Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, MA
Introduction
The MA in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) is a 30 credit hour program that provides students with the opportunity to personalize coursework to your specific needs as a professional educator. Students take the required concentration core courses (9 credit hours). Then, in consultation and with approval from your faculty advisor, students select five courses from the Thematic Course Categories list to customize their learning (15 credit hours). Finally, students take the required research course (3 credit hours) and then complete a Capstone course (3 credit hours), for a total of 30 credits. A current teaching license is not required.
Candidates who complete the MA in CLDE will leave their programs with greater understandings of crucial ideas and skills for working with CLDE students, including:
- Asset-based dispositions toward bilingual students, their linguistic practices, their families, and their communities
- Theories of language, bilingualism, and second language acquisition and their application to the classroom
- Practices that support access to rigorous content for bilingual students, to improve assessment, to enhance language and literacy development for bilingual students, and to leverage students’ bilingualism in teaching.
Program Requirements
The Customizable degree plan does not include a license or an endorsement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| CLDE 5010 | Foundations of Language & Culture in Education | 3 |
| or CLDE 5160 | History & Law of Bilingual & Immigrant Education | |
| Language and Linguistic Courses | ||
| CLDE 5030 | Language Development of Multilingual Learners: Advanced | 3 |
| or CLDE 5070 | Understanding Language in the Classroom | |
| Pedagogy Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Teaching Multilingual Learners, Advanced | ||
| Methods of Content Teaching for Bilingual Learners | ||
| Assessment & Advocacy for Multilingual Learners | ||
| Thematic Course Categories Credits | ||
| https://education.ucdenver.edu/academic-services/student-resources/thematic-course-categories | ||
| Course 1 | 3 | |
| Course 2 | 3 | |
| Course 3 | 3 | |
| Course 4 | 3 | |
| Course 5 | 3 | |
| Research Course | ||
| CLDE 6912 | Teacher Inquiry in Multilingual Classrooms | 3 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| CLDE 5035 | Connecting Multilingual Theories to Practice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
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 program and earn a master's degree 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 and a 3.0 minimum GPA is required for graduation. If necessary, courses may be retaken for a better grade.
Course Scheduling
During the fall and spring semesters, most courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening and meet for three hours once a week over a 16-week semester. Courses are offered in various formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, or online classes. In the summer semester, eight-week sessions are offered, and courses may be in the morning, afternoon or evening, hybrid, or online.
Planning
For practicing full-time teachers, we recommend taking one - 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. Students typically take four courses each calendar year. Failure to enroll over three contiguous semesters will result in a requirement to submit readmission materials.