CCU Expands Continuing Education Programs, Offers Courses for Public Educators
Online and self-guided courses help Colorado teachers meet new state requirements for licensure renewal
Colorado Christian University (CCU), the flagship Christian liberal arts university in the Rocky Mountain Region, has developed a continuing education certificate in Theories of Language, Learning, and Teaching to assist Colorado licensed school educators in fulfilling English language learner (ELL) requirements for professional licensure renewal. The certificate consists of five courses in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education.
"The CLD courses and certificate were designed with the learner in mind, allowing teachers who already have full schedules to go at their own pace from the comfort of their home," said Dr. Wendy Elliott Wendover, dean of the School of Education Professions at CCU. "These courses don’t just check a box, they give teachers innovative and engaging resources that will be useful in the classroom."
Available through CCU Online, the continuing education courses are self-guided, self-paced, and completed at the convenience of the learner. Each course is $79 when purchased individually or $300 for the five-course certificate bundle, offering a cost-effective continuing education option.
"CCU hopes to step into the gap to help teachers not only meet their state licensing requirements, but provide quality continuing education with real-world application," said Jordan Moore, director of Strategic Partnerships at CCU. "Through our strategic partnership program, CCU has developed impactful relationships with more than 70 public school districts, independent private schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) agencies throughout Colorado. These partnerships serve to advance quality education in our great state."
The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) updated regulations require licensed school teachers to complete 45 hours of CLD Education training or professional development before their licenses can be renewed. The courses in CCU’s Theories of Language, Learning, and Teaching certificate have been pre-approved by the CDE to fulfill this requirement. All five courses must be completed to receive a certificate of completion.
The continuing education courses include:
- Theories of Language, Learning, and Teaching — A Perspective on Language Learning
- Second Language Acquisition Theories and Second Language Learners
- Classroom Instructional Principles and Practices that Enhance Social and Academic Language of Second Language Learners
- Sociocultural and Linguistic Factors that Influence Language Learning Processes and Outcomes for Second Language Learners
- Theory to Practice or Cooperative Dialogue
Teachers in private schools who do not need to fulfill licensure requirements or other individuals who work with English language learners in a variety of settings may opt to take individual courses or complete the entire certificate in Theories of Language, Learning, and Teaching.
To learn more about the CLD continuing education courses, visit ccu.edu/cldcec.