COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bilingual Education program at University of North Texas provides students with flexible and specialized preparation for careers working with multilingual learners in diverse educational and community settings. The program allows undergraduates to choose from several specialization areas for deeper study, including Early Childhood Education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), Language, Literacy and Activism, Inclusive Education, Ethnic Studies in Education, International Studies in Education, and Interdisciplinary Studies. Students begin foundational education coursework during their freshman and sophomore years while completing core university requirements, allowing earlier exposure to teaching concepts and professional practice. The program emphasizes practical experience by providing expanded fieldwork opportunities in real classrooms and learning environments throughout the degree, continuing into clinical teaching experiences that strengthen instructional and classroom management skills. Students can also select from a wide range of electives that encourage exploration of innovative educational topics and emerging teaching practices. Coursework is available in face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats to support students with different learning and scheduling needs. A central focus of the program is the development of equity-oriented, anti-racist, and humanizing teaching approaches that prepare future educators to support culturally and linguistically diverse learners effectively. Graduates are prepared for careers such as bilingual teachers, ESL teachers, language instructors, bilingual administrative assistants, bilingual customer service professionals, teacher assistants, and world language educators including Spanish and French teachers. The curriculum includes courses such as Latina/o/x Children’s and Young Adult Literature for the Elementary Multilingual Classroom, which explores culturally relevant literature for multilingual learners; Teaching English as an Additional Language, focusing on instructional methods for English learners; and Biliteracy in Bilingual Classrooms, which examines literacy development in two languages. Additional coursework such as Dual Language Bilingual Education Programs, Policy and Practice and Teaching and Learning in the Bilingual Classroom prepares students to design effective bilingual instruction, understand educational policies, and support language development in multilingual classroom environments. Overall, the program combines cultural responsiveness, language-focused pedagogy, classroom experience, and specialized study to prepare graduates for meaningful careers in bilingual and multilingual education.