Introduction

Candidates who complete the MA in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) and Bilingual Education (CLD BE) endorsements will leave their program with greater understandings of crucial ideas and skills, including: 

• Asset-based, positive dispositions toward bilingual students, their linguistic practices, their families, and their communities 
• Critically informed perspectives on the history, laws, and social forces shaping the education of bilingual students in Colorado 
• Linguistic analysis of English and Spanish 
• Theories of language, bilingualism, and biliteracy development
• Practices to support access to rigorous content for bilingual students, to improve assessment and its application to instruction for bilingual students, and to leverage students’ bilingualism in teaching.

Recommendations for endorsements are made by the CLDE Program, but endorsement is granted by the State of Colorado. Individual state requirements vary and may include teaching experience and examinations in addition to a valid teaching credential. Students should consult with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) or another state in which they wish to be endorsed for the most updated endorsement requirements.

Per CDE requirements, the Bilingual Education Specialist Endorsement must be obtained after or in conjunction with the Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE). Students can concurrently complete the CLDE MA with both the CLDE and BES endorsements.

Program Requirements 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Core Courses
CLDE 5010	Foundations of Language & Culture in Education
CLDE 5070	Understanding Language in the Classroom	3
CLDE 5030	Language Development of Multilingual Learners: Advanced	3
CLDE 5050	Assessment & Advocacy for Multilingual Learners	3
CLDE 5824	Theories and Methods of Bilingual Education	3
Additional Required Courses
Choose one course related to Spanish pedagogy (consult with advisor)
Choose one course related to Spanish linguistics (consult with advisor)
Completing the MA Required Courses
CLDE 6912	Teacher Inquiry in Multilingual Classrooms	3
CLDE 5035	Connecting Multilingual Theories to Practice (Capstone to be written in Spanish for BES endorsement)	3
Total Hours		18

Culminating Experience:  Final Reflection

The Culminating Experience: Final Reflection is submitted at the end of your MA course of study as part of the capstone course, CLDE 5035 Connecting Multilingual Theories to Practice. The Culminating Experience is an electronic portfolio, where you show proficiency in meeting the TESOL and CDE standards by displaying and reflecting upon work that you have completed throughout the CLDE program.
Program Requirements and Courses

To complete the CLDE MA with Bilingual endorsement students must complete the appropriate course work as outlined in the tables. All courses require a grade of B- or better to count to the MA or endorsement and a 3.0 minimum GPA is required for graduation. If necessary, courses may be retaken for a better grade.

Course Scheduling

All CLDE courses are online. Because some classes are scheduled through the Modern Languages Department (Spanish), students should work with their Faculty Advisor about course selection and scheduling.

Planning

For practicing full-time teachers, we recommend taking one to two courses each fall and spring semester and up to two courses each summer. Some courses are offered only once per year.

Active Status

Students must complete their programs within seven years, maintaining a GPA of 3.0. Failure to enroll over three contiguous semesters will result in a requirement to submit readmission materials.