Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning: Linguistic Diversity and Equity: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
This advanced education degree focuses on students and educators interested in Educational Equity and Teaching Linguistically and Multilingually Diverse Students. National Louis University offers a unique approach to this type of study through a major in Linguistic Diversity and Equity as part of its National College of Education Ed.S. and Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning degrees.
What Is an Ed.S. or Ed.D. in Linguistic Diversity and Equity?
These programs of study explore how language policy, instructional practices, and school and district structures affect and support or marginalize multilingual learners and linguistically diverse communities. As such, coursework will include an in-depth study of language acquisition, of bilingual and multilingual education policy, of how language is used in schools to support and marginalize a wide array of groups, and of how language is used in classrooms and in schools as a tool for maintaining dominance in a variety of different forms.
The Linguistic Diversity and Equity major is one of the more recently added specializations to the Teaching and Learning program at National Louis University. This growing area of study and policy is focused on the increasing number of multilingual learners in U.S. schools. The major in Linguistic Diversity and Equity is offered through the National College of Education at National Louis University. There are several other specializations in the Teaching and Learning program, such as Curriculum, Advocacy and Policy; Disability and Equity in Education; and Reading, Language and Literacy. Thus, students can choose to major in a single specialization or pursue a double major, completing the required coursework for each specialization and the shared foundational and research courses for all specializations in the program.
Why Pursue an Ed.S. or Ed.D. in Linguistic Diversity and Equity?
Individuals currently implementing language support programs in schools are drawn to the Linguistic Diversity and Equity major to develop additional policies and programs that support schools’ and districts’ linguistic diversity. Increasingly, school districts are made up of students who speak many languages. As a result, educators and administrators with expertise in serving multilingual students are highly sought after by school districts. Specifically, they are looking for individuals to serve in leadership positions focused on language access and support for students learning a new language.
Some educators and professionals want to use a doctoral degree to investigate questions in bilingual and/or multilingual education. Such a degree can be very powerful in enabling a person to investigate, using rigorous research methods, questions of interest and concern to them. The previous description highlights that a major purpose of such a degree is to study the effects of particular bilingual programs, for example, on the academic achievement of English learners.
For those with personal connections to linguistic diversity and/or experience living as multilingual learners (of any age), studying linguistically diverse communities can be especially powerful. This work can be particularly meaningful to first- or second-generation immigrants or English learners. It can offer valuable insights for analyzing and advocating for policies that support linguistically diverse students in schools.
Key Questions About This Degree
Is this the same as an ESL or bilingual teaching endorsement?
These are not the same as ESL or bilingual teaching endorsements, which are typically add-on credentials to a K-12 teaching license for classroom teachers and focus on instructional practices for teaching linguistically diverse students and/or children learning a second language in school. An Ed.S. or Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning with a major in Linguistic Diversity and Equity is a more advanced degree of study for individuals already in the field, working at a school, district, or program level, and seeking a research-oriented degree to enhance their leadership, policy-making, and system-changing abilities in a school of education.
You do not have to be bilingual to pursue a degree in Linguistic Diversity and Equity. While many of the students in this program are multilingual and have personal or professional experience with language diversity, others bring different perspectives. Note, though, that programs can require different language proficiency levels, so check the specific program requirements for the programs you are applying to.
Can I combine this major with another specialization?
Many students choose to pursue a double major of Reading, Language and Literacy and Linguistic Diversity and Equity by completing the required coursework for both a double major of Reading, Language and Literacy and a specialization, and participating in the shared foundation, research, and applied research courses required for all students in the College of Education.
How long does the program take?
Program length varies by degree and by whether the student chooses to pursue a single specialization or combine two specializations in a double major. Typically, these programs take 3-6 years to complete. The majority of NLU students complete their programs on a part-time basis.
What's the difference between the Ed. S. and Ed. D. options?
Ed.S. programs are typically considered graduate-level work that is often short of a full Doctoral program (i.e., the Ed.D.) and consist of a culminating project that can differ from the full Doctoral dissertation (i.e., Ed.D.). In many instances, NLU doctoral students can apply some of the coursework completed as part of the Ed.S. program toward the total number of hours required for completion of the Ed.D. degree.
Career Outcomes
Many graduates go on to work in district roles overseeing English learner/bilingual programs as well as positions in language access, bilingual education policy, and other areas serving immigrant/refugee populations and schools. Other graduates go on to work in university settings as researchers and instructors in bilingual education and related applied areas, such as in linguistic diversity and equity in education or in Reading, Language, and Literacy.
Administrators and coordinators of English learner/bilingual programs, including those who serve in district offices, and coordinators of language access in various sectors, including K-12, higher education, non-profits, and research organizations, can expect growing numbers of positions. With growing numbers of multilingual learners in K-12 schools, higher education, and immigrant and refugee resettlement organizations that provide education support and advocacy, a range of new and existing positions will continue to emerge in the coming decade.
The positions of Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals, as well as those in the related field of education administration, are outlined in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Current information on occupational projections and wage data for the field of education administration is available on the BLS website.
Large multilingual learner populations persist in parts of the country; therefore, districts increasingly need leaders with expertise in language acquisition and equity, as well as doctoral-level research skills, to develop, evaluate, and advocate for effective language support programs and policies for learners from diverse backgrounds.
A final word on career opportunities outside of school districts. As noted earlier, many graduates are finding work with state departments of education as they develop policy and programs for growing numbers of multilingual learners. Also of increasing interest are positions with organizations that work with immigrant and refugee populations and seek to support their educational needs. Several organizations are engaged in research and professional development on language policy and equity issues for multilingual learners across the country.
Linguistic Diversity and Equity at National Louis University
National Louis University offers Linguistic Diversity and Equity as a specialization within the Teaching and Learning Ed.S. and Ed.D. program, in addition to other specializations such as Curriculum, Advocacy and Policy, Disability and Equity in Education, and Reading, Language and Literacy. Students can choose to pursue a single major or a double major within the National College of Education (NCE) at NLU.
