Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Master's Degree, M.Ed.
CCU's Master of Education in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) is a comprehensive graduate program for current and aspiring educators and school professionals who are seeking skills to teach English language learners, both in the United States and around the world.
Offered through our College of Adult and Graduate Studies, the program is designed to address the need for licensed teachers to be knowledgeable in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and English as a Second Language (ESL). Most schools refer to their programs as "ESL" or "ELL." CCU's online master's program will prepare you for such ESL and ELL programs and for working with culturally and linguistically diverse students. This is especially important as the population of multilingual learners continues to grow in the U.S., and also as more international opportunities for teaching become available for experienced educators.
Since culturally and linguistically diverse education is considered a high-need area, students in CCU's CLDE licensure programs may be eligible for the TEACH grant. Learn more on our Scholarships website.
The CLDE graduate degree is aligned with the TESOL International Association Framework and meets all requirements set forth by the Colorado Department of Education for an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education.
- 30 credit hours
- Courses are taken one at a time and are typically completed in five-week blocks
- Designed for busy adult learners; complete in as little as 15 months of consecutive coursework, even with a full-time job
- The program adheres to standards set forth by the Colorado Department of Education for an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and aligns with the standards for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- Graduates meet the requirements for certification by the Association of Christian Schools International
- Students are eligible to receive a TESOL certificate
- Students can transfer up to six graduate-level credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
- Program Brochure
- Bachelor's Degrees: Early Childhood Education, B.A., Elementary Education, B.A., Special Education, B.A.
- Master's Degrees: Curriculum and Instruction, M.A., Educational Leadership, M.Ed., Special Education, M.Ed.
- Certificates: TESOL, Graduate Certificate
CLDE Program Options
TESOL Certificate
Requirements for a 15-credit hour TESOL graduate certificate are embedded within the M.Ed. in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education curriculum. Students who pass the required TESOL courses in the CLDE degree will be eligible to receive a TESOL certificate.
CLDE Endorsement
An endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education is available for candidates who already have an active teaching license (or are eligible for a teaching license) and desire to teach in an English Language Learner classroom. The endorsement provides the necessary content and application to foster the skills needed to support English language learners and their academic achievement and can be used to provide teachers with a credential that fulfills the Colorado Department of Education's English language learner mandate. The CLDE endorsement is awarded to candidates by the Colorado Department of Education upon the recommendation of Colorado Christian University.
Students who complete the 24-credit CLDE endorsement may earn the master's degree in CLDE by completing an additional six elective credit hours.
TESOL International Association Framework
The TESOL Certificate program at Colorado Christian University is aligned with the TESOL International Association framework for short-term certificate programs. Embedded within the Master of Education in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, both the certificate and degree program have been aligned with the TESOL International Association's recommended Standards for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Visit these websites for additional information about the TESOL International Association framework for short-term certificate programs:
- TESOL International Association: Beginning Your Career
- TESOL International Association: Standards for Pre-K12 Teacher Preparation Programs
The TESOL International Association does not provide recommendations or endorsements for degree or certificate programs.
State Exclusions for Online Students
Colorado Christian University is required by the U.S. Department of Education to be in compliance with state laws regarding where we can offer distance and/or online education. The College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University offers courses to online students in all states with some exceptions for specific academic programs.