Bilingual and English
as a Second Language

Teacher Certification

Career potential

The growing number of English language learners in Texas public schools has led to an increasing need for teachers qualified to teach in bilingual or English as a second language (ESL) programs. These programs serve 800,000 English language learners in Texas public schools.

Bilingual education uses the child's native language and English in all or part of the school curriculum. ESL instruction enables children who are not proficient in English to acquire academic proficiency in English.

The University of North Texas' bilingual and ESL teacher certification programs prepare you to address the affective, academic, linguistic and cognitive needs of English language learners. We accomplish this through specialized instruction and assessment. The program is aligned with state and national standards as well as the general requirements of our College of Education. In addition, most of the post-baccalaureate program courses are offered online. This makes it accessible if you work full time, live in a rural area or prefer the convenience of web-based instruction.

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023; 202-466-7496). This accreditation means we meet or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in education. The college is also one of the top producers of teachers, administrators, counselors, health professionals and other school professionals in Texas.

Certification opportunities

The undergraduate program is for students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with Generalist initial teacher certification and certification in:

• Bilingual education to teach in early childhood to sixth grade (EC-6)
• ESL education to teach in early childhood to sixth grade (EC-6)
• Math, science, social studies or language arts and reading and ESL certification to teach in fourth to eighth grades

The post-baccalaureate program is a route to initial teacher certification for noneducation majors in Generalist Education and:

• Bilingual education to teach in early childhood to sixth grade (EC-6)
• ESL education to teach in grades EC-6

More information is available at www.coe.unt.edu/teacher-education-andadministration/certifications.

Certified teachers may apply to the state to have ESL or bilingual education K-12 added to their initial certificate after completing 12 semester hours related to:

• Assessment of students
• The history and research of bilingual and ESL education
• Strategies to teach English language learners (ELL) or bilingual students
• Teaching reading to ELL students

Certified teachers can earn a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction or in Early Childhood Studies with a minor or cognate in ESL or bilingual education. This requires 36 hours of course work and enhances the knowledge and expertise of practicing teachers. The M.Ed. degree combines theoretical perspectives and research-based practice with multiple opportunities for field-based projects and action research. More information is at www.coe.unt.edu/tea.

Admission requirements

Undergraduate students must meet admission requirements for UNT as well as these requirements for the teacher education program:

• Minimum 2.75 overall GPA
• 60 earned hours (junior standing)
• Passing scores on the TASP/THEA examination (240-reading, 230-math and 220-writing) or SAT/ACT/TAKS test exemption
• Degree plan in process or completed

Graduate students must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School as well as these requirements for the certification program:

• Undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.8 overall GPA or a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work
• Passing scores on the TASP/THEA, ACT, SAT, GRE or appropriate substitute exam
• Passing scores on the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) for the bilingual certification to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish

To pursue the certification in English as a Second Language, proficiency in a second language is not required.

Program requirements

For undergraduate bilingual or ESL certification program, 133 hours are required. The courses related to the specialization are:

• EDBE 3470 Foundations of Bilingual and ESL Education
• EDBE 3480 Bilingualism/Multiculturalism for English Language Learning: Issues and Perspectives
• EDBE 4470 Curriculum and Assessment for Bilingual and ESL Education
• EDBE 4480 Bilingual Approaches to Content-Based Learning (bilingual education track only)
• EDBE 4490 Teaching ESL EC-12: Instructional Strategies and Resources
• LING 4030 Acquisition of English as a Second Language

For detailed course requirements, visit www.coe.unt.edu/sao and click on the undergraduate link.

For the post-baccalaureate program, you must complete 24 semester hours that include 6 semester hours of student teaching or advanced practicum.

• EDBE 5560 Fundamentals of Bilingual and ESL Education in EC-12 Settings
• EDBE 5570 Assessing Language and Content Learning in EC-12 Bilingual and ESL Education
• EDBE 5590 Pedagogy of English as a Second Language for EC-12 Classrooms
• EDEE 5105 Advanced Practicum and Mentorship in Bilingual/ESL Education
• EDEE 5115 Advanced Practicum and Mentorship in Bilingual/ESL Education

or

• EDEE 5101 Student Teaching in Pre-K through Grade 4
• EDEE 5102 Student Teaching in Pre-K through Grade 4
• EDEE 5840 Engaging Students in Learning

Bilingual education track only

• EDBE 5580 Curriculum for EC-8 Bilingual Education
• EDBE 5585 Teaching, Reading and Other Language Arts in Bilingual Education

ESL education track only

• EDBE 5582 Curriculum for EC-8 ESL Education
• EDRE 5070 Literacy Development for English Learners

For the undergraduate- and graduate-level certifications, you must also pass the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) tests:

• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities TExES exam (PPR)
• Bilingual generalist EC-6 TExES exam or ESL generalist EC-6 TExES exam
• Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test for Spanish and English bilingual education only

The TExES Advising Office provides information and practice opportunities on these tests. Visit www.coe.unt.edu/texes or call 940-369-8601 for more information.

Financial assistance

For undergraduate students pursuing bilingual or ESL certification, the TEACH Grant Program is available. This forgiveness loan of $4,000 per year is payable through teaching service in high need schools within eight years after graduation and certification. Students with a 3.25 minimum GPA or score in the 75th percentile in one of the portions of the SAT or ACT qualify to apply. For more information, contact rossana.boyd@unt.edu.

For information about the Educational Aide Exemption program and other state and federal financial aid for education students, visit www.hhloans.com or www.collegefortexans.com or call 800-242-3062.

General financial aid and scholarship information is available at financialaid.unt.edu or by calling 940-565-2302.