Karen Gregory
Assistant Professor of Education
| Curriculum | Modality | APP DEADLINE | TIMELINE | start terms |
| Extension Program | Fully online, asynchronous | Rolling Admission | 1-year, 18-month, or 2-year | Fall, Spring, Summer |
Our Bilingual Education Extension is a fully online, asynchronous 15-credit program designed to prepare educators to serve culturally and linguistically diverse students in NYS Pre-K-12 bilingual education programs. This program supports English and Spanish instruction, equipping teachers with the necessary skills to meet the needs of English language learners (ELLs) and emergent bilingual learners through a culturally responsive framework.
Program Highlights
Flexible, Online Format – Fully asynchronous coursework and can be completed on a 1-year, 18-month, or 2-year timeline
Field Experience – Real-world application of bilingual teaching strategies
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy – Grounded in research-based teaching practices
Equitable Academic Outcomes – Prepares educators to support bilingual students effectively
Course Requirements
Curriculum and Materials for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages: Discover the essentials of ESL instruction—engaging teaching methods, effective assessments, and the cultural factors shaping language learning. Includes 15 hours of field experience.
Language and Identity in the Multicultural Classroom: Explore how language, culture, and identity shape multilingual classrooms. Dive into linguistic diversity and its impact on learning. Includes 15 hours of field experience.
Methods and Materials for Bilingual Instruction and Assessment (Taught in Spanish/English): Learn to develop biliteracy and assess bilingual learners through translanguaging, engaging materials, and differentiated strategies. Includes 15 hours of field experience.
Teaching Content in a Bilingual Context (Taught in Spanish/English): Discover how academic and native languages enhance bilingual education. Develop content-based teaching strategies with a focus on culturally responsive assessments. Includes 15 hours of field experience.
Foundations of TESOL and Bilingual Education: Get a deep dive into bilingual education policies, program models, and teaching strategies while exploring equitable classroom management and NYS standards. Includes 10 hours of field experience.
Eligibility Requirements
- NYS Certified Teachers with a valid initial or professional certification in Early Childhood/Childhood Education (B-6) or Adolescent Education (7-12 in a content area, e.g., English language arts, social studies, sciences, math)
- Demonstrated Spanish/English fluency (assessed through the Bilingual Education Assessment [BEA] at program completion)
Our Bilingual Education Extension program prepares educators to create inclusive, linguistically diverse learning environments. Graduates will be equipped with the skills to support bilingual students in achieving academic success while maintaining their cultural and linguistic identities.
Application Requirements
Brief personal essay indicating the reason you are pursuing your chosen graduate program and your intended long-term goals (submitted online with your application). Need some tips?
Include employment history, certificate or licenses held, volunteer/extracurricular activities, leadership roles, honors/awards and education history (submitted online with your application).
Two Letters of Recommendation are required. Recommendations must be submitted by a faculty member at your bachelor’s degree granting institution or professional reference if you have been out of school for some time. (Recommenders are required to submit recommendations online - instructions included within the application.)
Official Transcripts are required from all post-secondary institutions which you have earned college credit. Unofficial copies may be uploaded for the purpose of application review, but official copies are required prior to enrollment.
Also, if you earned your undergraduate degree outside of the United States, an evaluated transcript is required by a recognized member of The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.) Our preferred evaluators are World Education Services, Inc. or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Transcripts and evaluations should be emailed directly to our registrar at transcriptreceiving@siena.edu or mailed to the address below:
Siena University
Registrar's Office
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211
Official TOEFL, IELTS or DUOLINGO Test Scores are required from international students whose native language is not English. All English examination scores are considered valid up to two years after the testing date. Certificates of Instruction may be considered if English was the medium of instruction for undergraduate studies.
Accepted tests and minimum scores:
TOEFL - 79
IELTS - 6.5
DUOLINGO - 115
Official Test Results should be sent electronically to graduateadmissions@siena.edu or mailed directly to:
Siena University
Registrar's Office
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211
frequently asked questions
1. Who is eligible for Siena’s Bilingual Education Extension?
The program is designed for New York State-certified teachers who hold a valid initial or professional certificate in Early Childhood/Childhood Education or Adolescent Education in a content area such as English language arts, social studies, mathematics, or science. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in Spanish and English by completing the New York State Bilingual Education Assessment at the end of the program.
2. What is the difference between bilingual education and TESOL?
Bilingual education uses both English and another language to teach academic content while supporting students’ biliteracy and cultural identities. Siena’s Bilingual Education Extension prepares teachers to teach content in both Spanish and English. TESOL focuses on helping multilingual learners develop English proficiency.
3. Does the program include classroom experience?
Yes. Each course includes field experience that allows teachers to apply bilingual instructional strategies in authentic educational settings. Across the five courses, students complete 70 field experience hours focused on language development, biliteracy, assessment, culturally responsive teaching, and bilingual content instruction.
4. What will I learn in the Bilingual Education Extension?
Students learn how to design bilingual instruction, develop students’ academic language and biliteracy, assess multilingual learners, select culturally responsive materials, and teach content using English and Spanish. The curriculum also examines language, culture, identity, education policy, bilingual program models, and equitable classroom practices.
