Master of Arts in Education: Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education

Make education accessible for all students regardless of their linguistic or cultural background. Learn how to meet bilingual students' needs and teach young people in culturally inclusive and responsive ways so that public education is equitable for everyone in your community. Cohorts begin the fall semester of even years.

You will work with faculty and professionals to:

Understand major theories, concepts, and research related to language acquisition and language development for emergent bilinguals.

Examine best practices in designing curricula and provide instruction supporting literacy learning and language development in learning content.

Boost your knowledge of instructional strategies to select and design materials that support emergent bilinguals in developing English language proficiency.

Learn how to include culture, diversity, and equity in designing learning environments that support fair academic access and learning opportunities for emergent bilinguals.

Apply classroom and school data to support linguistically marginalized students, mainly including content learning and language development for emergent bilinguals.

Work closely with emergent bilinguals in school-based field experience settings, applying your studies of language acquisition and instructional methods that enhance language and content learning.

Collaborate with a faculty advisor on a personalized research project that explores educational issues impacting instructional practices and school structures and has clear implications for policy and practice.

You must have a bachelor's degree to enroll. Our CLD options do not lead to teacher licensure. You may use these programs to augment your existing teaching license with a CLD endorsement in Colorado or a TESOL endorsement in New Mexico. Be an effective educator in an organization that serves people of diverse backgrounds or teaches internationally.

Fort Lewis College (FLC) is a place of experiential learning and an incubator of ideas and opportunity. It emerged through a series of changes uniquely tied to this region and its people. From military outpost to Indian boarding school, rural high school to a public college, we have been at the heart of Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners region for over a century.

Fort Lewis College exists to provide the same exceptional educational opportunities to every student who walks through any campus building doors.

At Fort Lewis College, where learning means doing, we hold our institutional actions consistent with our educational approach. As such, we hold dear our responsibilities as stewards of the land where we operate, as leaders and innovators in the region, and as partners in creating equitable education.

Fort Lewis College participates in two federally funded programs to support first-generation and low-income middle and high school students in navigating their way to and through college. TRIO Talent Search offers academic advising, financial aid preparation, and test prep to middle and high school students. TRIO Upward Bound supports high school students from Southwest Colorado with the school year and summer programs.

We are accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Every ten years, we are reviewed by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This process includes self-study and peer evaluation.

We are frequently mentioned in other top colleges lists, typically for affordability, diversity, the high quality of our faculty, and the benefits of being in Durango.