Bilingual Extension Track

What is the Bilingual Extension to the Teacher for Students with Speech and Language Disabilities?

The Bilingual Extension to the Teacher for Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD-BE) certification is required and granted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The TSSLD-BE is required for individuals serving pediatric bilingual or multilingual populations, ages 3-21 years, in settings funded by NYSED including educational contexts, private practices, and some medical establishments.

As a matriculating master’s student in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD), our curriculum provides students with a pathway to obtain the TSSLD-BE certificate by completing the Bilingual Extension Track (BET). Our curriculum enables you to learn content and fulfill clinical requirements mandated by New York State (NYS).

NYS awards the TSSLD-BE certificate, not New York University, nor the CSD Department. Other states may have similar requirements for bilingual speech-language pathologists (SLPs), but the Speech@NYU curriculum is only recognized as fulfilling requirements for certification in NYS.

Is the BET Right for You?

Students should pursue the BET if they:

self-identify as a bilingual or multilingual communicator (American Sign Language and other signed communication codes are not included in the NYS certification pathway);
intend to practice with pediatric populations ages 3-21 years in NYSED-funded agencies and programs; and
will be able to travel to New York City up to five days a week for supervised clinical experiences.

What Course Work Is Required as Part of the BET?

When admitted into the BET, students complete courses and clinical requirements in tandem with the course work leading toward their Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. The BET does not require enrollment in additional credits beyond those required for the MS degree.

The BET will cover the following areas of knowledge in multilingualism, equity, and social justice as required by NYSED:

theories of bilingual education and bilingualism;
multicultural perspectives in education;
sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics;
methods of teaching English language arts to bilingual English-language learners, including literacy and using the native language and English;
methods of teaching native language arts to bilingual English-language learners, including literacy and using the native language and English; and
methods of teaching other content appropriate to the teaching certificate to bilingual English-language learners and using the native language and English.

This content is distributed in the following courses:

Core courses (required of all students): All students in the CSD program benefit from content that is centered on equity and culturally responsive and sustaining practices.
Required BET course (available as an elective to all students): Students in the BET will use three elective credits to enroll in a required course that provides specialized content focused on linguistically responsive and sustaining assessments and interventions. While this course is required for students in the BET, it is also available as an elective for non-BET students.

Required Coursework	Course number	Course title	Credits
Core Courses (required for all MS)	CSCD-GE 2025	Culturally Responsive Practices II: The Educational Context	2
Core Courses (required for all MS)	CSCD-GE 2035	Language Development and Disorders in School Age Children	3
Required BE Course (elective for all MS students)	CSCD-GE 2079	Assessment and Intervention for Multilingual Learners in CSD	3

What Are the Clinical Requirements in the BET?

Students in the BET are also required to meet the NYS bilingual clinical requirements: Students will complete at least 50 direct clinical contact hours in diagnostic and/or treatment with a pediatric bilingual population (ages 3-21 years) under the supervision of a SLP with their TSSLD-BE. These 50 hours will be completed as part of the 400 direct clinical hours required for the MS degree.

When you are admitted to and enroll in the BET you are expected to travel to New York City up to five days a week during one or more of your field placements (i.e., Practicum III, IV, and/or V) to complete the required 50 direct contact hours. While we make every effort to identify and secure clinical opportunities in your target language (i.e., any spoken variety of a language in addition to English), we cannot guarantee linguistically matched clinical experiences.

How Do You Gain Certification?

The BE certificate, awarded by NYS, requires not only completing course work and clinical experiences, but also earning a passing score on the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in a target language other than English. This assessment is offered by the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) and is the final step you need to complete to be awarded the extension credential to the TSSLD-BE. The BEA assesses your content knowledge in multilingualism covered in your courses, as well as your proficiency in a target language, including comprehension, spoken language skills, and literacy.

How to Apply

Admission to the CSD program does not guarantee admission to the BET, as this track has limited capacity. When interest in the BET exceeds capacity, students will be accepted through a lottery.

To apply to the BET:

Express interest in the BET on your application when you apply for admission to the CSD program.
Once you’re accepted to the MS program and pay your deposit by the deadline, you will be sent a confirmation of interest form for the BET. Please return this form within 48 hours.
Wait to be notified if a seat is available in the BET. We will notify you following the lottery if you have been accepted into the BET, as well as the next steps you must take to enroll.

Questions

If you have any additional questions about the BET, please feel free to contact Dr. María Brea at mrb17@nyu.edu.

María Rosa Brea, PhD, CCC-SLP

Clinical Associate Professor; Director, Bilingual Extension Track