Bilingual/ESL Endorsement

Coordinator, Sara Vroom Fick

The TESOL and Intercultural Studies programs provide a state-approved series of courses leading to the ESL and bilingual education endorsements in Illinois. These endorsements may be added to an elementary, middle, or secondary teaching license (offered through the Education Department). Undergraduate students who earn these endorsements can work as ESL or bilingual education teachers in Illinois and most other states.

Requirements for the ESL Endorsement include the following:

1. A teaching license at the elementary, middle, or secondary level;

2. 100 clock hours of contact with English Learners; and

3. A minimum of 20 credit hours of course work in the categories of Theoretical Foundations of TESOL and Bilingual Education, Linguistics, ESL Classroom Methods, Cross-Cultural Issues for English Language Learners (ELLs), and Assessment of ELLs.

The Bilingual/ESL Endorsement requires a total of 20 credits including:​