Program Requirements — Bilingual-ESL Endorsement

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The Bilingual/ESL Endorsement program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the linguistic and academic needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). The program combines classroom study with on-the-job assignments that enable students to test theory against practical reality while meeting the state required 100 clinical hours.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires 18 semester hours for each endorsement: Bilingual Endorsement and ESL Endorsement and 100 hours of clinical experience.  At Aurora University, the 18 semester hours in Bilingual/ESL Education meets the requirements for both endorsements. Those earning a Bilingual Endorsement must pass a language proficiency test in the target language. The test is administered by the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) and required by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Admission Requirements-Bilingual/English as a Second Language Endorsement
The Bilingual/ESL Endorsement courses are offered at the graduate level. The 18 semester hours are part of a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (M.A.C.I.) with Bilingual/ESL Education.

Prior to admission to the College of Education, students must meet the following requirements:

Complete set of official undergraduate and graduate college transcripts and/or original ECE or WES transcript evaluation in sealed envelopes. The transcript or evaluation must indicate a completed US bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum 2.75 GPA.

One letter of recommendation.

Submit a completed graduate application and be accepted to Aurora University. After admission, the candidate must maintain a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Bilingual Endorsement Course Requirements:

  • EDU6110 Foundations for Language Minority Education(3)
  • EDU6120 Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL (3)
  • EDU6130 Cross Cultural Studies for Teaching ELLs (3)
  • EDU6140 Assessment of Bilingual Students (3)
  • EDU6170 Methods and Materials for Teaching ELLs (3)
  • Elective EDU 6150 Linguistics (3) from ESL Endorsement Courses

The English As A Second Language Endorsement Course Requirements:

  • EDU6110 Foundations for Language Minority Education (3)
  • EDU6120 Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL (3)
  • EDU6130 Cross Cultural Studies for Teaching ELL (3)
  • EDU6140 Assessment of Bilingual Students (3)
  • EDU6150 Linguistics (3)
  • Elective EDU 6170 Methods and Materials for Tchg. Ells (3) from Bilingual Endorsement Courses

The Bilingual/ESL Program at Aurora University is designed to complete the requirements for both endorsements with a total of 18 semester hours and 100 clinical hours embedded in the coursework.