The BAE program for elementary education with a concentration in educating multilingual learners prepares students for certification in grades K-8, as well as a preK-12 bilingual education or English as a second language endorsement in the state of Arizona.

This program offers students a firm grounding in current research and critical pedagogy for English language learners. Candidates take several courses that focus on language diversity, dialectal variation, funds of knowledge and practices that value cultural and community engagements. Students learn processes for developing and supporting the needs of students with individual language learning plans. Students also receive preparation in elementary academic content areas, including math, language arts, social studies and science with a specific focus on meeting the academic and linguistic needs of emergent bilinguals.

Students will learn about the foundations of second language acquisition, biliteracy, culturally relevant pedagogy and effective language instruction. Knowledge of these subjects prepares prospective educators to develop critical perspectives that will help them to advocate for bilingual children and families.

Extensive professional experiences are built into this program to prepare students to enter the teaching profession after graduation. Graduates will complete internships prior to a full-time teaching residency. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College has developed a distinctive approach to teacher-preparation, which includes student participation in internships and residencies while receiving guidance and support from faculty members and highly qualified certified teachers. Professional experiences are designed to prepare graduates to work with mutually supportive colleagues to address the academic and social-emotional needs of learners.

Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Elementary Education, K-8, as well as an endorsement in either bilingual education or English as a second language from the Arizona Department of Education. In order to teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments. In addition, students must complete six credit hours of a foreign language or equivalent and pass an appropriate language proficiency test to be eligible for the bilingual education or English as a second language endorsement.