ESL Program Specialist K-12 Certificate

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The Department of Education offers a certificate program leading to an ESL Program Specialist K-12 Certificate.

This program is designed for pre-service candidates seeking further understanding of pedagogy, resources, methods, and curriculum designed to allow English Learners access to equitable educational opportunities. The program is a combination of coursework and field experiences that will reveal the importance of language and culture in the education of English Learners.

It affords students the advantages of a unique and practical curricular focus in curriculum and instruction supported by a constructivist course sequence that promotes individualized assessments, real application to current classroom practice, and applied research relevant to grade bands across the PK-12 continuum.

Student Learning Outcomes for the ESL Program Specialist K-12 Certificate Program:

Students will be able to:

Construct, implement, and evaluate educational programming for English Learners that considers the importance of language in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Construct, implement, and evaluate educational programming for English Learners that considers the importance of culture in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Consider how observing, planning, implementing, and managing instruction are essential practices for constructing appropriate learning opportunities for English Learners.
Develop a wide range of assessment practices appropriate for English Learners.
Demonstrate professionalism in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programming for English Learners and their families.

Course Scope and Sequence (16 credits)

Courses Taken after Provisional Acceptance

Courses Taken after Formal Acceptance:

Program Design and Admission Requirements:

To maximize credit, course, and scheduling efficiency, the program design utilizes a mix of 4 and 2 credit classes. Six new courses were created for this certification per the ESL program guidelines. All of these courses are offered through the Department of Education. Students may only declare their intent for this program after receiving provisional acceptance into the education major. The program consists of six courses, in total, for 16 credit hours and 60 hours of field placement. Students may only enroll in the 300-level classes, including the methods course and practicum, once they achieve formal acceptance into the major. ED 341 is a pre-requisite for the 300-level methods and field placement practicum courses. Candidates will also be encouraged to work with their academic advisor and the Director of Clinical Experiences to seek a student teaching placement (ED 470 ) which continues to enhance their professional development in ESL and their general certification area.