Dual Language and Immersion Education

Certificate program

Now a HYBRID program!

Courses offered online during the academic year and face-to-face in the summer!

Reduced tuition through 2013!

Due to partnerships that the College of Education and Human Development has with the Saint Paul Public Schools and the Utah State Office of Education, we are currently able to offer reduced tuition for selected courses in the program.

The University of Minnesota’s Dual Language and Immersion Education certificate program gives educators an opportunity to complete a coordinated series of courses in the area of dual language and immersion education. The program does not lead to a state teaching certificate or licensure. (Note that a university ‘certificate program’ or ‘certificate’ is distinct from state ‘certificate’ or ‘certification’.)

In Minnesota and other states in the U.S. dual language/immersion teachers at the elementary level are required to hold a teaching license in elementary education and at the secondary level a license in the subject matter they teach (e.g., science, social studies, math). The University of Minnesota offers initial teacher licensure programs for individuals not yet licensed and additional teacher licensure programs for those individuals who already hold a MN teaching license and wish to add another.

Program

In dual language/immersion programs (DLI), the second/foreign/heritage/indigenous language (L2) that students are acquiring is a vehicle to teach school subjects. In order to be considered a DLI program, the L2 must be used for at least 50% of subject matter instruction during the elementary school years. In a middle/secondary continuation program, at least two year-long content courses must be taught in the L2 to qualify as a DLI program.

This hybrid certificate program is designed for preK-12 teachers and other professionals to work effectively in the following school-based DLI models (click to find description and examples):

"One-way" foreign language immersion programs

"Two-way" bilingual immersion programs

"One-way" developmental bilingual programs

Indigenous language immersion programs (one-way or two-way)

DLI programs aim for "additive bilingualism and biliteracy," or the acquisition of another language at no expense to the first, native language. Research shows that well-implemented DLI programs allow students to develop higher levels of language proficiency in the L2 than in any other type of language program model.

This unique University certificate program is the first in the United States to incorporate a coherent set of courses designed specifically for DLI educators and other professionals. Offered by the College’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I), the program was designed jointly by the College’s second languages and cultures (SLC) education faculty and representatives of DLI programs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The certificate may be completed independently or in conjunction with a master of education (M.Ed.), master of arts (M.A.), or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program in the area of second languages and cultures education at the University of Minnesota.

Curriculum

The university certificate in Dual Language and Immersion Education is designed to meet the interests of DLI teachers and potential teachers as well as to meet a range of professional development needs. A variety of elective courses can be used to meet certificate requirements, including other SLC course offerings, special summer immersion institutes offered through CARLA, and courses required for elementary teaching licensure. Elective courses must align with the goals of the university certificate program and be pre-approved by a faculty adviser. Educators can complete this university certificate with two to four years of part-time study and have up to seven years to complete it. Core courses are offered online during the academic year. Elective courses may be taken online or face-to-face (F2F) on the Twin Cities campus or other locations. Students complete at least 15 credits of the following coursework:

Required (core) courses (9 credits)

• CI 5670—Foundations of Dual Language and Immersion Education (3 cr)

  OR CI 5651 Foundations of Second Languages and Cultures Education (3 cr) if taken prior to Fall 2010

• CI 5671—Curriculum Development and Assessment in Dual Language/Immersion Classrooms (3 cr)
• CI 5672—Language-Focused Instructional Practices and Strategies for Dual Language/Immersion Classrooms (3 cr)

Elective courses

Elective credits are completed with face-to-face (F2F) CARLA Summer Institutes for DLI educators offered on the Twin Cities campus during the summer or other online or F2F courses selected with faculty adviser approval.

Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.

Recommended course sequence. Although courses may be taken in any order, ideally, the hybrid program is completed in the following sequence:

Term	Course	Credits	Delivery Mode
Summer 1*	CARLA Summer Institute: CI 5673—Immersion 101: An Introduction to Immersion Teaching OR CI 5674—Immersion 101: An Introduction to Immersion Teaching in Character-Based Languages	2	F2F
Fall or Spring	CI 5670—Foundations of Dual Language and Immersion Education	3	online
Spring or Fall	CI 5671—Curriculum Development and Assessment in Dual Language/Immersion Classrooms	3	online
Summer 2	CARLA Summer Institute: CI 5660—Special Topics: Meeting the Challenges of Immersion Education	2	F2F
Fall or Spring	CI 5672—Language-Focused Practices and Strategies for Dual Language/Immersion Classrooms	3	online
Spring, fall, or summer 3	Final elective credits to be selected with faculty adviser approval	2	F2F or online

*Note that CI 5673 or 5674 is best taken at the start of the program. If a participant begins the program suring the academic year, this course is not recommended.

