Bilingual Early Childhood Education

This master’s program will prepare you to become an effective teacher using two languages of instruction in an early childhood setting including infant and toddler centers, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 2. The program is offered in three languages: Spanish/English, French/English and Chinese/English.

Credits

• For those without New York State (NYS) certification: 40-52 credits
• For those with initial certification in Childhood Education, Special Education or TESOL: 33-44 credits
• For those with initial certification in Early Childhood Education 30-36 credits

Certification

Early Childhood Education with Bilingual Education Extension

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

For applicants who do not hold NYS certification

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0
• A liberal arts or sciences major or interdisciplinary concentration of at least 30 credits
• General education core in the liberal arts and sciences including coursework in artistic expression, communication, information retrieval, concepts in history and social sciences, humanities, a world language other than English, scientific and mathematical processes, and written analysis and expression (Waived for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 applicants)
• An on-site writing sample in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese and an interview conducted in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese to demonstrate speaking, reading, and writing fluency
• Two letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Supplemental Material: a translated statement of purpose in the language of instruction you intend to pursue
• An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report (Waived for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 applicants)

For applicants with initial certification in Childhood Education, Special Education or TESOL

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 or a master’s degree with GPA of at least 3.5
• NYS initial, professional, or permanent certification in Childhood Education, Common Branches Pre-K-6, Special Education, or TESOL
• An on-site writing sample in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese and an interview conducted in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese to demonstrate speaking, reading, and writing fluency
• Two letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Supplemental Material: a translated statement of purpose in the language of instruction you intend to pursue
• An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report (Waived for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 applicants). Certified teachers who hold a graduate degree are exempt from this requirement.

For applicants with initial certification in Early Childhood Education

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 or a master’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.5
• NYS initial certification in Early Childhood Education
• An on-site writing sample in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese and an interview conducted in English and in Spanish, French or Chinese to demonstrate speaking, reading, and writing fluency
• Two letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Supplemental Material: a translated statement of purpose in the language of instruction you intend to pursue
• An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report (Waived for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 applicants).

To Apply

Applications are accepted each Fall and Spring semester.

To start your application, visit the Hunter College Online Application.

When applying to this program under Program of Study, select School of Education – Childhood & Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education: Bilingual Ext. (Birth-Grade 2)

Application Deadlines

Fall Start

• March 15 

Spring Start

• October 15
• November 15 (Extended Deadline)

Visit How to Apply for information about deadline extensions.

Related Programs

If you hold NYS teacher certification, you may be eligible for the Specialized Additional Teacher Certificate: Bilingual Education Extension for NYS Certified Teachers.

Contact an Admissions Advisor

edadmissions@hunter.cuny.edu

Program Coordinator

Brian Collins