Master of Arts in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, District Partnership

Program Details

If you feel passionate about improving educational outcomes for your students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, University of Colorado Denver and select area districts have partnered to bring you an endorsement with an optional MA in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE). This transformational, practice-oriented program for elementary and secondary teachers will develop your knowledge, leadership skills and classroom practices to support multilingual learners and their families. Your cohort will earn the 24-credit CLDE endorsement in five semesters (Fall 2023 through Spring 2025). Next, you may pursue the optional master’s in CLDE for an additional six credit hours.

This cohort of educators will address relevant, emerging topics in CLDE such as:

• Leveraging the strengths of culturally and linguistically diverse learners to improve educational outcomes
• Planning and differentiating instruction to help all students acquire the language and literacy needed for school success
• Building successful family and community involvement, and
• Designing and interpreting assessment (summative and formative, of both language and content) for bilingual learners.

To complete the program, teachers will participate in three types of credit-bearing experiences, each designed specifically for teachers in our partner districts: graduate courses, professional development experiences for graduate credit and practicum hours.

Plan of Study

Most assignments will apply directly to your school and district context.

Graduate courses:

• CLDE 5010: Foundations of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners
• CLDE 5030: Language Development for Multilingual Learners
• CLDE 5820: Teaching Multilingual Learners, Advanced
• CLDE 5070: Linguistic Analysis for English: Implications for Teaching
• CLDE 5050: Assessment and Advocacy for Diverse Learners
• CLDE 5160: History and Law of Bilingual and Immigrant Education

Practicum courses:

• CLDE 5827: Culturally Responsive Teaching of Content
• CLDE 6910: Leadership Practicum

Additional courses needed for the MA:

• CLDE 5035: Theory to Practice
• CLDE 6912: Teacher Inquiry into Multilingual Classrooms

Time and Location

Cohort members take one class per semester during the school year, with additional job-embedded practicum work. Your endorsement courses will be held on weekday evenings, with synchronous meetings approximately once per month, either fully online or at a district training center.

CU Denver Faculty Advisor

Chris Carson
Christopher.carson@ucdenver.edu
303.315.4931

Adams 12 Schools Contact

Robyn Werpy
robyn.m.werpy@adams12.org

St. Vrain Valley Schools Contact

Patrick Kilcullen
kilcullen_patrick@svvsd.org

Westminster Schools Contact

Chadwick Anderson
CAnderson@westminsterpublicschools.org

Tuition and Cost of Attendance

Tuition costs for this program are significantly lower than main campus rates because they are offered as off-campus extended studies courses through CU Denver. The overall cost will depend on the number of courses taken on campus at CU Denver. Course costs do not include student fees, books, and other fees. A one-time matriculation fee of approximately $100 will apply if you do not already hold a CU degree.