The Bilingual/Bicultural Education program offers a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the linguistic, academic, social, and cultural needs of English language learners by addressing second language acquisition and bilingual/ESL educational theory, research, and practice. The foundation of the program rests on the sociopolitical, linguistic, and cultural implications of approaches to language education and language policies. The program offers two concentrations for state endorsement, bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL).
 
Degree Program
·          Master of Arts or Master of Education: Bilingual/Bicultural Education
 
Campus Location
·          Lincoln Park
 
Certification Option
·          An Illinois teaching certification option along with the master's degree is available. Consult program faculty.
 
Endorsements
·          Bilingual Education  (requires an Illinois proficiency test in the target language and English as a New Language test)
·          English as a Second Language (ESL) (requires an Illinois English as a New Language test)
 
Admission Requirements
·          A completed School of Education graduate application
·          A bachelor’s degree conferred by an accredited, recognized institution
·          A previous grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale
·          A resume or curriculum vitae
·          Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors
·          One official transcript from all colleges and/or universities attended
·          Statement of purpose indicating professional development goals and related experience (750 words)
 
Degree Requirements 
Courses  (52 quarter hours)
Three Social and Cultural Foundations courses (12 hours)
SCG 408          Education and the Social Order
SCG 410          Introduction to Research: Purposes, Issues and Methodologies
SCG 439          Philosophy and Psychology of Middle Level Education
 
Eight Bilingual/Bicultural courses (36 hours):
BBE 402          Bilingual-Bicultural Curriculum Development
BBE 404          Language, Literacy, and Culture
BBE 407          Equity Issues in Assessment
BBE 466          First and Second Language Acquisition 
BBE 425          Biliteracy, Language and Content in Bilingual Education 
BBE 510          Advanced Language Seminar(MED degree only)
BBE 406          Sociopolitical and Historical Perspectives in Bilingual Education

BBE 524           Methods of ESL Literacy and Language Development
BBE 526          Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL  
 
 
Research course (4 hours):
BBE 520          Research Methods in Bilingual and Second Language Education (prerequisite: SCG 410)
Field Experience Hours (0 hours):
BBE 097          Field Experiences in Bilingualand Second Language Education (non-credit)
 
Thesis/Oral Examination or Papers
Master of Arts.  The master’s thesis is written to fulfill the requirements of this course. Oral examination on thesis required.
BBE 589          Thesis Research in Bilingual/Bicultural Education (4 hours).
Master of Education: Capstone project in conjunction with faculty advisement
BBE 608          Capstone in Bilingual/Bicultural Education (non-credit)
 
Grade Requirements
·          To receive graduate credit for an upper-level undergraduate course a grade of B- or better must be attained.
·          A grade of C-, D+, or D is unacceptable for graduate credit in this program, and if earned in a required course must be repeated or substituted as directed by the department or program. Such grades remain on the academic record and are calculated into the cumulative GPA.
 
Endorsement Only
Courses (28 hrs for 1 endorsement,  32 hours for 2 endorsements)
BBE 402          Bilingual-Bicultural Curriculum Development
BBE 404          Language, Literacy, and Culture
BBE 407          Equity Issues in Assessment
BBE 425          Biliteracy, Language and Content in Bilingual Education 
BBE 466          First and Second Language Acquisition
BBE 524          Methods of ESL Literacy and Language Development  
BBE 406          Sociopolitical and Historical Perspectives in Bilingual Education (required for bilingual endorsement only)
OR
BBE 526          Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL 
(required for ESL endorsement only)
 
Endorsements in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Education require State of Illinois certification tests.