Academic Programs

Adult female meeting with female student at a table with a laptop and coffee cups

Admissions

De Witt Center for Science and Technology at Cornerstone University

Tuition & Financial Aid

Students giving high fives after Powderpuff football game

Student Experience

Newsweek's 2025 Best Online Colleges

Online

A Cornerstone University student teaches English as a second language (ESL) in a classroom setting. A Cornerstone University student teaches English as a second language (ESL) in a classroom setting. A Cornerstone University student teaches English as a second language (ESL) in a classroom setting.

ESL Endorsement

Online

REQUEST INFORMATION

Loading...
Wall Street Journal ranks Cornerstone University as one of America's best colleges 2025.

100% Online
Transfer Friendly
Transfer up to 75% of your program credits

Expand Your Teaching Influence With an ESL Endorsement Online

If you’re passionate about helping students become proficient bilingual communicators, Cornerstone University’s ESL Endorsement equips you to make a lasting impact in education, community service or ministry. Designed for licensed teachers, this fully online program offers the flexibility to earn your certification in Michigan or beyond, thanks to state reciprocity. You’ll learn from experienced ESL and TESOL educators, gaining current strategies, tools, and research to support language learners. Rooted in a Christ-centered approach taught by experienced faculty, the program prepares you to teach with excellence, character, and compassion.

Develop Market-Ready Skills for ESL Endorsement Teaching Professionals

With the growing demand in Michigan for ESL holders, Cornerstone University’s respected 24-credit hour endorsement not only makes educators more marketable but also opens doors to specialized roles for those who have a Christ-centered passion to change lives through English language learning. Skills you will develop include:

Second Language Acquisition – Understand how students learn English and apply effective strategies to support language development.

Culturally Responsive Teaching – Create lessons that respect and reflect diverse cultural backgrounds from a Christian worldview.

Instructional Differentiation – Adapt teaching methods to meet the varied needs of English learners at different proficiency levels.

Language Assessment Literacy – Use tools to evaluate language growth and tailor instruction accordingly.

Bilingual Support Techniques – Implement strategies that support students’ native languages while building English fluency.

Classroom & Interpersonal Communication Skills – Foster clear, accessible communication to help English learners thrive in all subjects.

Legal and Program Knowledge – Navigate state and federal ESL requirements to advocate for and support English learners effectively.

Icon: Cross

Christian Worldview & Ethics – Integrate Christ-centered perspectives to frame all aspects of educational foundations and relationships to serve the community for Jesus Christ.

Courses

Cornerstone is ready to help you advance your current or future workplace goals, and our programs are designed in a seven-week format, 100% online, to fit your busy schedule. The courses below reflect the general education and industry-focused courses you will experience to achieve your ESL Endorsement.

Program Courses

LIN-525: Introduction to Linguistics

Explore the structure of human language and the key goals, methods, and topics of modern linguistics.

LIN-555: Sociolinguistics

Learn how language interacts with social and cultural factors like gender, age, and status, with a focus on bilingualism, dialects, and language variation in multilingual education.

LIN-556: Second Language Acquisition

Review how people learn a second language, examining key theories and the linguistic, cognitive, affective, cultural, and social factors that shape effective ESL teaching practices.

LIN-559: TESOL Lab

Apply learning in classrooms via a lab through a peer-coaching model focused on teaching, reflection, and growth.

LIN-565: TESOL Methodology I

Examine strategies for teaching key language components and skills, with hands-on practice in lesson planning and selecting materials for diverse ESL contexts.

LIN-566: TESOL Methodology II

Build on prior methods of study with a focus on curriculum design, course development, and assessment, while guiding students in refining their teaching philosophy and evaluating their instructional practices.

LIN-568: TESOL Methodology III

Focus on teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on micro-skills and how these skills work together. Students practice techniques to help learners build stronger, connected language abilities.

LIN-594: TESOL Capstone

Demonstrate key TESOL principles through a final project. Students choose a Thesis or Non-Thesis track; those pursuing a Michigan ESL endorsement must complete the Non-Thesis option with 60 practicum hours.

View all of the courses for your academic program.

Academic Catalog

General Education

A Christian Worldview of Liberal Arts and the G.O.O.D. Life

The humanities are integral to Cornerstone’s liberal arts approach, exploring culture, literature, history, and philosophy through a Christian worldview. Developed by our renowned Christian worldview scholars, students consider how to apply G.O.O.D. Life Biblical principles to inspire their spiritual growth and to profoundly influence society, industry and ministry for Jesus Christ. Our G.O.O.D. Life foundations guide students to answer life’s biggest questions from a rich Biblical perspective to shape Christ-centered moral leaders.

  • God: Who is God? What is His beauty, goodness and greatness?
  • Others: What does it mean to live in a community with responsibility and grace?
  • Ourselves: Who am I? What is the beauty and frailty of being human?
  • Dual Citizenship: What is my role as a citizen of heaven and earth?
  • Life: How do we live, know, and love the good life, valuing truth, beauty, and goodness?

Steps for Michigan Teachers

After finishing the ESL endorsement or M.A. in TESOL program, students need to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification’s English as a Second Language (126) test. To add your ESL credentials to your teaching certificate, you’ll need to begin the process by submitting your application through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).

Influential Careers with an ESL Endorsement Online

  • ESL or General Education Classroom Teacher
  • ESL Program Coordinator
  • Instructional Coach for ELs
  • Adult and Online ESL Instructor
  • ELL Curriculum Specialist
  • Missionary or International Educator
  • Language Program Administrator
  • Corporate Language Trainer
  • Healthcare English Instructor
  • Cross-cultural Ministry Educator

Tuition

Online

$12,360 total cost for ESL Endorsement

Your Next Steps

Our experienced team is ready to help you begin your educational journey with Cornerstone University. The following are the admissions steps and important information you need to get you started.

  1. Apply — our application is free.
    No GRE or GMAT required.
  2. Submit your undergraduate or military transcripts.
    A completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA from an accredited institution is required.
  3. Set goals.
    Your admissions counselor is here to guide you. Call us at 616.426.9924.

Cornerstone University

Hours

MON - FRI: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SAT & SUN: Closed

Want To Learn More About CU?

Connect With CU