Ready to launch: Learn about the new programs coming to the College of Education this fall
The San Diego State University College of Education will launch four new programs in Fall 2026 after recently gaining approval from the university senate. Here's a closer look at what will be new in COE next semester.
Minors in Bilingual Education and American Sign Language Studies
The Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education (DLE) has added two minors that will further its mission to elevate minoritized languages. You can read about SDSU’s new minor in American Sign Language (ASL) Studies at SDSU NewsCenter. Meanwhile, DLE also gained approval for a new minor for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a multiple subject or single subject teaching credential with bilingual authorization after graduation.
The bilingual education minor will help students meet the prerequisites for the post-bac credential program, as well as take Spanish language courses or Chicana and Chicano Studies courses to further develop their skills for teaching in dual language and intercultural contexts. DLE is also collaborating with SDSU International Affairs to offer prerequisite courses in a summer study abroad option in Oaxaca, Mexico.
"We want to make sure our students are prepared to earn a teaching credential, not only with subject matter competencies in Spanish and English, but also with the knowledge around why having a bilingual added authorization is important,” said Associate Professor Sera J. Hernández, chair of DLE. “It’s not only to make them more competitive in the field, it’s also to help them be better teachers and advocates for linguistically-diverse students and communities — particularly here in the border region."
While the program is currently geared toward Spanish-English bilinguals, Hernández hopes to expand the minor to include other languages in the future.
Bilingual School Psychology Advanced Certificate
The Department of Counseling and School Psychology (CSP) is offering a new advanced certificate to prepare linguistically- and culturally-competent school psychologists to better meet the needs of California’s large population of Spanish-speaking bilingual students.
Embedded into the existing school psychology Ed.S. program, the certificate will augment existing offerings covering competencies specific to the practice of bilingual school psychology and it is aligned with the California Consortium fro Bilingual School Psychology (CCBSP). The certificate is a minimum of 12 units of specialized coursework on topics specific to work with multilingual learners. Participants will also take part in practicum experiences under the supervision of a bilingual school psychologist.
“For aspiring school psychologists, having a bilingual certificate will put you at the front of the line, because there's such a need," said Associate Professor Patricia Sánchez Lizardi, who led the development of the certificate.
At its core, the certificate also aims to improve equity in schools. Sánchez Lizardi notes that Spanish-speaking students are often misidentified for special education because of the language and cultural barriers.
"Being a bilingual school psychologist is more than knowing how to say ‘IEP’ in Spanish," she said. “They need to be trained to understand all the nuances of what a child is going through when they are growing up bilingually or multilingually, and when they're growing in another culture. They also need to understand all the other factors that exist in a system, whether that is this country or the educational system.”
Elementary and Special Education Dual Credential
Supported by U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funding, the Department of Special Education and School of Teacher Education are launching a new dual credential program focused on inclusion.
Taking place over three semesters (summer, fall and spring), the program will enable students to earn two credentials — one in multiple-subject (elementary education) teaching and the other to become an education specialist for mild-to-moderate support needs. Candidates will take part in practicum experiences working with students with and without Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Each semester, students will be supported by both a special education and general education guide teacher.
Student teaching will take place just three days a week, easing the financial burden on students by allowing them to work as substitute teachers.
“We’re working to change the status quo to make sure students with disabilities can be meaningfully included and make progress with their peers in the general education classroom,” explained Associate Professor Christopher Brum, who directed the development of the dual credential. “This dual credential program is changing the way we prepare teachers so that they can have the strategies to effectively serve a variety of learners. We wanted to break down the silos in how we prepare general and special education teachers.”
