ESL Certificates

What certificates can I earn if I study ESL at SWC?

There are four different certificates you can earn in ESL at Southwestern College. Two of them are credit certificates, and two of them are noncredit. See below for details.

Noncredit ESL Certificates

Entry Level ESL Certificate of Completion

Completion of the three sequenced ESL noncredit courses will give students the skills necessary to be ready for more advanced ESL training, entry into career technical certificate programs, or immediate entry-level English skills for employment.

NC 108 BASIC ESL I 32 hours
NC 109 BASIC ESL II 32 hours
NC 110 BASIC ESL III 32 hours

ESL College Readiness Certificate of Completion

Completion of these ESL noncredit courses will give students the necessary college literacy development and college readiness skills for success in college. This certificate program focuses on successful student strategies, public speaking, and critical thinking skills by interpreting, constructing, and communicating meaning through reading, writing, and computer literacy skills. This certificate of completion includes a two to three course sequence of noncredit ESL classes that will give students the necessary college literacy development and college readiness skills for success in college including introduction to successful student strategies, public speaking, and critical thinking skills by interpreting, constructing, and communicating meaning through reading, writing, and computer literacy skills.

NC 109 Basic ESL II 32 hours
NC 220 Transitioning to College ESL 24 hours
NC 221 Computers and Technology for ESL 18 hours

Credit ESL Certificates

ESL Communication of Certificate of Achievement

Certificate of Achievement
Transfer Preparation (Major Code: 01411)

The ESL Communication Certificate is for students with the goal of achieving a mastery of English language skills at the college level, sufficient to thrive in any professional, undergraduate, or graduate level setting where English is the dominant language.

After completion of this certificate, students may choose to continue their undergraduate study to complete a degree or transfer to a university. Students will already have achieved completed coursework that fulfills general education for SWC, CSUGE, IGETC, and/or four-year universities.

Section 1: Required ESL Courses - 9 units

Section 2: English Composition Course - 4 units

Select ONE of the following:

ESL 115A COLLEGE COMPOSITION FOR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS 4 units
ENGL 115 COLLEGE COMPOSITION: READING AND WRITING ANALYTICALLY 4 units
ENGL 115H HONORS COLLEGE COMPOSITION: READING AND WRITING ANALYTICALLY 4 units

Section 3: Communication Course - 3 units

Select ONE of the following:

COMM 103 ORAL COMMUNICATION 3 units
COMM 104 PUBLIC SPEAKING 3 units
COMM 160 ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE 3 units
COMM 176 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 3 units
COMM 200 INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY 3 units

Total Units 16

Click here for more information about this certificate.

Spanish-to-English Associate Teacher Certificate of Proficiency

Certificate of Proficiency
Career/Technical (Major Code: 02723)

The Spanish-to-English teacher certificate meets the academic requirements for the associate teacher permit through the State Department of Education and Child Development Division. This certificate is comprised of four-core classes in child development, which are linked to four English as a Second Language courses. The program is designed for students to learn child development concepts while acquiring English language skills. The child development courses will begin with predominantly Spanish instruction. As students progress through the courses, English instruction will increase as their English proficiency increases. This is a sequential program in which students form a community of learners starting and ending the program together. Upon completion of this certificate, students may either choose to seek employment or complete the child development teacher certificate offered in English.

FIRST SEMESTER - 5 units

CD 170 PRINCIPLES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3 units
ESL 27A ESL FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT: PRINCIPLES OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2 units

SECOND SEMESTER - 4 units

CD 180 OBSERVATION AND GUIDANCE FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3 units
ESL 27B ESL FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT: CHILD GUIDANCE 1 unit

THIRD SEMESTER - 4 units

CD 181 CURRICULUM PLANNING FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3 units
ESL 27C ESL FOR CURRICULUM 1 unit

FOURTH SEMESTER - 4 units

CD 284 CHILD, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY 3 units
ESL 27D ESL FOR CHILD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY 1 unit

Total Units 17