Welcome to the Bilingual/Bicultural Education Page!
Program in Speech-Language Pathology
Teachers College Columbia University
Information for Students Interested in
Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations
Contact: Catherine J. Crowley, MA, CCC-SLP, JD
Distinguished Lecturer and Coordinator of the Bilingual/Bicultural Emphasis Track in the MS program in SLP and the Bilingual Extension Institute
212-678-3890 crowley@tc.columbia.edu
As a leading university in New York City, the faculty and clinical staff in the program in speech-language pathology at Teachers College Columbia University have a strong commitment to educating students so that as professionals they work effectively in a multicultural world. The knowledge and skills needed to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services are infused into our courses and clinical experiences. We understand and appreciate the value of having a multicultural student body and the richness that diversity brings to our classroom discussions and clinical experiences..
Bilingual/Bicultural Emphasis Track for the MS Program in SLP
Those students in the masters program in speech language pathology at Teachers College who wish to have a more in-depth experience can decide to follow the bilingual/bicultural emphasis track. Students who follow this track, and who are bilingual, can meet the New York State requirements for the bilingual extension certificate. Students only need to take one additional three-credit course to satisfy the requirements of the bilingual/bicultural emphasis track because this knowledge base is already infused into the curriculum of many of the required courses for the Masters program.
By following the bilingual/bicultural emphasis track, students will satisfy the coursework and field placement requirements for the bilingual extension to the New York State Teacher of Hearing Handicapped certificate. Under New York State Education Department regulations, the bilingual extension certificate is required to provide speech and language intervention for bilingual children and adolescents ages 3 through 21. This includes working in a school system in NYS as well as providing bilingual therapy in a private practice where funding comes from the NYC Department of Education or the NYS Education Department.
The requirements for the NYS bilingual extension certificate are infused into some of the required coursework for the master's of science program in speech-language pathology. As a result, bilingual/bicultural emphasis track students only need to take one addition three-credit course to meet the requirements of the track, and of the NYS Education Department bilingual extension certificate. The requirements are:
Clinical Experience for Masters Students in SLP
Most of the clients in the Edward D. Mysak Speech and Hearing Clinic in the speech-language pathology program are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Currently, two of our three clinical supervisors are bilingual, and both have completed the coursework for the bilingual extension certificate. In addition, the program has many contacts with high-quality bilingual speech-language pathologists, who supervise our students in off-campus practicum placements.
In addition to the bilingual clients, there are many clients and off-campus placements to apply the knowledge from the program to working with other culturally and linguistically diverse students.
The Bilingual Extension Institute
Bilingual speech-language providers who are not part of the masters program in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, may participate in the Bilingual Extension Institute. The Institute is an intensive program designed to provide bilingual speech-language pathologists with the knowledge and skills needed to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to bilingual children and adolescents. The Bilingual Extension Institute is co-sponsored by the Department of Biobehavioral Studies and the Center of Educational Outreach & Innovation. It is approved for non-matriculated, non-degree bilingual speech-language providers.
The eight-person faculty are all highly experienced speech-language pathologists and linguistics who have extensive experience working with bilingual and other culturally and linguistically diverse students. Ms. Catherine Crowley is the coordinator.
This Institute satisfies the academic and field-experience requirements of the New York State Education Department for the bilingual extension to the Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped teaching certificate. It is designed to train students in areas of study that are needed by bilingual speech-language clinicians working with culturally and linguistically diverse children and adolescents. Great effort is made to connect lectures, presentations, discussions and hands-on experience in class to the experience of clinical work in schools. In addition, project-based learning brings theory and practice out of the classroom and into the everyday clinical work of the participants (and vice versa). The Institute meets for six weekends in May, June, September, October, November and December and is taught by its eight-person faculty.