Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education
M.Ed. Area of Interest

The DFW area's rapidly growing multilingual student population demands educators equipped to support diverse language learners. With over 25% of DFW students classified as English language learners or Emergent Bilinguals, the need for qualified bilingual and ESL educators has never been greater. Our Bilingual and ESL Education courses empowers teachers to meet this critical need, as Texas now serves nearly one-fifth of the nation's multilingual learners. This program prepares practitioners to create inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms that nurture disciplinary literacy, linguistic diversity and academic excellence. It has been tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by DFW area's culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.

Throughout the program's coursework, students will explore bilingual and ESL education theories, policy, practice strategies for English language and biliteracy development, and master content-based language instruction techniques. By aligning with Texas state requirements, our program ensures students are fully prepared to make a meaningful impact in today's multicultural classrooms. As students progress, they will develop the skills to foster inclusive learning environments that celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity and prepare students for success in our increasingly interconnected world.

Upon completion of this program, teachers will be prepared to pass the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) exam and the TExES English as a Second Language (ESL) (154) Supplemental exam.

The four Bilingual and ESL Education courses (12 hours) can be completed in one year:

  • EDU-6319 Foundations of Bilingual and ESL Education (3 credit hours): This course addresses critical theory, policy, practice, and engagement strategies related to the education of multilingual learners in K-12 contexts in the United States.

  • EDU-6321 Bilingualism and Biliteracy: Critical Issues and Practices (3 credit hours): This course focuses on pedagogical skills to promote bilingualism and biliteracy in K-12 bilingual and dual-language classrooms.

  • EDU-6390 Content Instruction and Assessment for Multilingual Learners (3 credit hours): This course explores strategies for teaching English language and literacy while instructing across content areas, focusing on assessment for multilingual learners.

  • EDU - 6312 Language Acquisition and Use in the Classroom (3 credit hours): This course introduces basic linguistic concepts and their application in educational settings, emphasizing first-language acquisition and second-language learning processes.