Transfer credits

With faculty adviser approval, up to three transfer credits from another institution may be applied to this certificate program.

Program completion

Upon completion of the university certificate program requirements, students complete and submit the certificate completion form and the CEHD Application for M.Ed. Degree and/or Certificate to their adviser. Students will receive a paper certificate, and documentation of certificate completion will appear on the academic transcript.

Admission

This University certificate program is available to graduate-level students only. A completed bachelor’s degree is required for admission. Coursework taken before completion of the bachelor’s degree cannot be applied to the certificate program. Course registration requires that participants be admitted to the certificate program. To meet admission requirements, applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (students currently enrolled in a University of Minnesota graduate-level degree program may also apply)
• Have a 2.80 minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA)
• Either be currently practicing as a dual language or immersion educator or provide evidence of the necessary background and interest (based on a goal statement)
• Provide evidence of sufficient English proficiency needed to succeed in graduate coursework

How to apply

Application materials:

All applicants must submit the following items online:
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended or are currently attending, except the University of Minnesota. Transcripts can be uploaded directly into the Apply Yourself online application system. For instructions on how to upload your transcripts into the application system, click here.
• If you completed coursework at a university outside of the United States, your transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation center. Request a “course-by-course” evaluation. This process can take 4-6 weeks, so please plan in advance. You can use any provider that is an accredited member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A suggested provider of this service is Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 (414-289-3400, fax: 414-289-3411).
• Typed goal statement (if applicant is not a practicing dual language or immersion educator)
• Résumé

Application instructions:

• LOG IN TO THE ON-LINE APPLICATION SYSTEM TO APPLY TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. Be sure to save your PIN and password so you can access the application system to view your admission status.
• When completing “Application Information” you will be asked what type of program you are applying to—choose “Certificate” from the pull down menu. Next you will be asked for your primary program objective—choose “Dual Language and Immersion Education” from the pull down menu. You do not need to select a second or third emphasis. You can skip those boxes and continue to complete the rest of the page.
• Continue through the application pages. On the SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL page you will have the opportunity to upload your transcripts, résumé and goal statement.
• Be sure to hit SUBMIT after you have completed the application. You will receive a decision notification by email within three weeks of submission of your application.
• CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Nonnative English speakers and/or international students

Please Note: This program is not offered full-time and therefore is not intended for international students needing a visa to study in the U.S. However, students may complete this certificate as a distance education student from their own country.

All nonnative English speakers must submit an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have completed a post-secondary degree within the United States.

Note: For nonnative speakers of English, a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. The following minimum TOEFL scores are required: 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79-80 (internet-based). If TOEFL scores are not available, other evidence must be submitted.

Registration

After admission to the program, students register for courses online.

Note: Certificate coursework completed with undergraduate student status cannot be applied to graduate-level degree programs.

Tuition

Tuition varies depending on a student's degree program, student status, and residency. Students seeking the certificate only pay the CEHD departmental master's tuition rate. Students enrolled in Graduate School programs pay Graduate School tuition rates; students enrolled in undergraduate programs pay undergraduate tuition rates.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents determines tuition rates annually before fall semester. For current tuition rates and reciprocity policies, check the college’s tuition and fees page.

Through 2013 reduced tuition will be offered for selected courses in the Dual Language and Immersion Education certificate program. Contact Diane Tedick for more information.

Residents of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Manitoba may be eligible for special tuition reciprocity rates comparable to Minnesota resident rates.

General financial aid advising and information are available from the University’s One Stop Student Services, 200 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-624-1111.

For graduate assistantship/scholarship information (for students enrolled in graduate degree programs), contact the Graduate Assistant Office, 200 Donhowe (for mail) or 100 Donhowe (for walk in), Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-7070, fax: 612-625-9801.

Core faculty

• Tara Fortune
  Ph.D., University of Minnesota
  612-626-8826, email: fortu001@umn.edu

• Diane J. Tedick
  Ph.D., The Ohio State University
  612-625-1081, email: djtedick@umn.edu

For more information

For more information about the certificate program in dual language and immersion education, contact:

• Diane Tedick
• Department of Curriculum & Instruction (C&I)
• 254 Peik Hall
• 159 Pillsbury Drive S.E.
• Minneapolis, MN 55455
• 612-625-1081; fax: 612-624-8277
• Email: djtedick@umn.edu

Revised September 2011