Academic Program Proposal

Date Proposal Activated	Institution and Proposal	Degree Awarded	Academic Program Name	Objection Deadline
	Bowie State University Proposal	Upper Division Certificate (U.D.C.)	English for Speakers of Other Languages	2/22/2025
English for Speakers of Other Languages Program Description
The Certificate in ESOL in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Professional Development (TLPD) at Bowie State University (BSU) will prepare teacher-candidates to comprehensively address the linguistic and cultural needs of English Language Learners in K-12 schools. The proposed program directly aligns with the College of Education’s mission and addresses the current ESOL teacher shortage in the State of Maryland (see <br>detailed discussion in Part B). Since its inception in 1865, the College of Education has been preparing academic and professional leaders who are globally competitive in their <br>content specialty, grounded in the knowledge bases of their discipline, and sensitive to the ethnicity of the students they serve. As the oldest historically Black college and university (HBCU) in Maryland, the issue of culturally responsive teaching has been a central tenet in College’s teacher preparation programs. Accordingly, the Certificate in ESOL reflects this focus by providing carefully crafted content, classroom activities, and <br>field experiences that develop a greater appreciation for the linguistic and cultural diversity that represents who we are as a society, as well as offering best instructional practices to meet the needs of this student population.