As French Dual Language programs are booming in New York City, Hunter College opened two new Master’s in 2012 in order to answer the growing need for French bilingual teachers. These programs allow students to be eligible to apply for teaching positions in just two years, upon graduation. 

Based in New York City, Hunter College is a leader in bilingual education, with it’s first Bilingual Education program for Spanish-speaking teachers-candidates opening in 1983. Today, the university offers programs in three different languages : Spanish/English, Chinese/English and French/English. These allow the development of skilled, knowledgeable and caring teacher who will be able to provide meaningful experiences to English language learners. 

Concerning the French-specific bilingual education courses, Hunter College offers Master’s as well as Extensions for aspiring teachers. Students who successfully complete the French track of the Master’s in Childhood or Early Childhood Bilingual Education will be eligible to apply for teaching positions in New York City’s French dual language programs. 

Upon graduation, students will be eligible for NYS certification in Early Childhood (from birth to grade 2) or Childhood Education (grades 1 to 6) in addition to the Bilingual Extension in French. Teachers who already have initial or professional certification in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, or certain secondary subject areas and want to teach in bilingual programs may apply for the Bilingual Extension. 

Hunter College wants to encourage non-certified candidates as well as early childhood, childhood and secondary school teachers to apply. Brian Collins, the Bilingual Education Program Coordinator of the university, who’s also a teacher, describes the career that comes from it as particularly rewarding. According to his personal experience, « having multicultural children in my classroom and the topics that we talk about and explore — not only in English but in an additional language — is exciting for the students and for me. It’s a great carrer ». 

In order to apply to the Master’s programs, students must be able to provide the following : 

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution acceptable to Hunter College with a GPA of 3.0 or better. 
2. A liberal arts or sciences major or interdisciplinary concentration of at least 30 credits. 
3. A general core in the liberal arts and sciences distributed as follows: 9 credits in math and science with at least one course in math and one course in science (a college course in calculus meets 6 credits of this requirement); 6 credits in English including one course in English composition with a grade of B plus a writing intensive course in any discipline with a grade of a B or better; 6 credits in social studies (of which one course must be in history or geography); 3 credits in the arts; and 3 credits in information retrieval (library studies, research, computer literacy, or educational technology). 4. Completion of a satisfactory writing sample in English and in French as part of the application process. 5. An on-site writing sample in English and in French and an interview.

In order to apply to the Advanced Certificate, students must be able to provide the following : 

1. A master’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.5 from an accredited institution acceptable to Hunter College or a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and NYS teacher certification. (initial, permanent or professional certification).
   •   Early childhood education (birth-grade 2)
   •   Childhood education (grades 1-6) or Common Branches PreK-grade 6
   •   Middle childhood education (grades 5-9) or Adolescent education (grades 7-12)
   •   Special subjects
   •   Literacy education
   •   Students with disabilities or special education K-12 
2. An on-site writing sample in English and in French and an interview conducted in English and in French. 
3. Two letters of recommendation, including one from a supervisor.

Detailed information about each program, including admission requirements, is available at https://hunter-soe.digication.com/bilingual_ma_programs/Welcome/published

Further information regarding graduate admissions is available at www.hunter.cuny.edu/soe