MUST - Chinese Teaching Licensure Specialization

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program is designed to provide an opportunity for fluent speakers of Chinese to learn pedagogical skills appropriate for PreK-12 classroom instruction and earn an Ohio state teaching licensure. The program is intended to make it possible for individuals to seek employment in PreK-12 settings, teaching Chinese language and culture to U.S. students. Students enrolling in this program must be fluent in Chinese and may have prior teaching experience, often in settings outside the U.S. During their time in the program, students will become familiar with school culture and practice in a contemporary American setting, teach in a real school setting under the supervision of experienced educators, and ultimately be qualified to serve as a bridge between the Chinese and American cultures. The program leads to two credentials: An M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and a license to teach Chinese in Ohio.

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ADMISSION CRITERIA

In order to be admitted to the program, candidates must meet all the following requirements:
•    Bachelor's degree (a bachelor's degree earned outside the U.S. is acceptable if equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in CSU's judgment).
•    Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above, or equivalent acceptable score on a standardized admission examination (e.g., GRE, GMAT, Miller Analogies Test) for applicants without a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• Competency in English: If the undergraduate degree is from an institution in the U.S., the U.K. system, or Canada, the applicant is considered competent in English. Otherwise, the applicant needs a TOEFL test score from the iBT with a minimum total test score of 78 that includes at least 17 (each) on the listening, speaking, reading, and writing sections. An equivalent on another recognized examination may be substituted; for a list of acceptable substitutes, see https://www.csuohio.edu/international-admissions/graduate-admission-requirements
•    Fluency in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese (normally satisfied through the applicant's having grown up in a Mandarin-speaking environment).
•    An interview with CSU faculty member(s) to demonstrate both English and Chinese fluency.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Assuming that an applicant meets the criteria for admission to the program, there are three major stages to go through in qualifying for admission to the program (plus one additional step before the applicant enrolls). Each stage has its own requirements and paperwork. All steps are listed below in the correct sequence.

First, an applicant must be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies at Cleveland State University. Depending on whether an applicant is a domestic or an international student, the requirements differ slightly. We have provided links for both situations here:

•    If the applicant is a domestic student, go online to https://go.csuohio.edu/portal/apply
•    If the applicant is an international student, go online to https://www.csuohio.edu/international-admissions

In either case, follow the instructions and complete the application form(s) online. Follow the required procedures listed on the website for submitting all relevant documents and materials (Note: These documents are critical to being admitted. If an applicant skips this step or does it incompletely, the application for admission will be rejected by the College of Graduate Studies.) Once an applicant has submitted the application to the College of Graduate Studies, it will be processed by their staff, and if the applicant meets the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, they will pass all of the materials to the ESSC (Education Student Services Center) in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education.

Second, once the College of Graduate Studies has reviewed an applicant's materials, the student will be screened by the ESSC. The applicant doesn't actually have to take any additional actions in order for this to happen – it's an internal screening process at CSU. Assuming that the applicant satisfies both the College of Graduate Studies and the ESSC, the application still needs to be processed by the Department of Educational Studies, Research and Technology (ESRT).

Third, once an applicant's materials have been approved by the ESSC, they are forwarded to the ESRT Department. They will review the credentials, conduct an interview with the applicant, and make a final decision as to whether the applicant can be admitted to the program. If the applicant is deemed admissible, the applicant will be notified, and the ESSC will forward the materials on to the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (WLC).

Additional Step: The WLC Department will review transcripts for evidence of appropriate coursework in the content areas of Chinese culture, literature, and linguistics. Since this program prepares applicants to teach a foreign language, the WLC Department reviews these requirements relevant to this professional role as required by the State of Ohio. The requirement involves courses that fulfill the ACTFL standards for Teacher Education candidates. These include, but are not limited to, a critical understanding of Chinese culture, study of Chinese writings or readings as literature, course work in Chinese linguistics, and how these elements compare/contrast with perspectives expressed through U.S. culture, literature and linguistics. Students without this prior course work will need to take (and pay for) certain courses in order to successfully complete the program. If a student completes the Master's degree courses without fulfilling the content area requirements (culture, literature and linguistics), the student may still be eligible to earn a Master's degree in education without a teaching license. Once WLC has reviewed the application, the student will be provided with information about any content area requirements that the student is missing and must satisfy.

