Graduate Degrees in Bilingual Education

The purpose of the Bilingual Education graduate degree program(s) is to prepare teachers for ESL or bilingual early childhood, elementary or secondary classrooms. They are designed to prepare reflective practitioners to work with English Language Learners (ELLs) in multicultural environments who:

• Reflect on and evaluate the effects of their choices and actions on the educational community and who actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally;
• Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills;
• Understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners;
• Understand and use formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the intellectual and social development of the learner;
• Foster relationships with colleagues, families, and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well-being.

An initial licensure with a master's degree is also available for those individuals who have bachelor's degrees in other disciplines and want to acquire an Illinois Teaching License in Elementary/Bilingual Education.

Master of Science in Bilingual Education

The Bilingual Education program offers a Master of Science in Education degree in Bilingual Education for Illinois licensed teachers seeking an M.S. Ed. and bilingual and/or ESL state approvals.

Master of Science Degree in Bilingual Education Total of 36 Credit Hours
Professional Education Courses
Discipline	Course Number	Credit Hours	Course Title	Field Hours	Prerequisite
BIL	5240	3	Language and Learning	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5050	3	Studies in Cross/Cultural Education	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5720	3	Evaluation, Assessment and Testing for Language Minority Teachers	20	BIL 5700, BIL5100 & Consent of the Department
BIL	5700	3	History and Philosophy of Bilingual Education	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5740	3	Curriculum Design	None	Consent of the Department
ED	5960	3	Foundations of Educational Research	None	Taken after completion of 24 semester hours in a master's program
BIL	5300	3	Methods and Materials for Teaching in Bilingual Education	None	Proficiency in English and another language& consent of the department
BIL	5230	3	Reading & Language Arts in the Bilingual Classroom	15	Consent of the Department
BIL	5150	3	Foundations of Literacy in Linguistically Different Classrooms	None	BIL 5100 & Consent of the department
BIL	5100	3	Teaching ESL: Theoretical Foundations	None	BIL 5700 & Consent of the Department
BIL	5760	3	Best Practices in Bilingual Education.	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5800	3	Master Thesis	None	Consent of the Department

Master of Science in Bilingual Education + Licensure

The Bilingual Education program also offers programming for noncertified individuals seeking Initial Teacher Licensure with an Elementary  Endorsement along with bilingual and/or ESL approvals.

Master of Science in Bilingual Education Includes Teaching Licensure
Professional Education Courses
Discipline	Course Number	Credit Hours	Course Title	Field Hours	Prerequisite
ED	5312	3	Teaching w/ Technology	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5240	3	Language and Learning	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5700	3	History and Philosophy of  Bilingual Ed.	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5740	3	Curriculum Design	None	Consent of the Department
ED	5000	3	Philosophy of Education	10	Consent of the Department
PSYC	5830	3	Educational Psychology	10	Consent of the Department
S ED	5301	3	Characteristics of the Exceptional Child	15	Consent of the Department
BIL	5150	3	Foundations of Literacy in Linguistically Different Classrooms	None	BIL 5100 & Consent of the Department
BIL	5100	3	Teaching ESL: Theoretical Foundations	None	BIL 5700 & Consent of the Department
BIL	5050	3	Studies in Cross Cultural Education	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5720	3	Evaluation, Assessment and Testing for Language Minority Teachers	20	BIL 5700, BIL 5100 & Consent of the Department
PE	2040	3	Health/PE for Elementary	None	Consent of Department
***********Course Below Require Full Admissions Into the COE***********
Discipline	Course Number	Credit Hours	Course Title	Field Hours	Prerequisite
S ED	5303	2	Teaching Students  w/Except Needs	15	S ED 5301 & Consent of the Department
ELED	5170	3	Teaching Math Elementary School	10	MATH 1010, 1020; ELED 3010 or BIL 2000.
READ	5280	4	Teach Reading/ Language Arts	10	ELED 3010 or BIL 2000, and READ 3700 or BIL 5150. Consent of the Department
ELED or BIL	5190 or 5220	3	Teaching Literature and Humanities in Linguistically Diverse Classrooms	None	Admission into the College of Education
BIL or READ	5230 or 5160	3	Reading & Language Arts in the Bilingual Classroom	15	Admission into the College of Education
BIL	5300	3	Methods & Materials for Teaching in Bilingual Programs	25	Consent of the Department
BIL	5350	3	Methods & materials for Teaching ESL	20	ENG 5330 or BIL 5240
BIL	5400	3	Field Practicum	100	ELED 5170, ELED5180 or BIL 5300, BIL5350
ED	5960	3	Foundations of Educational Research	None	Taken after completion of 24 semester hours in a master's program & consent of the department
BIL	5760	3	Best Practices in Bilingual Education	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5800	3	Thesis	None	Consent of the Department
BIL	5450	6	Student Teaching	432hrs (A full semester)	Completion of all approved coursework, 3.0 GPA, passing of all state required exams