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The Graduate Certificate in Specialization of English Language Acquisition & Development (LELAD) in the Department of Early, Multilingual, & Special Education prepares educators to work in PK-12 to advocate for the specific sociocultural, academic, cognitive, and linguistic needs of English language learners.

The graduate certificate program in the Specialization of ELAD is composed of seven courses targeting a specific age range of English learners (i.e., ELs in PK-12), focusing on developing specialized knowledge in working with ELs. The program is particularly relevant to individuals who work with school-age ELs in U.S. public schools or are seeking a leadership role centered on EL education (e.g., ELL learning strategist, district-level position). The 18-credit program will provide educators with knowledge, strategies, and advocacy skills for this ELL populations. Hours earned for the certificate may be applied to the master’s degree program in English Language Learning. Hours earned in the master’s program in English Language Learning may not retroactively be used toward the certificate.

The certificate includes 7 courses related to assessment, second language acquisition, curriculum and instruction, linguistic theories, educational policy and advocacy that are important for designing instruction, interventions, assessments, and curricula for English learners. The coursework associated with this graduate certificate aligns with the learning expectations of and requirements for the ELAD endorsement through the Nevada Department of Education (See Nevada Academic Code [NAC] 391.237). Curriculum in the graduate certificate ELAD program is also centered on multiple domains of knowledge and align with the standards of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for teacher preparation.