The program provides already-certified teachers the training to better assist K-12 English language learners who are struggling to survive and succeed academically. Graduates of the UCO bilingual Education/TESL Program are expected to become leaders who can apply their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the classroom setting, professional settings, and the community. The focus of the program coursework includes foundations of research, second language acquisition theory, cultural influences, historical and philosophical foundations of educational practices related to language minorities, current instructional and assessment practices across the curriculum, and grounding in English language structure and usage. Graduate students not holding Oklahoma teaching certification, but otherwise eligible for admission, will be required to complete alternative prerequisites.