P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education, M.A. (Bilingualism and Biliteracy for Young Learners)

Degree Program

The Master of Arts in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education is a 30-credit fully online research-oriented graduate degree that equips you to effectively serve, lead, and implement best practices for P-12 multilingual, multicultural, and immigrant students and their families in local, national, and global settings.

As a student in the M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education program, you will critically examine current educational issues and equitable practices within multilingual and multicultural contexts from a biblical perspective.

Your choice of specialization allows you to pursue your own educational and career interests. Each path features opportunities for library research, creative problem-solving, action-orientation projects, and synthesis of your learning.

The M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education is offered with the following specializations:

• Bilingual Authorization - The bilingual authorization specialization prepares you to plan, develop, implement, and assess standards-aligned content instruction in both the primary and target languages through a focused study of the philosophical, theoretical, legal, and empirical foundations for bilingual education as well as bilingual instructional models, instructional strategies, and use of evaluation methods. Upon completion of all courses in the Bilingual Authorization specialization with a grade of B- or higher, you will be eligible to add the Bilingual Authorization to an existing California teaching credential. 
• Language Acquisition: Assessment and Learning - This specialization fosters a deeper understanding of second language acquisition and provides you with practical tools for language assessment, vocabulary development, and teaching strategies that enhance your repertoire for promoting language development for P-12 students.
• Bilingualism and Biliteracy for Young Learners - In this deep dive into literacy for young learners, you will explore culturally and linguistically responsive practices designed to promote biliteracy for dual language learners with a particular emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Personalized - Designed for experienced educators, the personalized specialization offers flexibility for cross-disciplinary and independent studies and practicums related to language, culture, and diversity.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education, students will be able to:

1. Critically examine and apply knowledge of current educational issues within multilingual and multicultural contexts from a biblical perspective (ULO 1).
2. Identify personal assumptions and generalizations related to diversity (e.g., language, culture, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and [dis]abilities) to develop cultural competency while affirming that all students are valued as image bearers of God (ULO 2).
3. Demonstrate God’s calling to be a leader and change agent for the Kingdom of God through development of equitable school engagement practices for multicultural families and communities (ULO 3).
4. Synthesize quantitative and/or qualitative research to effectively plan, conduct, and communicate findings of educational research in the field of multilingual and multicultural education (ULO 1).
5. Synthesize and apply knowledge, skills, and perspectives from concentration-specific content courses to professional P-12 practice (ULO 2).*

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

*Concentration proficiency and fulfillment of PLO 5 will be provided in the student's capstone class.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have completed all bachelor's requirements prior to the start of the program and must have a bachelor's degree conferred from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of the second term.
• Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved organization and verified equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• Hold a preliminary credential or provide verification of the equivalent professional experience.
• Writing proficiency will be evaluated for each applicant in one or more of the following ways: a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above; passage of the CBEST or all CSET subtests, an academic paper, the application essays, or the GRE. A proctored placement exam may be required.
• Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants for whom English is not a primary language must verify a score of 100 iBT on the TOEFL exam.
• Complete Biola University's Graduate Education application.
• Interview with a member of the School of Education.

Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.

Graduation Requirements

1. M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education core courses and capstone must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
2. Candidates must complete the M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
3. Candidates must successfully complete one capstone, and all professional requirements (e.g., electronic portfolio, including key assignments) related to the coursework and learning outcomes.
4. Candidates must demonstrate professional behavior as an important aspect of their preparation to effectively impact the field of education (inside and beyond the classroom). For candidates on probationary status, or where a candidate has struggled with professional dispositions (scores of 1 or 2), these concerns may prevent the candidate from moving forward in the program and graduation.
5. A minimum of 30 credits is required for the M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education.
6. Candidates must complete the program within six years of continuous enrollment. Candidates who are not continuously enrolled must complete the program within eight years total.
7. Candidates must meet with a department advisor and graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section).

Transfer of Credits

Students transferring from an accredited graduate program may transfer a maximum of 6 approved credits for their M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education. Courses transferred must be equivalent to Biola University's and have direct applicability to the student's program design. Only courses with a grade of B (3.0) on a 4.0 grade scale or higher will be considered for transfer towards the M.A. in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education degree; a grade of B- is not transferable. Credits considered for transfer must have been taken within five years prior to the date of admission.

Curriculum Requirements

Offered online.

¹

Successful passage of SEED 554 is required for advancement in the program. Writing support and documentation may be mandatory for some students.

²

The prerequisite for SEED 556 and SEED 559 is SEED 535 (may be taken concurrently). Students with a valid California preliminary or professional clear credential are considered to have met SEED 535; students without a valid California credential must take SEED 535 as a prerequisite for SEED 556 or SEED 559.

³

The prerequisite for SEED 587 is SEED 556.

⁴

The prerequisite for SEED 541 is SEED 519. Students with a valid California preliminary or professional clear credential are considered to have met SEED 519; students without a valid California credential must take SEED 519 as a prerequisite for SEED 541.

⁵

Must be completed in the final semester. Course must be completed with a grade of B or higher.