The 30-33 credit hour special education and ESL/bilingual program offers licensed teachers the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill to serve students with special learning needs. The special education coursework emphasizes theoretical and practical implications of identification, assessment and instruction of students with disabilities. By observation of and practice with students with disabilities in varied settings, teachers gain the expertise necessary to provide direct instruction to students with disabilities; monitor students' progress; conduct assessments; employ various methods and materials; and collaborate with families, various professionals and paraprofessionals.
The ESL/Bilingual program is designed for teachers who wish to enhance their knowledge and expertise in working with linguistically diverse students in school and community settings. Teachers in the program gain expertise necessary to provide direct instruction to students who are speakers of other languages; assess students who are speakers of other languages; employ various methods and materials; and collaborate with school personnel and families to serve students who are speakers of other languages.
Successful completion of this program leads to the Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I endorsement and either the ESL or the bilingual endorsement. Candidates pursuing the endorsements must be licensed educators. However, candidates who wish to pursue expertise in special education and ESL/bilingual education for other purposes are welcome.
Dual Endorsement Requirements
To earn the LBS I endorsement, teachers must earn credit in the courses listed below and pass the Learning Behavior Specialist I (#290) test through the Illinois State Board of Education.
- EDGSP 413: Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3)*
- EDGSP 520: Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3)
- EDGSP 524: Diagnostic Assessment for Educational Decision Making (3)
- EDGSP 525: Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities (6)
*It is common for teachers to have credit for this course from their initial teacher preparation.
The English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement course requirements (18 credit hours) and Bilingual Education Endorsement course requirements (18 credit hours) are:
- EDGTE 479: Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL and Bilingual Education (3)
- EDGTE 480: Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
- EDGTE 481: Cross-Cultural Studies in a Bilingual Program (3)
- EDGTE 483: Linguistics for Educators (3)
- EDGTE 484: Assessment of Bilingual Students (3)
- EDGTE 485: Methods of Teaching Bilingual Education (3)
The Illinois State Board of Education issues an endorsement for ESL and/or bilingual education upon successful completion of this program. No additional testing is required for ESL endorsement; however, passage of a language proficiency examination in the target language is required for the bilingual education endorsement. The language proficiency test must be passed prior to graduation for bilingual education to be specified in the Dual Endorsement Master's degree. No petition may be filed post-graduation for bilingual education to appear on the transcript notation of the degree.
Requirements in this program are subject to change within the time span of one's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.