Northern Illinois University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education

This interdisciplinary certificate is designed to prepare educators to serve language-minority students in a variety of contexts, including bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at K-12, post-secondary, and adult education levels. Students completing the certificate will gain the necessary skills for designing instruction, evaluating and designing materials, and assessing the language development of second language learners across the lifespan.

Students who want to pursue this certificate must receive approval and advisement from the coordinator. Those who want to earn either the ESL or bilingual approval from the Illinois State Board of Education should contact the certificate coordinator for further information.

For more information about the program, contact graduate advisor Nick Slicer at 815-753-7948 or nslicer@niu.edu.