu, or call 970-351-2831.