Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate
Stonehill's Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate, with or without endorsement, prepares teachers to create and lead inclusive learning environments and provide instruction in a bilingual setting. Candidates who qualify with state requirements can also earn the Massachusetts Bilingual Education Endorsement upon completion of the program.
Finish in 9 to 12 months. Fully online and hybrid options available.
Upcoming Application Deadlines
- Summer Semester: May 1, 2025
- Fall Semester: August 1, 2025
- Spring Semester: January 1, 2026
15-Credit Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Education
The Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate Program prepares teachers to be leaders and critical thinkers. Schools today are complex and diverse communities — reflecting a landscape rich with individual differences. Teachers in our program are prepared using a unique combination of theoretical and practical experiences. This approach ensures their ability to create and lead equitable spaces where difference is valued while at the same time preparing them for the realities and challenges of the classroom and the profession.
In this program, students will:
- Explore the history, theory and equity of bilingual and dual language education, focusing on political, legal and cultural perspectives.
- Learn about inclusive instructional design with a focus on culturally responsive practices for bilingual classrooms.
- Study principles of language acquisition, bilingual literacy and strategies to support oral and written language development in bilingual settings.
- Delve into effective, equitable assessment practices for multilingual learners, addressing cultural and linguistic differences in assessment.
This program includes late afternoon, evening and weekend course options and is ideal for working professionals. It can be completed fully online or with a mix of in-person and online courses. Pursuing a 15-credit graduate certificate may qualify Massachusetts educators for a salary lane change (master's+15 credits).
Why Graduate Teacher Education at Stonehill
- Focus on educational equity and diversity helps better prepare educators for the modern classroom
- A core of foundational courses ensures our graduates gain the skills to teach all students
- Faculty with well-established expertise in field
- Experiential learning via research, partnership and community opportunities
- Specialized student support framework guides students through program requirements and career preparation
Curriculum Keeps Inclusivity at the Center
The 15-credit Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate, with or without endorsement, features a selection of specialized courses focused on preparing educators to create and lead an inclusive classroom environment for bilingual learners. This program includes a mix of in-person and online courses.
This course will provide students with the opportunity to explore the educational foundations of bilingual and dual language education through an equity lens. Students will examine the history of language education throughout the world, specifically looking at the history and theoretical foundations of language education in the United States, including the political contexts and legal foundations. Students will explore multidisciplinary perspectives on bilingualism and biculturalism and will analyze equity within bilingual and dual language education programs.
This course will expand students’ knowledge of inclusive instructional design. Students will explore key themes of culturally responsive teaching and will learn how to integrate these practices into the inclusive bilingual classroom. Students will design and implement lessons using culturally responsive and evidence-based instructional practices.
This course will examine language and literacy development in bilingual education settings. Students will learn principles of language acquisition, including differences and similarities between first and second language acquisition. The course will also highlight how to support oral language development across the content areas. Students will learn evidenced-based and culturally relevant reading and writing strategies and how to incorporate these strategies across the content areas.
In this course, students will learn how to effectively and equitably assess multilingual learners in the context of the bilingual classroom. The course will outline the different types and purposes of assessment, including how to align assessment with curriculum design. Students will discuss how to utilize assessment to guide instruction and support student learning. The course will also address and unpack how linguistic and cultural differences may impact assessment and how to ensure student assessment is equitable and reflective of students’ learning.
During this field-based experience and accompanying seminar, students must spend at least 75 hours in a PreK through grade 12 bilingual education setting. In the bilingual education setting, students will apply what they have learned within their coursework into their clinical setting, while also being supervised by a qualified bilingual educator. In the accompanying seminar, students will be expected to discuss their field experience, reflect on their instructional practices within their bilingual education setting, and engage in discussions with classmates.
-
Stonehill on Cape Cod Open House
Join us for an Open House to be held at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, 5 Patti Page Way in Centerville, and learn more about Stonehill's graduate and certificate programs offered on Cape Cod.
-
Graduate & Professional Studies Virtual Information Session
Join us for a Graduate & Professional Studies Virtual Information Session on Tuesday, March 4.
-
Graduate & Professional Studies Open House
Join Stonehill Graduate & Professional Studies for an Open House on Saturday, March 22! Stop by throughout the morning to learn more about our graduate and certificate program offerings.
Studying Education at Stonehill
Stonehill College's graduate teacher education programs prepare educators to lead inclusive learning environments. The College offers master's degree, teacher licensure, community education and graduate certificate program options.
Schools today must strive to be inclusive environments, and educators in our program are prepared to be leaders in creating equitable spaces where difference is valued.
Graduate Teacher Education at Stonehill
Stonehill College's graduate teacher education programs aim to prepare knowledgeable, reflective, caring and flexible educators who embrace learning, scholarship, community and advocacy in their work. Social justice and democratic education are at the center of our work and underpins all programs, courses and experiences. We believe education can disrupt systems and processes that perpetuate injustice and inequity and embrace diversity and individuality as strengths.
We advance our mission by modeling the creation of democratic spaces in the graduate classroom that reflect equitable, accessible and inclusive learning environments where students' voices and perspectives help to shape the construction and the provision of their learning.
Three tenets guide our program philosophy:
- Social justice education
- Democratic education
- Anti-oppressive education
Graduate Teacher Education Program Outcomes
Our graduates
- Foster care, connection and community with students, colleagues and families
- Promote inclusivity, diversity and equity in educational spaces
- Work to disrupt systems that perpetuate oppression and inequity
- Embrace teaching practices that foster social justice and democracy
- Lead by making education accessible for all learners
- Elevate student voices and perspectives in education
- Act purposefully to continue to learn and contribute to the profession
Rigorous Academics and the Support to Succeed
Stonehill’s graduate teacher education programs recognize the challenges graduate students face in prioritizing work, family, personal and graduate school commitments. Our Graduate Student Support, Access and Success (SSAS) Framework is designed to support students’ success from program start to finish.
Specifically, this approach provides:
- A proactive vs. reactive framework for supporting graduate students’ variable needs within their program
- Clear benchmarks for assessment of candidate readiness
From the admission process to graduation, students have a clear understanding of both expectations and the support available to help them achieve their goals.
Contact Information
Graduate & Professional Studies Admission assists students as they explore graduate and professional opportunities offered at Stonehill College.
Meet the Director of Graduate Teacher Education
