The Middlebury Institute Language Program Administration (LPA) certificate and specialization prepare students for administrative roles in language programs or schools.

The program focuses on skills specific to administration within a language program context and covers directing language programs, training teachers and aides, evaluating program effectiveness, budgeting, and marketing.

Overview

The specialization program is designed for Middlebury Institute students in our TESOL, Teaching Foreign Language, and International Education Management master’s degree programs. Students in other programs with extensive language teaching experience or language education coursework may also be eligible.

The certificate program is a stand-alone course of study for nondegree students. It is designed for those with extensive language teaching experience and language education coursework. Individuals interested in the stand-alone certificate should have a graduate degree in TESOL or Teaching Foreign Language, but those with similar training and experience may also be appropriate candidates.

Study In Person and/or Online

Your courses are available in person and online. Any LPA courses available through our online TESOL master’s program are self-paced (asynchronous) so you can schedule them at a time that works for you. All other courses you want to take online will be live (synchronous) so you will have to keep time zones in mind. The faculty, curriculum, and per-credit cost are the same for both versions of the program so you will have the flexibility to study online or in person, or easily switch between the two experiences as your personal and professional needs allow.

Curriculum

Certificate

The certificate consists of 16 graduate credits, including electives. Some courses may be offered online during the January term. Course requirements for the stand-alone certificate for the nondegree students are as follows:

  • Introduction to Language Program Administration (LPA) (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Education (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Supervision (2 credits)

  • Finance Functions (4 credits) or Managing People and Resources in Cross-Cultural Context (3 credits)

  • International Marketing and Recruiting (3 credits)

  • Electives (3–4 credits)

Specialization for TESOL and TFL students

TESOL and TFL degree students take the following classes in addition to their degree requirements:

  • Introduction to LPA (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Education (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Supervision (2 credits)

  • Finance Functions (3 credits) or Managing People and Resources in Cross-Cultural Context (3 credits)

  • International Marketing and Recruiting (3 credits)

  • Electives (4 credits)

Specialization for IEM students

  • International Education Management degree students take the following 20 credits of course work in addition to their degree requirements:

  • Principles and Practices of Language Teaching I (4 credits)

  • Principles and Practices of Language Teaching II (4 credits)

  • Language Assessment (3 credits)

  • Language Analysis (3 credits)

  • Introduction to LPA (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Education (2 credits)

  • Language Teacher Supervision (2 credits)

Tuition

If you take 12–16 credits in a semester, you will be charged the full-time rate.

If you take 11 or fewer credits in a semester, you will be charged at the per credit rate:

Visit our tuition page for details of each rate.

How to Apply

Visit the MA in TESOL how to apply page for instructions but please note the admissions interview is not required for certificate students.

Questions