Designed for:

Endorsement:

Provides K-12 ESOL and Bilingual ESOL credential for licensed Oregon teachers. Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) identifies standards aligned to the Bilingual/ESOL educator endorsement.

Certificate:

The program is aligned to these standards but will not culminate in an educator endorsement as it targets support school personnel and other interested education professionals.

Both programs join a large portfolio of nationally accredited educator programs in the College of Education at Western Oregon University.

To start, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree (Note: students may also obtain the endorsement at the undergraduate level, in conjunction with a bachelor’s degree)

Finishing will take:

• 1 year or less
• 21 credits, which includes the completion of a 3-credit practicum (Endorsement)
• 18 credits (Certificate)

Begin your ESOL endorsement/certificate program:

• Next term

Where you will take classes:

• ESOL Online/distance fall, winter, spring, and summer

Licensing required:

Must hold a valid Oregon teaching license or be working towards your Master of Arts in Teaching license to obtain the endorsement.

Where this endorsement/certificate can take you:

• Better serve the needs of Emergent Bilinguals within any educational context
• Become a K-12 ELD/ESOL specialist

What you will learn:

This program prepares teachers to work effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse students in mainstream, sheltered, bilingual, and English Language Development (ELD) classrooms.

Learning outcomes:

• Prepare teachers and other education professionals to understand how first and second languages are acquired and developed and apply research-based teaching and assessment practices that address the needs of emerging bilingual students in a variety of school settings.
• Prepare teachers and other education professionals to foster a climate that is inclusive of all diversity and understand the influence of culture on students’ learning process and academic achievement.
• Prepare teachers and other education professionals who are knowledgeable about policies related to the education of emerging bilingual students and who collaborate with colleagues, administrators and families to meet learners’ needs.

As the demographics of the state change and the language minority population increases, teachers need to be prepared to educate culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. Teachers with bilingual/ESOL education credentials are in high demand and are usually first to be hired by school districts with high CLD populations. This program prepares teachers to work effectively with CLD students in mainstream, sheltered bilingual and English Language Development (ELD) classrooms.

Bilingual Teacher Program:

The Bilingual Teacher Program recruits, retains and recognizes bilingual students in teacher preparation programs at WOU. A variety of support services and opportunities are offered students pursuing the Bilingual/ESOL Endorsement, who are known as Bilingual Fellows. Learn more.

Deadlines and key dates:

• You may apply to the program any term.

Detailed application requirements:

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

• Application Fee $60
• Transcripts
  • You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
  • Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing MAT/GRE scores to be fully admitted.

• Current Resume
  • Save as PDF with your first and last name in the title.
• Personal Statement
  • Please provide a brief statement explaining your interest in a graduate degree in education, the content specialty area you are interested in pursuing, and how it will help you meet your current and/or future professional goals.
• Professional Characteristics Form
  • Review the professional characteristics document and upload it.

Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.

ESOL Endorsement/Certificate curriculum overview:

We strongly recommend that students take ED 681, ED 682, and ED 683 before all other courses. All candidates must pass the NES ESOL exam and complete the requirements of the ESOL practicum for credentialing. ED 609 is required to recommend for the endorsement.

Endorsement/Certificate program plans:

Once admitted to ESOL Endorsement Program, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Endorsement Program Plan (PDF form), you have a road map for completing your endorsement and clarity on what to expect. Students that wish to complete the Certificate program are not required to take the practicum courses.

*Students completing an endorsement, certificate, or specialization only are not eligible for federal financial aid.

ESOL Course Descriptions