Loyola’s School of Education introduces two new minors

Loyola University Maryland’s School of Education is introducing two new minors to continue to meet the needs of aspiring educators: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Early Childhood Education.

“These new minors align with Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future, directly supporting two of the state's education priorities: expanding high-quality early childhood education and serving our growing population of multilingual learners," said Afra Ahmed Hersi, Ph.D., dean of Loyola's School of Education. "By making this specialized training accessible to students across all majors—not just education majors—we're preparing a diverse workforce ready to serve children and families in classrooms, healthcare settings, social services, and community organizations in our region and beyond.”

The ESOL minor is an 18-to 19-credit program designed to enhance students’ abilities to build a better world through knowledge and understanding of best practices for supporting and creating language-rich environments. 

“This minor explores the vast wealth of cultural and linguistic knowledge that multilingual learners bring to varying diverse contexts,” said Margarita Gómez, Ph.D., professor of literacy and undergraduate program director for elementary education. “Understanding multilingual learners' experiences, identities, and voices prepares graduates for careers in education, social work, healthcare, speech, language, and hearing sciences, human resources, business, and other fields.”

The Early Childhood Education minor is a 20-credit program that provides students with foundational theories as well as practical strategies for teaching and collaborating in schools, childcare, and community settings. The minor is aligned with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

“The Early Childhood Education minor is designed to prepare aspiring professionals to support the learning and development of young children in pre-K through grade 3,” said Stacy Williams, MBA ’23, chair of teacher education and clinical professor of education. “In response to the growing demand for highly qualified professionals in early childhood settings, this new minor will offer students opportunities to deepen their understanding of developmentally appropriate, inclusive practices and family engagement. Candidates will gain experience in early literacy strategies aligned with the science of reading.”

The new minors are intentionally open to students of all majors. While particularly valuable for aspiring educators, these programs also prepare students majoring in fields like speech and hearing sciences, psychology, and more to serve diverse children and families. Whether in healthcare, community organizations, corporate settings, or social services, graduates will be equipped with the practical and interpersonal skills needed to make meaningful contributions in their future careers.

About the School of Education
Loyola University Maryland’s School of Education offers leading undergraduate and graduate education programs for aspiring and current educators, educational leaders, and counselors, who are called to work with K-12 learners but require certification and training or improved teaching and leadership skills. Loyola’s mission-driven approach inspires and engages a community of accomplished educators who bring about ethical and fundamental change to help all children reach their full potential.