Bilingual Education/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), M.Ed.

Major Code: 3762

The master’s degree in Bilingual Education-Bilingual Education/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) major is designed to prepare teachers to work with the ever increasing number of non- and limited-English-proficient students in Oklahoma’s schools. The program provides already-certified teachers the training to better assist K-12 English language learners who are struggling to survive and succeed academically. Graduates of the UCO Bilingual Education/TESOL Program are expected to become leaders who can apply their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the classroom setting, professional settings, and the community. The focus of the program coursework includes foundations of research, second language acquisition theory, cultural influences, historical and philosophical foundations of educational practices related to language minorities, current instructional and assessment practices across the curriculum, and grounding in English language structure and usage. Graduate students not holding Oklahoma teaching certification, but otherwise eligible for admission, will be required to complete alternative prerequisites.

Nationally accredited by the International TESOL Association and aligned with the TESOL P-12 Standards for Teacher Preparation, UCO’s Bilingual Education/TESOL Program objectives are designed to develop the following areas of competency:

1. Understanding of language as a system, including phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics, and semantics in support of ELLs language and literacy development.
2. Understanding and application of theory and research in language acquisition and development, and the application to academic proficiency for ELLs.
3. Knowledge, understanding, and use of major concepts, principles, theories and research related to the nature and role of culture as it affects English language learning.
4. Planning for effective, standards-based ESL and content instruction.
5. Implementing and managing effective, standards-based ESL and content instruction.
6. Using resources and technology effectively in ESL and content instruction.
7. Understanding of issues of assessment for English language learners.
8. Understanding of issues and practices in language proficiency assessment.
9. Understanding and application of effective and appropriate classroom-based assessment for ESL.
10. Understanding and application of ESL research and history
11. Understanding of the importance of engagement and commitment to continuous professional development, building of collegial partnerships, and advocacy for the benefit of ELLs and their community.