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Professional Development Certificates

Application Deadlines
How to Apply
Academic Literacy Development for English Language Learners
Dual Language Certificate



Application Deadlines

Spring 2013 Deadline

PLC Department admission to the Certificate Programs for the Spring Semester 2013 is open through November 1, 2012. See below for more information on the Certificate programs.


Fall 2013 Deadline

The CSU MENTOR deadline to apply to SDSU for Fall 2013 is March 1, 2013.


How to Apply

Follow these Steps to Apply Today CERTIFICATE ONLY (Note: For MA Degree with Certificate Select: "Degree Options" and select "Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education: 331195. GRE Exam is Required for MA Program.):

Step 1: Apply to SDSU via CSU Mentor at: http://www.csumentor.com/admissionapp/grad_apply.asp before November 1, 2012.

  1. Go to" Apply Now"
  2. Go to" Graduate Admissions Application"
  3. Click for semester you are planning to being coursework
  4. From here you will apply under Advanced Certificate Programs In the field. (Option in this Field: Dual Language Certificate)
  5. Complete the on-line application & submit fees.
  6. Submit official copies of your college transcripts indicating your degree and credential work to Graduate Admission

Step 2: Apply to the Policy Studies Department

  1. Complete the PLC Department online application prior to November 16, 2012.
  2. Submit a letter of interest indicating why you are applying to this program and how it will address your professional development and career goals.
  3. Submit two letters of recommendation from colleagues, supervisors, or other professionals who know your work and abilities in the areas of education for biliteracy (one should be from your principal).
  4. Copy of your teaching credential.

For more information call 619.594.5155.

Note: All courses completed with a grade of B or better are applicable to the Master of Arts degree in Education with Concentration in Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education.



Academic Literacy Development for English Language Learners

This certificate program provides K-12 teachers and other education professionals with specialized preparation for developing academic literacy assessment, curriculum, and teaching methods specifically designed to meet the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs).

The Academic Literacy Certificate provides further development in theory and methods for evaluation, development, and implementation of (a) appropriate language assessment, (b) effective instruction to ELLs specific to developing academic literacy in English, and (c) culturally responsive curriculum and teaching strategies.

The program is designed for professionals working in programs or classrooms with diverse language learners. Successful applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and hold a current teaching or administrative credential. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in certificate coursework with no less than a grade of C in any course. Required courses (12 units) include:

  1. PLC 553 Language Assessment & Development,
  2. PLC 600 A or B Foundation of Dual Language Programming for Critical Biliteracy Development
  3. PLC 650 Curriculum Dev. for Urban School Communities
  4. PLC 603 Community and School in a Diverse Society.

All courses completed with a grade of B or better are applicable to the Master of Arts degree in Education with Concentration in Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education with a Specialization in Academic Literacy Development.

For more information call (619) 594-5155 to make an advising appointment or email at plc@mail.sdsu.edu.



Dual Language Certificate

The purpose of this certificate program is to provide, K-12 teachers and other education professionals with specialized course work in Dual Language programming. This construct provides instruction in two languages and is aimed for students to develop competencies in bilingualism, biliteracy and biculturalism/ multiculturalism.

The design of this certificate program is to develop leadership among bilingual teachers currently working in dual language or two-way immersion programs in K-12 settings. The course work in this program will allow teachers to develop expertise in philosophical/ideological principles, pedagogy and curriculum and program processes for effective biliteracy program development.

Successful applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and hold a current teaching or administrative credential. Hold a Bilingual Credential. Have A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in certificate coursework with no less than a grade of "C" in any course.

Download the Spring 2012 Dual Language Biliteracy Certificate Program flyer.

Dual Language Certificate Required Course Sequence & Descriptions (12 Units):

  1. PLC 600B. Foundations of Dual Language Programming for Critical Biliteracy Development. This course will focus on the principles of critical literacy and democratic schooling for dual language program models. Participants will examine program models as they apply to the policies and practices that inform literacy curriculum and pedagogy in dual language -biliteracy settings. The outcome of this course will be for teachers to develop ideological clarity on what it means to be a dual language teacher and to develop a plan of enacting principles of democratic practices and critical pedagogy in dual language classrooms and programs.
  2. PLC 650: Curriculum Development for Urban School Communities. This course will involve participants (working in dual language, elementary, secondary and community setting) in examining curriculum models used in dual language schools and classrooms. It will take an action research approach to examine processes and products of dual language curriculum. Curriculum is defined as the engagement of individuals in the process of learning. Focus of curriculum project will be on academic subject matter currently being taught by participants.
  3. PLC 553: Language Assessment & Development. This course will consider the processes of teaching literacy in two languages and the processes of assessment for both primary languages and target language development. Examination of transfer skills from language 1 to language 2 will be analyzed conceptually and in ways of assessing the development of two languages. Participants will complete case studies of students to determine appropriate language for initial literacy and determine the best approach for English and non-English speaking students in a dual language classroom to be instructed to read in their primary and target languages. Issues of oral and written language will be considered as well as teacher assessments and more formal and state mandated assessment measures.
  4. PLC 604: Learning and Teaching Language in a Dual-language Setting. This course will examine the fundamentals of dual language instruction with a focus on how teachers model oral and grammatical structures in language, with special attention to Spanish and English. The course will guide teachers on how to introduce and develop language acquisition and written structures from K to 12th grade. Special emphasis will be placed on the teaching of written structures for academic literacy and achievement.


Last Modified 09/27/12 09:52

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