The ESL Program Specialist Certification program consists of 5 core courses, totaling 15 credits.

  • Candidates may take the first four courses (EDUC 466, 467, 468, and 469) in any order.
  • The fourth course (EDUC 469) must be taken before the fifth course (EDUC 475).

EDUC 466 FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (3) - An introduction to the legal, historical, and cultural implications of ESL, including the fundamentals of developing English language skills, an overview of second language acquisition, and multicultural education.

EDUC 467 ENGLISH LANGUAGE STRUCTURE FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHERS (3) - An in-depth study of general linguistic concepts and their application to ESL pedagogy. A review of the major ideas related to linguistic analysis of grammar and dialect with a focus on syntax and discourse, language and communication, and evaluative classroom instruments used to measure student progress.

EDUC 468 LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHERS (3) – In depth study of the process involved in the acquisition and development of first language interrelations between psycholinguistics and cognition. Development of an understanding of the process involved in the acquisition and development of language, including learning a second language, differences in how children, adolescents, and adults learn language, and evaluative classroom instruments to measure student progress.

EDUC 469 TEACHING METHODS AND ASSESSMENT OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (3) – Preparation for ESL teaching through the study of: (1) trends, major theories, methodologies, and assessment in second language learning; (2) second language teaching approaches applicable to elementary, middle, and high school students; (3) materials development and evaluation, and (4) the exploration of teacher action research in the ESL classroom. Development of a broad base of knowledge and skills to increase teacher effectiveness in meeting the needs of diverse learners through appropriate instructional, curricular, and behavioral strategies.

EDUC 475 ESL LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY (3) - ESL Leadership is the final capstone course for the ESL Specialist and Leadership Certification program for graduate and non-degree candidates in the ESL Program grant program. This hybrid course involves online readings and discussions about ESL and field-based action research in PreK-12 educational settings with English language learners (ELLs).