Graduate Study
ESL K-12 Endorsement
Key Advisors: Louann Reid, Cindy O'Donnell-Allen, Pamela Coke
Earning an Endorsement to Teach K-12 ESL
How do I get endorsed to teach ESL in K-12 public schools?
There are two ways. You can either receive an institutional recommendation, which is what CSU issues after you have completed approved course work and other requirements, or you can apply for an additional endorsement through the Colorado Department of Education.
For an institutional recommendation from CSU, you must first hold a bachelor’s degree. Second, you must enroll in a program through the School of Education. Finally, you will need to meet all of the program requirements that have been approved by the Colorado Department of Education, including course work, an examination, and student teaching. If you already have a teaching license in another subject and are seeing an additional endorsement, go to the section "Additional Endorsement" at the end of the handout. If you do not have a teaching license, then you are seeking an institutional recommendation and should go to the section "Initial Endorsement."
What if I am an undergraduate?
Our best advice is for you to get an initial license in a related area, which will probably be English but doesn’t have to be. Take all of the ESL courses you possibly can as electives. After graduation, if you wish to seek an institutional approval through CSU rather than an additional endorsement through CDE, you would need to do the following:
- Pass the state-mandated (PLACE or Praxis) exam in ESL before student teaching
- Student teach for at least 8 weeks in ESL in grades k-6 and 8 weeks in grades 7-12.
- Take the additional courses required by the CSU program (the specific courses will depend on what you took as an undergraduate)
It is probably less expensive for you to seek an additional endorsement rather than going this route because you would be a paid professional while you sought the additional endorsement.
What are the required courses?
You need the following 3-credit courses to meet state requirements for an endorsement in teaching ESL: Linguistically Different
E507: Bilingualism or Sociolinguistics
E514: Phonology/Morphology—ESL/EFL
E515: Syntax for ESL/EFL
E526: Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language
E527: Theories of Foreign/Second Language Learning
E590: Workshop in ESL—Testing
AP335: Language and Culture
E687: Internship
Whom should I contact for further information?
Dr. David Whaley in the School of Education, 491-5292
Dr. Don Hardy in the English Department, 491-5349
Dr. Louann Reid, Director of English Education in the English Department, Lreid@lamar.colostate.edu
Initial Endorsement
If you do not already have a license to teach, but you do have a bachelor’s degree in an approved area, you can apply for an initial endorsement in ESL: Linguistically Different. If your goal is to earn a master’s degree and you meet the Graduate School qualifications, you will want to apply as a graduate student in the English department. If your goal is only to earn a license, you may apply as a post-bachelor licensure candidate. The requirements for each status differ.
Graduate student in the MA/TESL program
- Be admitted to the MA/TESL Program
- Apply to the School of Education for admission to teacher licensure. Meet all of their pre-requisites and requirements. You will be categorized for their purposes as post-bachelor licensure.
- Take the required ESL courses (24 credits) as part of your MA/TESL degree.
- Total program credits will be 68 (33 for licensure and 35 for the MA).
- You must pass the state-mandated exam in ESL prior to student teaching.
- You must student teach in K-12 ESL. Student teaching credits are included in the licensure credits.
Post-bachelor licensure candidate
- Apply to the School of Education for post-bachelor licensure.
- Take the required ESL courses (24 credits) as available. Because you are not listed as an English major, you may have a lower priority for course enrollment. However, you can work with your advisor in English and the course instructor to get admitted.
- Total program credits will be 57 (24 for ESL and 33 for licensure).
- You must pass the state-mandated exam in ESL prior to student teaching.
- You must student teach in K-12 ESL. Student teaching credits are included in the licensure credits.
Additional Endorsement
If you already have a teaching license and want to be endorsed to teach ESL, do the following:
- Apply for this endorsement through the Colorado Department of Education
- Take 24 credits in the area of second endorsement (ESL, in this case). We recommend the courses listed above, but advisors may make substitutions based on your experience and interests.
- Pass the state-mandated exam in ESL
- Teach the equivalent of one year in the previous five in K-12 ESL
For information about course offerings and registration procedures for the upcoming semester or summer session, please view the Rambler, the Department's student newsletter.
This information is not intended to replace your advisor or the information in the CSU General Catalog, the Class Schedule, or the Department Checksheets.
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