Bilingual Authorization
The Bilingual Authorization program (BILA), previously known as BCLAD, is intended for credentialed teachers, or those in the process of earning their teaching credential, who wish to gain authorization to teach in both Spanish and English.
Program Intro
The Bilingual Authorization program at California Baptist University is offered at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. It's an add-on authorization to a current teaching credential but can also be obtained simultaneously with the credential.
As the demand for bilingual educators continues to rise, the BILA program offers a strategic pathway, leading to increased qualifications and new career opportunities. Educators with a Bilingual Authorization from CBU are not just teaching but transforming lives. They will empower students by fostering both English and Spanish language proficiency while cherishing and cultivating their primary language. Candidates who enroll in the Bilingual Authorization program today will be prepared to lead in the classrooms of tomorrow.
*One course taken per semester
Based on current academic year. Subject to change.
Why Earn Your Bilingual Authorization at CBU?
Advance your career
This program equips candidates to excel in bilingual and dual immersion classrooms while offering a strategic route to enhance qualifications amidst the escalating demand for bilingual educators. By fostering both English and Spanish proficiency while honoring students' primary language, educators obtaining their Bilingual Authorization significantly shape the academic trajectory of English learners.
Work in the field
The program provides candidates with a unique blend of classroom instruction and hands-on experiences in bilingual settings, fostering a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. By equipping candidates with diverse, bilingual program models from TK-12 classrooms, the program ensures they graduate well-prepared to excel as teachers in bilingual environments.
Learn from dedicated faculty
Candidates benefit from the individual attention and support of the outstanding faculty at the Metcalf School of Education. Instructors include bilingual educators with in-depth experience meeting the needs of a diverse population.
Convenient and affordable
The Bilingual Authorization courses have been designed in collaboration with current dual immersion administrators who understand the need for quality preparation. Courses are offered in the evenings to meet the needs of working professionals and undergraduate students. Candidates can receive a Preferred Partner discount if currently working in a partner district.
What You'll Learn
- Candidates will plan content instruction that supports students' development in literacy and content knowledge in both English and Spanish languages.
- Candidates will demonstrate intercultural communication skills, value linguistic diversity, and work to mitigate the negative effects of historical biases, practices of institutional racism, and stereotyping.
- Candidates will design and implement various types of language and content assessments and interpret the results to inform instructional practices.
- Candidates will use asset-based approaches to design effective learning experiences for all students that value students' linguistic and cultural identities.
Program Details
EDU 456/554: Culture and Diversity in Latina/o Communities
This course will equip candidates to create linguistically inclusive, culturally sensitive learning environments for diverse students. Through a transnational lens, candidates will learn to engage and motivate students in developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate learning activities. Candidates will learn to use an assets-based approach to inform pedagogical practices and student relationships. Additionally, the course will cover the foundations of bilingual education advocacy and intercultural communication. This course has been developed to meet the Bilingual Teacher Performance Expectations (BTPE) outlined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for the Bilingual Authorization (BILA).
EDU 457/560: Methods of Teaching in Bilingual Education
This course will prepare candidates to apply their knowledge of students, students' backgrounds, assets, learning needs, and goals in a bilingual educational context. Candidates will learn a variety of pedagogical approaches, instructional strategies, and assessment methods to engage and motivate students while respecting their linguistic and cultural diversity. The course will focus on the philosophical, theoretical, legal, and legislative foundations of bilingual education and provide tools to support all students in their bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural development.
EDU 469/569: Spanish Language and Literacy in Bilingual Education
This course provides a comprehensive investigation of the principles and practices necessary for fostering bilingualism and biliteracy among students. Specifically, candidates will learn to design bilingual and biliteracy learning experiences supported by developmental, and linguistic processes (e.g., cross-linguistic transfer, contrastive analysis, and translanguaging). This course also emphasizes advanced Spanish language skills to effectively engage and deliver content instruction that fosters students' literacy and content knowledge development in both English and Spanish.
All candidates working toward earning a Bilingual Authorization must complete 20 hours of site-based fieldwork in a classroom that provides them opportunities to observe and apply bilingual pedagogies in a bilingual setting.
The site-based fieldwork will be completed as part of the course requirement for EDU 457/560: Methods of Teaching in Bilingual Education. Candidates must secure a satisfactory evaluation for site-based fieldwork experiences to pass this course and be recommended for a Bilingual Authorization.
Does CBU grant the BILA authorization?
All completed BILA courses will be reflected on your CBU transcript. All California teaching credentials and authorizations are granted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Completing the CBU BILA program will fulfill the requirements to receive a recommendation from CBU’s School of Education to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the BILA authorization.
What does the BILA allow me to teach?
Adding a BILA authorization will allow teachers to teach in a bilingual classroom within their respective credential area.
What is the format for the BILA classes?
Classes are offered in-person in the evenings to meet the needs of working professionals and undergraduate students. Courses are 16 weeks long.
Can I take the BILA classes all in one semester?
The three BILA classes can be taken one at a time (one per semester) or all at once (three during the summer semester, when available).
As you make decisions about college, keep in mind the full social, spiritual and educational experience awaiting you at CBU. Here, you will be supported by professors, staff and fellow students who will help you discover your strengths and challenge you to do more than you ever thought you could. Let us equip you with the education, training and opportunities you'll need to start making a unique difference doing what you love.
| Application Deadlines | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | May 15 | November 1 | March 1 |
| Standard | August 1 | December 1 | April 1 |
Career Possibilities
Graduates of CBU's Bilingual Authorization program can apply their field of study to a variety of education careers. Some careers listed below may require further education.
- Dual Immersion K-12 Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher
- Middle School Teacher
- High School Teacher
Related Programs
Next Steps
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