MA Curriculum and Instruction, ESL and Bilingual Endorsements

Concordia University Chicago's Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual endorsements develops thoughtful practitioners and leaders equipped with strong theoretical and pedagogical knowledge to work with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

This program achieves a balance between the practical, everyday needs of teachers in the classroom and the knowledge and understanding necessary for candidates to develop as teacher leaders who are linguistically responsive and culturally competent professionals. Graduates are equipped to both envision and enact educational change for language learners throughout the country and abroad.

The program develops teachers with integrity to actively respect the learning of all students, understanding to recognize the importance and influence of culture in learning, skills to individualize instruction using linguistically responsive methods for students and their families, and awareness to engage in advocacy for their communities.

Program Learning Objectives

The program is designed to prepare graduates to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students in the PK-12 classroom. Coursework is oriented toward building competencies in praxis and pedagogy for teaching emergent bilingual learners as supported by research and theories. It aims to extend both theoretical and practical knowledge about teaching and learning English in order to meet the needs of teachers in diverse contexts and their students.

The curriculum prepares educators to be effective in improving student learning and development in their content area as well as the acquisition of English as an additional language. It is designed to help teachers:

• develop a multicultural perspective that fosters inclusive pedagogies
• understand the cultural, linguistic, and sociopolitical milieu and their contextual basis on the education and language acquisition of emergent bilingual learners
• demonstrate knowledge about the communicative and academic processes for language acquisition
• apply linguistically and culturally responsive strategies and equitable assessments within their pedagogy
• adopt a professional identity that is characterized by self-reflection, knowledge, skills, and leadership to effectively advocate for multilingual learners 

Program Requirements for the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with ESL and Bilingual endorsements

• Personal statement of 300-500 words describing your interest in the program, prior experience in ESL, bilingual education, or related field, and professional goals for pursuing the ESL or Bilingual endorsement
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Valid teaching license (or pursuing one)
• Completion of 18 credit hours for ESL endorsement and 21 credit hours for the Bilingual endorsement
• Master’s Capstone experience

Upon completion of the ESL strand of the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction or Master of Arts in ESL, candidates are eligible for the ESL endorsement to be attached to an existing standard teaching license offered by the State of Illinois. Candidates outside of Illinois should contact their state board of education for eligibility.

Candidates seeking the Bilingual endorsement within the state of Illinois must also take EDU 6635 Methods and Materials for Teaching in Bilingual Classrooms* and pass a language proficiency exam administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. Please refer to ISBE’s website if seeking additional information.

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*Prerequisite: Students seeking successful completion of EDU 6635 must be bilingual in a language other than English. Bilingual proficiency is defined as being able to demonstrate adequate speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills (in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context) in a non-English language for which transitional bilingual education is offered in Illinois.