Why Pursue a Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Reading Specialist
The Bilingual Reading Specialist certificate at UT San Antonio was designed for students who are passionate about literacy and helping others learn to read and succeed, both in and out of the classroom. Through this certificate program, students will gain the tools needed to help address literacy education needs in the San Antonio community and beyond.
Earn a Master's Degree
Are you ready to take your career and academic journey to the next level? Combine this program with another eligible certificate to earn a master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies!
Choose from 35+ other disciplines (like linguistics, technology for language education, applied behavior analysis and more). Take advantage of the opportunity to customize your degree to align with your professional and educational goals.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
For international students, please note that student visas are not issued at UT San Antonio for non-degree-seeking students, including certificate programs. For more information, visit our international students admission page.
| Bilingual Reading Specialist (Certificate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
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| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Bilingual Reading Specialist (Certificate) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed as they are received. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the completed application. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2027 | October 1 | December 1 | |
| Summer 2027 | March 1 | May 1 | |
| Fall 2027 | June 1 | August 1 | |
| Spring 2028 | October 1 | December 1 | |
| Summer 2028 | March 1 | May 1 | |
Funding Opportunities
ResourcesCareer Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
- Courses are offered in the evenings (6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.) to fit the schedules of working professionals.
- Daytime courses are available in the summer.
- This program is housed on the UTSA Main Campus.
The BRS Certificate program consists of 15 credit hours (five graduate courses).
Courses that are part of the certificate program include the following:
- Socio-cultural Issues & Teaching of Reading (BBL 5173)
- Second Language Reading and Writing (ESL 5033)
- Bi-literacy in Bilingual Classrooms (BBL 5063)
- Assessment in BBL and Second Language Studies (BBL 5053)
- Multicultural Literature for Children (BBL 5193)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bilingual Reading Specialist Graduate Certificate is a 15–credit-hour graduate program designed for educators who want to become bilingual reading specialists or deepen their expertise in literacy instruction in bilingual settings. This program focuses on reading instruction and literacy development in bilingual contexts so you can better support readers in diverse classrooms and communities.
The certificate consists of five graduate courses, including topics like socio-cultural issues in reading, second language reading and writing, biliteracy in bilingual classrooms, assessment in bilingual and second language studies, and multicultural children’s literature, as listed in our program details. Courses are typically offered in the evenings during fall/spring (with daytime options in summer) at our Downtown Campus, making it a good fit for working professionals. A few of the courses offered can be taken fully online and those that are fully online are 8 weeks long each.
The Bilingual Reading Specialist Graduate Certificate is intended for:
- People who wish to become bilingual reading specialists
- Educators who want to increase their knowledge of reading instruction and literacy development in bilingual contexts
The certificate is 15 credit hours (five graduate courses) and covers key topics in bilingual literacy and reading, including:
- Socio-cultural issues and teaching of reading – Socio-cultural Issues & Teaching of Reading (BBL 5173)
- Second language reading and writing – Second Language Reading and Writing (ESL 5033)
- Biliteracy in bilingual classrooms – Bi-literacy in Bilingual Classrooms (BBL 5063)
- Assessment in bilingual and second language studies – Assessment in BBL and Second Language Studies (BBL 5053)
- Multicultural literature for children – Multicultural Literature for Children (BBL 5193)
The Bilingual Reading Specialist Graduate Certificate requires 15 credit hours, which equals five graduate courses.
Bilingual Reading Specialist Graduate Certificate is not the same as the Texas state reading specialist certification or credential. This graduate certificate is a credit-based academic credential earned through university coursework, while a professional Texas state reading specialist certification or credential is a standardized designation awarded by the state after passing an exam (Reading Specialist) which also requires up 20 or more graduate credit hours and clinical practicum.
Two courses are offered in Spanish:
- BBL 5033 Critical Pedagogies in Bilingual/Bicultural Content Instruction
- BBL 5063 Biliteracy in Bicultural-Bilingual Classrooms
Spanish language proficiency is not required. However, students who want more intensive Spanish language support can take full advantage of course materials and bilingual faculty feedback. Students can opt to take more or less intensive Spanish language courses. Currently only two core courses are intended to be taught primarily in Spanish.
- Socio-cultural Issues & Teaching of Reading (BBL 5173)
- Second Language Reading and Writing (ESL 5033)
- Bi-literacy in Bilingual Classrooms (BBL 5063)
- Assessment in BBL and Second Language Studies (BBL 5053)
- Multicultural Literature for Children (BBL 5193)
The Bilingual Reading Specialist certificate is a program for those who wish to become bilingual reading specialists, as well as for educators who wish to obtain increased knowledge of reading instruction and literacy development in bilingual contexts. The Bilingual Reading Specialist certificate offers specialized training for those who possess a valid teaching license and wish to become better prepared to provide appropriate reading instruction to students in bilingual programs in public schools. The program is available to students who have been admitted as special graduate students and seek the certificate independent of a degree, as well as graduate students pursuing an MA in Bicultural-Bilingual Education.
