COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education with Early Childhood through Grade Six Generalist Bilingual Certification at Texas State University is a 36-credit-hour graduate program designed to prepare educators for effective bilingual instruction in diverse elementary classrooms. The curriculum integrates coursework in curriculum design, instructional methods, language acquisition, literacy development, and special education to ensure teachers are well-equipped to meet the academic and linguistic needs of all students. Required courses include Curriculum and Management in the Elementary and Middle School, Elementary Social Studies Curriculum, Elementary Science Curriculum, Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language, Bilingual/ESL Academic Content Instruction, and Bilingual Education: Principles and Practices, which collectively build a strong foundation in bilingual and ESL education. Additional literacy-focused coursework includes Teaching Reading in the Elementary and Middle Schools and Connecting Reading and Writing in the Classroom, emphasizing the development of reading and writing skills across content areas. The program also includes Educating Students with Mild Disabilities, preparing teachers to support inclusive classrooms and address diverse learning needs. Within the concentration, students complete advanced study in Teaching Math in the Elementary School, Research Seminar in Human Growth and Development, and Language Acquisition and Development, which deepen their understanding of how children learn and acquire language. Overall, the program emphasizes the integration of bilingual education theory and practice with culturally responsive teaching strategies and research-based instructional methods. It prepares educators to design and deliver instruction that supports cognitive, linguistic, and academic development in multilingual classrooms. Graduates are equipped to serve as bilingual educators, instructional leaders, and advocates for equity in education, with the skills necessary to improve outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse student populations in elementary school settings.