The Bilingual and Dual Language Education program is designed for educators who are interested in supporting multilingual learners’ needs in both language and literacy development. This program responds to the implementation of the Massachusetts Act Relative to Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK Bill Act, 2017) and it is aligned with both the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Subject Matter Knowledge Indicators (SMK) for Bilingual Education and with the National Dual Language Education Teacher Preparation Standards (NDLETPS). The courses are offered completely online with the exception of the 75-hour supervised field experience.
Licensure & Endorsement
This BDL Endorsement course of study meets the Bilingual Education Endorsement & Graduate Certificate requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This BDL Endorsement course of study does not meet any licensure or endorsement requirements for any other U.S. state or territory. Contact Marialuisa Di Stefano, marialuisadi@umass.edu, for more information about how to determine whether this program will be appropriate for you. Access to your state’s licensing agency is available on the Teacher Licensure Agency Directory.
FAQs for students in the Western Massachusetts Bilingual Hub
Course of Study
To complete the Bilingual and Dual Language Education Program, students have the option to follow either the Endorsement or the Graduate Certificate track. Depending on prerequisite satisfaction and requirement completion, candidates also have the option to earn both the Endorsement and the Graduate Certificate at the same time.
BDL Education Endorsement (15 credits)
| Course Number | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 749 | Multilingualism & Society (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 615S | Language & Literacy Policy and Planning (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 697W | Special Topics – Critical Innovations in World & Second Language Curriculum Development (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 615L | Seminar in Cross-cultural Communication (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 698AP | Field Experience (in person) | 3 |
Prerequisites:
-
Bachelor’s Degree
-
Current teaching license in Massachusetts (minimum of an initial license in a general education area such as early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education)
Requirements upon completion:
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Candidates need to satisfy the partner language test requirement by achieving a passing score on the corresponding MTEL, or by passing the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) offered through the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
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Candidates need to satisfy 75 hours of a supervised field-based experience in a pre-K-12 dual language education, transitional bilingual education program, two-way immersion program, or another bilingual education setting for the EDUC 698AP course.
BDL Education Certificate (15 credits)
| Course Number | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 749 | Multilingualism & Society (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 615S | Language & Literacy Policy and Planning (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 697W | Special Topics – Critical Innovations in World & Second Language Curriculum Development (online) | 3 |
| EDUC 615L | Seminar in Cross-cultural Communication (online) | 3 |
| Electives (1-course minimum) | ||
| EDUC 698AP | Field Experience (in person) | 3 |
| EDUC 687 | Language Development and Literacy (online) | 3 |
Prerequisites:
-
Bachelor’s Degree
Instructions for enrolling in classes on SPIRE
- Create a student record. (You should not need to complete this step if you took a course in the previous semester.) Go to spire.umass.edu. On the right-hand menu, under Apply/References click on Non-Degree Enrollment Application and fill out the form there. You will receive an email with your NetID and password within three days.
- Create an enrollment appointment. Once you have received your NetID and password you can create an enrollment appointment by logging in to SPIRE with the NetID and password you received. Once logged in, navigate to Main Menu > Enrollment > Summer/Wntr/Non-degr Enroll Appt and follow the instructions. (It can take up to one day for SPIRE to recognize your NetID, so if you do not see these navigation options try the next day.)
- Register for classes. The enrollment appointment should be available immediately. Register for the class by logging in to SPIRE (spire.umass.edu) and navigate to Main Menu > Enrollment > Add Classes.
Questions about how to register? Contact UMass University Without Walls at regoff@oe.umass.edu, 413-545-3653, or 800-922-8211.
Completing the Program
Once you have registered for your fifth and final course, be sure to complete and return the Certificate Eligibility Form to dual-language@umass.edu.
Forms are due by the following dates for each degree conferral period:
- September Conferral: August 12
- February Conferral: November 26
- May Conferral: March 20
When completing your Certificate Eligibility Form, be sure to
- Use your UMass email address on the form
- Check your mailing address and name on SPIRE (This information will be used for your certificate.)
- Mark your degree conferral period based on the date following your final class
- Students completing their final class in the fall semester should mark February conferral
- Students completing their final class in the spring semester should mark May conferral
- Students completing their final class in the summer semester should mark September conferral
- Use "Teacher Education & Curriculum Studies” for "Department" even if you belong to another department on campus
- Use "Bilingual and Dual Language Education Graduate Certificate" for "Certificate Program"
- Leave the final grade blank for any courses still in progress - the Graduate School will fill this information in
Tuition and Fees
The University Without Walls (UWW) at UMass Amherst administers registration and payments for the Graduate Certificate. See also UWW Tuition and Fees webpage.
Tuition details (check the UWW tuition and fee webpage for updated rates)
University Without Walls (University+ or UWW/CPE) at UMass Amherst administers registration and payments for the graduate certificate.
- Tuition is currently at $631/credit*
- Tuition for each 3-credit course is $1893 plus applicable fees*
- Total tuition for the 5-course program is $9,465*
- There is also a $60/semester registration fee each term*
*Figures applicable as of Summer 2023 and may increase each term. Please check the course for specific costs.
Contact the Bursars Office at bursar@admin.umass.edu or call 413-545-0337 for questions about tuition, fees, payments, and discounts.
Tuition Waivers
Eligible Massachusetts state employees receive a 50% discount on tuition for UWW courses. For more information on tuition waivers, visit the UWW website or talk to your HR or union representative.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is not available for certificate programs.
Admissions
Application Timeline: We admit students to the program on a rolling basis. The first course is usually offered during the summer semester.
Degree Requirements and Required Application Materials
To apply to the Certificate Program, you must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree. Many applicants will have a master’s or doctoral degree. You may enroll in two courses as a non-degree student before you officially apply to the program.
Application Requirements
- Application form
- Personal statement
- Résumé/CV
- Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
- Two letters of reference
You may submit your materials electronically to dual-language@umass.edu or through the online application form. Please let us know if you have any questions about how to submit your materials electronically.
Transfer into a Graduate Program in Language, Literacy, and Culture
If, after you complete the requirements for the Bilingual and Dual Language Education Endorsement or Graduate Certificate, you may apply to and enroll in the graduate programs in the Language, Literacy, & Culture (LLC) Concentration. You will be able to apply all 15 credits to that program of study. Credits can be transferred directly into the Bilingual, ESL, & Multicultural Education M.Ed. and to the Reading & Writing M.Ed. For more information about these programs, contact dual-language@umass.edu or the LLC coordinator Dr. Theresa Y. Austin, taustin@umass.edu.
