About this program
Program accreditation
This program is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Education and Licensing Standards Board (PELSB) to meet the Standards of Effective Practice for Beginning Teachers as part of the requirements for being licensed to teach in a specific subject area.
The School of Urban Education has not made a determination that this program meets the education requirements for licensure for any other states or US protectorate.
Expand your credentials to serve the needs of increasing immigrant and refugee populations to learn English for success in school and life. Gain an additional Minnesota teaching license for grades K-12 ESL and your Masters degree. Our flexible program also allows you to complete only the additional K12 ESL licensure program if you are not interested in the Masters, or only the Masters degree without licensure if you just want more understanding and skill in working with English learners of any age.
Our approach to teacher education focuses on preparing diverse, reflective and resilient teachers who are outstanding in their commitment to teaching urban youth and creating equitable educational opportunities. While this program is primarily designed to meet the needs of urban elementary, middle and high schools for licensed ESL teachers who can improve students' educational achievement, others who work with English learners outside of the K-12 school setting will find this concentration worthwhile in our Urban Education Masters degree.
Student outcomes
Students successfully completing this program will meet the following standards for ESL licensure:
- understands a variety of methods, techniques, and program models suitable for second language instruction with diverse learners including adapting existing materials to meet the needs of English learners.
- uses various content-based methodologies and integrates language acquisition and use of language functions across learning experiences to facilitate full inclusion of English learners in the school setting.
- communicates successfully with students, parents, colleagues, and community members.
- understands communication instruction in the second language context and the importance of developing communication skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing across the curriculum.
- understands and uses formal and informal second language assessment techniques with criteria to determine appropriate placement and to evaluate the progress of English learners.
- understands the contributions of general and applied linguistics to second language education.
- understands the fundamentals of the first and second language acquisition processes and their similarities and differences.
- understands how the historical, social, and political aspects of language and cultural patterns in the United States influence second language instruction.
- understands the teaching of English as a second language that integrates understanding of English as a second language with the teacher's understanding of pedagogy, students, learning, classroom management, and professional development.