Teaching Multilingual Multicultural Learners Micro-Credential

 

College of Education; College of Arts, Languages, and Letters

 

Earn a stand-alone micro-credential or earn a micro-credential as a current student:

 

  • To pursue a micro-credential as a professional or lifelong learner (outside of a degree program), please apply to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College under the Non-Degree Seeking, Unclassified Programs option. There is no cost to apply and applications are generally processed within 5-10 business days.
  • If you are currently a UH Mānoa student, you can add a micro-credential to your existing studies without any application.

 

Register for your courses:

 

  • Once your application has been processed, or if you are currently enrolled, you can register for your courses via STAR GPS.
  • Be sure to check the micro-credential program page for pre-requisites or specific course sequences.

 

Complete the Statement of Intent form

 

  • Complete the Statement of Intent form and indicate the micro-credential you are interested in.
  • You will receive an email notification confirming receipt of your form

 

Complete your courses and claim your digital badge:

 

  • Complete and pass all of the required courses required for the micro-credential.
  • After successfully finishing your coursework, you will receive information on how to claim your shareable digital badge to showcase your new skills.

About This Micro-Credential

Hoʻonui ka ʻike—grow your knowledge and transform your practice in multilingual and multicultural education.

The Teaching Multilingual Multicultural Learners micro-credential provides foundational knowledge and practical skills to work effectively in diverse educational and community settings. Grounded in Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural and linguistic landscape—with global relevance—this program prepares you to support multilingual learners with confidence and cultural responsiveness.

You will explore how language, identity, and culture intersect in Hawaiʻi and beyond, while building practical teaching strategies rooted in research-based, culturally sustaining practices. This micro-credential also fulfills the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s (HIDOE) Sheltered Instruction Qualification (SIQ), supporting licensed teachers in advancement on the HIDOE salary scale.

Coursework

This micro-credential includes two graduate-level courses (6 total credits):

SLS 664 – Multilingual Multicultural Hawaiʻi (3 credits)

• Explore Hawaiʻi’s linguistic diversity (Indigenous languages, Pidgin, migration influences)
• Examine language ideologies, policies, and multicultural perspectives

EDCS/SLS 644 – Multilingual/EL Pedagogy (3 credits)

• Apply research-based teaching strategies for multilingual learners
• Develop lesson plans and culturally responsive instructional practices

Delivery: Fully online (typically offered in Summer)

Who This Is For

• Pre-service and in-service teachers
• Hawaiʻi DOE educators seeking SIQ qualification
• Educators pursuing TESOL-related credentials
• Professionals in education-adjacent fields (museums, nonprofits, community programs)
• Individuals working in multilingual or multicultural environments

Skills You Will Gain

• Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies
• Lesson planning for multilingual and English learners
• Analysis of language ideologies and sociopolitical contexts
• Collaboration with families, communities, and stakeholders
• Evidence-based approaches to supporting diverse learners

What You Will Learn

• The role of multilingualism in Hawaiʻi and global contexts
• How language, culture, and identity shape learning experiences
• Research-based methods for teaching multilingual learners
• Strategies for creating inclusive and equitable learning environments
• Curriculum design that supports language development and academic success

Stackability

Apply your credits toward advanced credentials:

Multilingual Multicultural Professional Practice (MMPP) Graduate Certificate
Master’s in Curriculum Studies (Multicultural Education)
Master’s in Second Language Studies
Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) in Second Language Studies

For HIDOE teachers, completing the full MMPP Graduate Certificate can lead to an additional TESOL license.

Contact & Advising

Email: csdept@hawaii.edu, grdchr@hawaii.edu

Course Listing