In our increasingly diverse world, the study of multiple languages-in-education is in demand.  The Program in Bilingual/Bicultural Education acknowledges the need to provide students with a foundation for understanding and working with bilingual learners in diverse educational settings. Our program specializes in education that privileges language minority student populations in the U.S. and in the world.

Students who select the course of study offered by our program will be prepared to work in schools, community organizations, and international agencies as teachers, specialists, consultants, curriculum designers, and evaluators.  Students may also pursue an interest in policy and research and/or continue further studies. 

 

Through our courses, students will examine the phenomenon of multiple languages and cultures in schools, classrooms, and communities within local and global contexts. The courses will allow students to explore interests in teaching in schools where more than one language and culture are part of the curriculum, particularly within the multilingual, multicultural city schools of New York, and to explore how the local and unique situations of schools connect to those found in other parts of the world. Furthermore, students can observe and work in enrichment language education models that will enable them to develop the understanding and working knowledge necessary to educate language minorities while working with the goal of developing proficiency in more than one language for both language-majority and minority-students.  Students will examine the nature of cross-cultural understanding and knowledge, as it provides support and access for language minority school populations to respect, develop, and preserve their languages within educational settings, to develop and strengthen their identities, and to go beyond their selves to engage in the world as productive citizens. The courses will also help students explore their place within the context of the presence of multiple language and cultures in schools and communities and in promoting diversity in thinking and social justice in the U.S. and beyond.

 

Courses within the different departments will allow students to explore the distinction between regular general education teaching and teaching in settings where the curriculum is taught in more than one language, second language learning theory, literacy, and interdisciplinary intellectual endeavors.

 

Students will plan an appropriate course of study, according to their background, knowledge, and experiences and in relation to their future goals, with their advisor.  Students are strongly advised to plan the whole curriculum during their first semester, so as to meet all requirements and to enjoy the multiple possible field experiences in educational settings. Students are also urged to go to the program website (www.tc.edu/academic/its/bilingual) for FAQ’s to explore the multiple strands available at the MA level, New York State requirements for certification, the doctoral program, and distinctions in the different fields of study that might be important in the selection of the area of Bilingual/Bicultural Education as a major.

 

Courses of study:

 

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may pursue a course of study that leads to NY State certification.  Students ought to choose a course of study based on their previous studies and experiences and career goals.  The following section describes offerings in the Program in Bilingual/Bicultural Education:

 

• M.A. in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies 

 

This 33-point course of study provides students with flexibility to pursue a policy, research, or teaching strand. The program is fully registered with the New York State Education Department.  The teaching strand within this course of study does not lead to NY State certification.

 

• M.A. in Bilingual/Bicultural Childhood Education (Dual Certification)

 

For students with no teacher certification who want to teach in elementary schools. This course of study aims to prepare educators to work in bilingual settings that privilege the education of language-minority students. It leads to NY State certification in Childhood Education (grades 1-6) with a Bilingual Education extension. It also has the potential for extending dual certification to include Middle Childhood Education certification (grades 7-9); interested students should discuss this possibility with an advisor. Within the course of study are two streams:

 

a. Stream A is for students without prior experience in education and requires 40 points of course work.

 

b. Stream B, for students who have student-taught, have taught full-time for a minimum of one year, or are presently teaching, requires 33 points of courses.

 

• M.A. Program in Bilingual/Bicultural Childhood Education (Transitional B Certification)

 

Peace Corps Fellows with no teacher certification who want to teach in elementary schools may pursue the 33-point Transitional B course of study. This course of study aims to prepare educators to work in bilingual settings that privilege the education of language-minority students in low-resource schools. The pro-gram meets the requirements for NY State certification in Childhood Education (grades 1-6) with a Bilingual Education extension and has the potential for extending dual certification to include Middle Childhood Education certification (grades 7-9). Only students approved by the Peace Corps Fellows Program (www.tc.columbia.edu/pcfellows) are eligible for admission. As part of the program, students must complete a special intensive 200-hour pre-component in the summer and be placed in a school as a teacher.  Students will receive supplementary mentoring throughout the year.

 

• M.A. Program in Bilingual/Bicultural Education (Initial Certification)

 

Students who have teacher certification in any area and an interest in a Bilingual Extension should follow this 33-point course of study. This program aims to prepare educators to work in bilingual settings that privilege the education of language minority students. It leads to NY State professional certification in the area in which students already hold certification and, in addition, leads to Bilingual certification. Students who have teaching certificates in elementary or secondary education can also pursue Middle Childhood Education certification (grades 7-9).

 

• Advanced Certificate in Bilingual/Bicultural Education 

 

The 15-point Advanced Certificate course of study is for students who are pursuing NY State teacher certification in another area or who already hold NY State teacher certification. In addition, students who hold baccalaureate degrees but do not wish to pursue master’s degrees may enroll. The course of study leads to NY State Bilingual Extension certification.