Click your desired endorsement pathway below to read through the recommended courses. Because courses can change, please refer to the course catalog or Dr. Vroom-Fick for the most up to date information regarding requirements.
To earn an ESL endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education, a teacher must:
hold (or be earning) a valid Illinois teaching license
have ESL clinical experience totaling 100 clock hours
have earned credits totaling 18 semester hours in five course areas: Linguistics, Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL, Assessment of the Bilingual Student, Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL, Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching EL Students.
The ESL endorsement is valid for K-12 grade range, regardless of initial licensure grade range.
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
When the Course is Offered
LING 224
Theoretical Foundations of Lang. Acquisition
4hrs
Fall Semester
LING 227
Cross-Cultural Teaching/Learning
2hrs
Spring B Quad
LING 325
Principles of Assessment
2hrs
Spring B Quad
LING 326
EL Methods for the Content Areas**
2hrs
Spring
LING 328
EL Methods for Specialists
2hrs
Fall (linear quad - night class)
LING 328L
ESL Practicum
1hr
concurrent with course
LING 329
Curriculum and Materials Development
2hrs
Spring A Quad
LING 331
Introduction to Linguistics
4hrs
Spring
*Pre-MAT students should register for LING 618 – the grad level version of LING 326 – as it’s required for the MAT program
Practicum Requirements:
For the LING 328L practicum, you’ll be placed with an EL Specialist for 30 hours. Additional general education practicums will be completed with EL students in order to reach the 100 clock hours required for the endorsement. These can include EDUC 136L, EDUC 225L, and select hours from methods and student teaching. You must submit records of the hours that were specifically with ELs.
Recommended Sequence:
Freshman Spring: LING 227 (can be taken any spring)
Sophomore Fall: LING 224
Sophomore Spring: LING 325, LING 331 (this can be taken any spring)
Junior Fall: LING 328/ LING 328L
Junior Spring: LING 326 (618 for MAT)
Senior Spring: LING 329 (if graduating in December, please discuss options with Dr. Vroom Fick)
To earn a Bilingual endorsement from the Illinois State Board of Education, a teacher must:
hold (or be earning) a valid Illinois teaching license,
have bilingual clinical experience totaling 100 clock hours,
have earned credits totaling 18 semester hours in four course areas: Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL, Assessment of the Bilingual Student, Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL, Methods and Materials for Bilingual Education, Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching LEP Students.
Demonstrate proficiency in the non-English language. See pathways below.
The bilingual endorsement is valid K-12 regardless of your initial licensure grade range.
Course Number
Course Title
Credit Hours
When the Course is Offered
LING 224
Theoretical Foundations of Lang. Acquisition
4hrs
Fall Semester
LING 227
Cross-Cultural Teaching/Learning
2hrs
Spring B Quad
LING 323
Bilingual Methods and Materials
2hrs
Fall B Quad every other year (night)
LING 323L
Bilingual Practicum
1hr
See Description Below
LING 325
Principles of Assessment
2hrs
Spring B Quad
LING 326
EL Methods for the Content Areas**
2hrs
Spring
LING 328
EL Methods for Specialists
2hrs
Fall (linear quad - night class)
LING 328L
ESL Practicum
1hr
concurrent with course
LING 329
Curriculum and Materials Development
2hrs
Spring A Quad
LING 331
Introduction to Linguistics (MS ELA)
4hrs
Spring
Bilingual Practicum:
For Spanish speakers, your student teaching experience will be in a bilingual classroom and that will more than meet the 100 clock hour requirement for the endorsement. For speakers of other languages, you will make a plan with Prof. Vroom Fick based on the availability of programs in your language.
Recommended Sequence:
Freshman Spring: LING 227 (can be taken during any other spring)
Sophomore Fall: LING 224, LING 323 (if offered that year)