Dual Language Development

Our unique program features include:

• Fully online graduate program for students in Pathway 1 with 12 post-baccalaureate semester units completed recently* at an accredited university**.  Upon approval, this leaves only 6 graduate level courses (18 semester units) to complete towards the course degree requirements, which may be completed in 3 semesters. 
• Admitted students who are employed as full-time teachers may be eligible for the Teach Grant.
• A customized program of our course content can be designed to meet a school district's professional development needs.
• Opportunity to collaborate with faculty on professional projects specializing in literacy, linguistics, language development, second language acquisition, and English learners.

*Coursework must be completed within 7 years of the semester and year of graduation. Revalidation of coursework taken more than 7 years ago is typically not approved.
**Accredited university is defined as a 4-year college or university that has been regionally accredited. For example, CSULB and all campuses in the CSU system, as well as UC's, are accredited.

DLD Master Degree, Credential & TESOL Programs

Some students have completed the DLD master’s degree simultaneously with a teaching credential or TESOL program. Please contact the program advisor Dr. Trini Lewis to discuss the possibility, and to create a personalized academic plan. The DLD program works closely with the Spanish and Asian bilingual authorization credential programs. For additional information regarding the Spanish or Asian bilingual authorization credential (BILA), please visit the BILA website.

Please note that CSULB does not have a combined teaching credential and master’s program. If your intention is to earn a master’s degree, you will need to be admitted and matriculated into the DLD program so that your degree can be conferred. However this means that coursework taken outside of courses required for the MA would be considered by the university to be in addition to, not part of, required courses. This may affect time to completion, tuition rates and Financial Aid (if applicable). Please work closely with Professor Trini Lewis to create an appropriate plan if you are interested in completing the MA and credential (or TESOL) simultaneously. 

Our Master's Degree is a 30 unit (10 classes) program designed for those who have a Bachelor of Arts degree and a teaching credential, or are pursuing a CSULB teaching credential. If you don't hold a teaching credential, then it is important to have experiences related to our specialization. Students with 12 post-baccalaureate semester units from an accredited university (such as from a teaching credential program) only need to complete 6 courses over 3 semesters to earn the degree.

Our applicants speak a variety of languages such as Arabic, French, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Please see the University Catalog for requirements for admission to the program. 

International applicants are encouraged to apply to this program. Please note that international applicants must apply by March 15th, 2023 for Fall 2023 consideration. International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit the International Applicants tab for more information. All questions regarding international admission to CSULB and international tuition should be directed to the Center for International Education. They may be reached by email at cie-admission@csulb.edu or by phone at 562/985-5476. 

DLD graduates are highly sought experts and enter professions such as classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, staff developers, and teacher educators. Our graduates are employed in school districts such as Culver City, Bellflower, Lynwood, San Diego, San Francisco, Garden Grove, Pasadena, Westminster, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Torrance, Montebello, Anaheim, and Anaheim Union. Graduates are also consultants or hold related positions in the private sector whereas others have obtained work overseas in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Spain. Some graduates choose to pursue doctorate degrees and/or work at community colleges and universities.