Certificate of Biliteracy

With only four courses, you could obtain a graduate certificate in biliteracy to invest in bilingual students’ academic achievement.

Program Features

A TWU student teacher and a young girl look over the student's paper.

  • Certificate with 12 credit hours

  • Courses count toward an MA in Multilingual and Multicultural Studies if the student would like to continue studying 

  • Hyflex courses meet six to eight times per semester with the option of attending on the TWU Denton campus or via Zoom

  • You do not need to be bilingual to take these courses since the focus is on understanding any student's biliteracy development regardless of their languages. Courses are offered in English.

  • TWU faculty could offer these courses at your school or district if there is enough interest.

Why it matters

  • The number of bilingual students in U.S. public schools grew 64% between 1995 and 2010
  • More schools are offering dual language, ESL and world language classes in grades Pre-K through 12
  • Texas has adopted the Seal of Biliteracy for high school diplomas

Courses

Four graduate courses in the M.A. in Multilingual and Multicultural Studies program are required for the certificate. Students may choose from the following:

  • READ 6923: Biliteracy and Multilingualism (Fall)
  • READ 5423 Literacy Practice to Theory (Biliteracy Section) (Fall)
  • *READ 5443 Literacy Assessment and Instruction (Biliteracy Section) (Fall)
  • *READ 5453 Processes & Strategies for Comprehending Texts-Biliteracy Section (Spring)
  • EDBE 5413: Teaching Reading and the Other Language Arts to Linguistically Diverse Learners (Spring)
  • *READ 5513 Literacy and the Diverse Learner-Biliteracy Section (Summer)

*The prerequisite for these courses is READ 5423.

Certificate Program Plan

Admission to the P.B. Certificate in Biliteracy

Program Contact

Alexandra Babino, Ph.D.
940-898-2447
ababion@twu.edu 

Application Deadlines

No deadline - rolling

Application Requirements

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA in previous undergraduate and Graduate coursework.
  • Collect and submit the following document into the application.
    • Collect and submit the following documents to
    • Explain your interest in the Biliteracy Certificate
      • Describe 2-3 learning goals related to effective biliteracy teaching and learning
      • Describe your strengths as a teacher

Graduate Admission

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  

  1. Apply online.
    Apply to Graduate Programs  via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.  
  2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
    • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
    • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
  3. Submit Recommendation Requests
    If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors.  
  4. Pay the application fee.
    The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
    1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
    2. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
    3. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
  5. Submit Program supplemental documents
    1. Submit all program requests for Resume, Statement of Purpose, Artist or Research Statement, Scholarly Writing Sample, Custom Essay, Portfolio Document, Video Submission, Licensure, Department Specific Application, Teaching Service Record, Teaching Certificate, etc. following submission of your application fee.

Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.

Contact

Ale Babino, PhD
Associate Professor
ababino@twu.edu 
940-898-2447

 

Page last updated 11:13 AM, August 22, 2024