School of Education
Additional Certification in English as a Second Language/Bilingual Teacher Course of Study

Course of Study Coordinator: Nigel Caplan
The University of Delaware’s English Language Institute offers a Course of Study that enables current Delaware teachers to prepare for an additional certification as a Teacher of English Learners or a Bilingual Teacher. Additional Certification in ESOL/Bilingual Teacher (ACE) participants take the 5 classes required for ESOL/Bilingual Teacher certification by the Delaware Department of Education and each course earns three graduate credits. The program takes 12-18 months to complete, depending on your schedule. Online participation is possible in all classes.
ACE Courses (15 credits)
- EDUC 672: Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits)
- EDUC 740: Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners (3 credits)
- LING 676/699: Second Language Acquisition & Bilingualism (3 credits)
- LING 677: The Structure of English (3 credits)
- LLCU: 624: Second Language Testing (3 credits)
Enrollment
The ACE program welcomes teachers and specialists from all Delaware counties, districts and charters. Participants must have at least an undergraduate degree and a teaching license. The ACE program will not qualify participants for an initial teaching license. Educators in other states, private schools or higher education should consult their own institutions to see whether ACE will benefit them.
Please complete the inquiry form to express interest and receive information about future classes. Once the program coordinator and/or instructor of the course approves the enrollment, you may register for courses through the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies as a continuing education student. Formal admission to the university is not required.
Tuition
- Tuition for the 2023/24 school year is $812/credit, or $2436 per course plus fees.
- Tuition arrangements must be made before the start of the course (even if you expect reimbursement later).
- Payment plans and credit-card payments are available (additional fees apply).
Financial Support
- Teachers who hold emergency certification as a Teacher of English Learners can apply for the State Critical Needs Scholarship. This scholarship offers partial reimbursement up to $1,300 for each of two courses taken during the academic year. Reimbursements are sent to UD and will appear as a credit on your UD financial account. Please see the Department of Education’s webpage for complete information or contact UD Student Financial Services if you have questions about how to apply your credit.
- Some school districts have tuition reimbursement funds or have made special arrangements to support ACE teachers. Contact your HR administrator for more information.
- Additional professional-development funding may be available from your school or district.
The five required courses will be offered on the following schedule in 2023-2026. ACE candidates may start in any session or semester, but they should plan to take EDUC 672 or LING 676 first.
Sections in plain text are MA TESL courses, which are open to ACE candidates. Sections in italics are only offered to K-12 teachers and are recommended for ACE candidates.
Synchronous online courses refer to “live” classes hosted on Zoom. Asynchronous online courses allow candidates to participate on their own schedule with assigned deadlines. Blended courses include synchronous Zoom or in-person meetings and asynchronous learning between meetings.
Course | Term | Format |
EDUC 672 Methods of Teaching ESL | Fall | In-person / synchronous online |
LING 677 Structure of English | Fall Spring |
In-person (online by request) Blended online |
EDUC 740 Literacy for English Learners | Spring
Fall |
In-person
Asynchronous online in the summer |
LING 676 Second Language Acquisition & Bilingualism | Spring Summer |
In-person (online by request) Blended online (LING 699) |
LLCU 624 L2 Testing | Fall Winter Summer |
In-person Online (synchronous) Online (blended) |
The Delaware Department of Education requires a passing score of 149 on the Praxis II ESOL test (5362) for certification as a Teacher of English Learners. Bilingual teachers do not need to take Praxis, but they must demonstrate proficiency in their non-English language and must hold another subject or area certification.
All ACE courses are also part of UD’s M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (MA TESL). ACE teachers can apply to the MA TESL during their first courses. If admitted, teachers can take the remaining regular MA TESL courses part-time (18 credits) and expect to complete the degree in approximately 2.5 years from start to finish. The GRE test is not required for MA TESL admission.
Teachers who do not have a qualifying master’s degree can apply to the MA TESL for the purpose of earning a +15/30 salary step and are not required to complete the degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact Delaware Department of Education’s Licensing Office to confirm whether your previous courses will count towards certification. Please contact the program coordinator to discuss whether your previous courses will transfer to this program.
No. ACE is an additional certification program for currently licensed Delaware teachers. Please contact your school or district ESL coordinator to discuss possible routes to certification. UD offers both undergraduate and graduate programs that lead to teaching licensure with ESL certification, including the M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and the Alternate Routes to Certification (ARTC) program.
If you are currently a paraprofessional but hold a valid Delaware teaching license, you are welcome to participate in ACE. Please contact us to confirm eligibility.
Yes. There is no difference in the tuition rate.
Yes. If you work outside Delaware, please contact us to ensure you receive the educator tuition rate.
Yes. Contact your school administrators about emergency certification.
Contact
For more information about enrollment, courses, or schedules, please contact:
Dr. Nigel Caplan
Associate Professor & ACE Coordinator
English Language Institute
Phone: (302) 831 7419
Email: nacaplan@udel.edu