Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the bilingual certificate program in the Department of Teaching, Literacy, and Leadership are made to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students who do not fully meet admission requirements may be required to complete prerequisite courses concurrently with the completion of the program requirements. Admission is based on a comprehensive review of multiple criteria, including the following:

1. Possession of a master’s degree or higher.
2. New York state initial or professional certification for teaching early childhood education, childhood education, middle childhood education, adolescent education, a special subject, literacy, career and technical education, or students with disabilities in early childhood, or childhood, middle childhood, adolescent or speech and language disabilities.
3. Two letters of reference addressing the applicant’s potential to succeed in the teaching profession and in the bilingual certificate program course work.
4. Interview with the program director.
5. Demonstration of proficiency in English and the other language or an examination satisfactory to the department and consistent with the New York state certification guidelines. Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory score on the language proficiency examination are retested after remediation and are required to achieve a satisfactory score prior to completion of the program.

The department understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a student’s potential for success in the program. Candidates may wish to apply even if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience might compensate.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 18

• CT 226 - Linguistics for Teachers of English-Language Learners Semester Hours: 3

• or

• LYST 208 - Language, Culture and Identity: Literacy Issues for Teachers and Children Semester Hours: 3

• or

• SPCH 209 - Developmental Psycholinguistics Semester Hours: 3

•  

• CT 260 - Foundations, Theory and Practice of Bilingual Education Semester Hours: 3
• CT 265 - Methods and Materials in Bicultural Education Semester Hours: 3
• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language Semester Hours: 3
• LYST 213 - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for Children and Adolescents Semester Hours: 3

Field Experiences*

Supervised field experiences in designated schools are required in each of the following courses:

• CT 265 - Methods and Materials in Bicultural Education Semester Hours: 3

• 15 clock hours

• ELED 225 - Teaching English as a Second Language Semester Hours: 3

• 25 clock hours

• LYST 213 - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for Children and Adolescents Semester Hours: 3

• 10 clock hours

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all course work for the Advanced Certificate in Bilingual Education certification with an overall grade point average of 3.0.
2. No grades below B in required courses.
3. Completion of the 18 s.h. course work requirements with no fewer than 12 s.h. in residence.
4. Completion of a portfolio illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments.
5. All course work taken in satisfaction of the certificate requirements must have been completed within a three-year period.
6. Completion of all Education Law Seminars.

Footnotes

*A minimum of 50 clock hours of college supervised field experience is required. Students are placed in the setting specific to the foci of their base teaching certificates.  All field experiences are incorporated into the course curricula. Applications are obtainable from the Office of Field Placement and are due on May 1 for the succeeding spring semester and February 15 for the succeeding fall semester.   

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of degree requirements, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. Contact the Office of Educational Support Services, 129 Hagedorn Hall, for information regarding any required Educational Law seminars* and other certification requirements. Forms for applying for certification can be found at the Office of Educational Support Services Web page under the certification tab.

*Please note, as of July 1, 2013, the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education now require a new six-hour seminar for Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention, required under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA): http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/news/newsitem05162013.html.

To be eligible for the certification extension in bilingual education students are required to have passing scores on the appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). Please contact the Office of Educational Support Services for specific certification requirements.

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