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

This is a 36 credit hours "cohort" program that encompasses 11 graduate courses, typically taken in four consecutive semesters (approximately 14-month) beginning in Summer each year. The coursework contains a set of program core courses (EDB 601, EDB 604, EDB 502, & EDB 505), a set of specialization courses unique to this degree program (ETE 570, EDL 505, ESE 500, & EUT 512), a set of major field experience component in which a student actually works under supervision in a real teaching setting (EST 574 & EST 598), and an exit requirement which is used to help students integrate what they have learned and prepare for a real job in the field (EDB 595). Below is a summary listing the courses and sequence in this program. (Note: You can click the title/name of each course below to see its course description, if desired):

First Summer:

•    ETE 570: Technology in Learning Environments, 3-credit hours (first 6-week)
•    EDB 502: Psychological Foundations of Education, 3-credit hours (first 6-week)
•    EDL 505: Content Area Literacy, 3-credit hours (first 6-week)
•    EDB 505: Teaching and Management in the Secondary School, 4-credit hours (second 6-week)
•    EDB 601: Research in Education and Human Services, 3-credit hours (second 6-week)

Fall:
•    EDB 604: Equity in Community and Classroom Settings: Promoting Youth and Young Adult Well-Being, 3-credit hours 
•    EUT 512: Integrated Performance Assessment: Methods of Foreign Language Education preK-12, 4-credit hours
•    EST 574: Practicum in Foreign Language, 3-credit hours

Spring: 
•    EST 598: Chinese Language Teaching Licensure, 4-credit hours
•    ESE 500: Introduction to Special Education, 3-credit hours

Second Summer:
•    EDB 595: Seminar on Integrating Theory & Practice, 3-credit hours

Supplemental Chinese Language Coursework, If Needed:
Once the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures has reviewed an applicant's transcripts for evidence of appropriate course work in the content areas of Chinese Culture (3-credit hours), Chinese Literature (3-credit hours), and Chinese Linguistics (3-credit hours), if a student needs to take any of these courses, the student will be expected to complete them in addition to the 11 coursework listed above.   

Program of Study:
Each student is required to fill in and complete a "Program of Study (POS)" including all the 11 required courses, listed above, with a faculty advisor during the first semester of study. The faculty advisor will then forward it through the proper channels for final approval. The student's copy will be returned when all approvals have been obtained. Here is a link to the blank POS for the program: /sites/default/files/M-Chinese%20Language-PK-12.pdf

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EXIT PROCEDURE

In order to finish the program, thereby receiving both the Master's degree and Chinese teaching license, students will need to:
•    Complete all required coursework, including practicum & student teaching. 
•    Pass EdTPA. 
•    Pass ACTFL OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) in Chinese at or above the Intermediate High level.
•    Pass ACTFL WPT (Writing Proficiency Test) in Chinese at or above the Intermediate High level.
•    Pass Portfolio Assessment.

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TUITION, FINANCIAL AID, AND SCHOLARSHIPS 

For an example of non-resident international graduate student, one of 36 credit hours required by the program is: US$677.20 per credit that was approved on June 28, 2023 by CSU's Board of Trustees. However, this fee schedule is subject to change without notice by action of the Board. For tuition and other fee details, please visit: /sites/default/files/2024-10/graduate-international-fee-schedule.pdf  

Many students at CSU receive various forms of financial aid during the term of their studies. Financial aid is only available to citizens of the United States; however, a limited number of assistantships are available for eligible international students. For details about financial aid, please visit: https://www.csuohio.edu/financial-aid/apply-for-financial-aid. For details about international graduate student scholarships, please visit: https://www.csuohio.edu/international-admissions/international-student-scholarships.

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VISA STATUS (for international applicants only)

To enter the program, students need an F1 (full-time) visa. Students need to remain a full-time student to retain this visa status. At graduation, students can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) status for one year. If a student finds employment with a school district during that year, students can apply for an H1B visa. This type of visa usually lasts for three years and can be extended for up to three additional years. When applying for the H1B status, or at any time during the H1B period, students can apply for permanent residency (i.e., "Green Card") status. Once a Green Card is held for a certain period of time, one is eligible to apply for United States citizenship.

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"RECIPROCITY" CHINESE TEACHING LICENSE

If graduates earn a Chinese teaching licensure in Ohio from this program, they may be able to teach in one of the other 49 U.S. states. However, this requires further checking with the state in which graduates are interested in teaching. Some states recognize "reciprocity"– meaning that, if they are licensed in one state, the other state will recognize their license. Some states (most notably New York and California) do not recognize reciprocity with other states. In such a case, graduates may need to take additional coursework, pass specific tests, or go through a procedure specified by the state in which they wish to teach.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Lih-Ching Chen Wang, Professor of Educational Technology, Faculty Advisor & Supervisor of MUST - Chinese Teaching Licensure Specialization, Department of Educational Studies, Research and Technology, Phone: (216) 687-4595, E-mail: l.c.wang@csuohio.edu

Courtney Glover, MUST Academic Advisor, Phone: (216) 523-7576, E-mail: c.a.glover@csuohio.edu