English as a Second Language Endorsement/Approval

View information for Accepted Students or Current Students

This online program is designed to enable licensed teachers to obtain the endorsement required to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. Upon completion of the endorsement coursework, candidates will have the option to complete additional coursework to receive a Master of Arts in Education degree.

This program is designed for teachers who are either:

• Employed currently in education programs serving English as a Second Language students, or
• Preparing for or seeking employment as English as a Second Language teachers.

Candidates with a valid Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I endorsement on their current educator license are eligible to complete an English as a Second Language approval. The difference between the approval (9 semester hours) and the endorsement (18 semester hours) is that the approval allows individuals with a LBS I endorsement the ability to work with English Language Learners with Individualized Education Plans, while the full endorsement allows individuals to work with English Language Learners at the PK-12 grade range.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement program flyer (pdf)

Endorsement Requirements

You may apply for the State of Illinois English as a Second Language Endorsement upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed curriculum while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0.

In addition to coursework, candidates for English as a Second Language Endorsement must have 100 clock hours in English as a Second Language field experiences (candidate must have access to English Language Learners) or have three months of teaching experience in an English as a Second Language program.

Endorsements can only be added to a valid Illinois Professional Educator License. Upon completion of the coursework, apply for this endorsement through the License Office at Dominican University. Once entitled, you must apply for the endorsement in your Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account.

Application Deadlines

• Summer I 2024: May 6–June 25; deadline April 26
• Summer II 2024: July 1–August 19; deadline: June 21
• Fall I 2024: August 26–October 18; deadline: August 16
• Fall II 2024: October 21–December 14; deadline: October 11
• Spring I 2025: January 6–February 28; deadline December 27
• Spring II 2025: March 10–May 2; deadline February 28

Approval Requirements 

Candidates for the approval must hold a valid Illinois Professional Educator License with a Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I endorsement. Upon completion of the coursework, apply for this approval by submitting an application online in your Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account.

The program can be completed in approximately three to four semesters.

ESL Endorsement Learning Outcomes

• Understand theoretical foundations of bilingual education and teaching ESL
• Demonstrate assessment of the bilingual student
• Apply methods and materials for teaching ESL
• Apply methods and materials for teaching limited-English-proficient students in bilingual programs
• Understand cross-cultural studies for teaching limited-English proficient students

Curriculum for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement

For course descriptions, please visit the University Bulletin.

Curriculum for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Approval - Candidates Who Have Learning Behavior Specialist I Endorsement

For course descriptions, please visit the University Bulletin.

Curriculum for both the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Bilingual Endorsements