Spanish Teacher (7-12), M.A.

Matriculation Requirements

Applicants must offer at least 15 credits in advanced courses in Spanish. Applicants must also offer (a) or (b):

• (a) New York State Initial Certification in teaching Spanish grades 7–12 or courses in education that meet the New York State standards for the pedagogical core. These courses include study of the following: history of education and philosophy of education or principles of education or educational sociology; educational psychology or developmental psychology or psychology of adolescence or adolescent development; classroom management; teaching students with special needs and English language learners; six credits in literacy and language acquisition; curriculum development and methods of assessing student learning; uses of technology in the classroom; methods of teaching Spanish in grades 7–2; 100 hours of fieldwork; 40 full days or 300 hours of student teaching of Spanish in grades 7–12; or one year of full-time teaching Spanish at appropriate grade levels, and passage of a New York State–approved Performance Assessment.
• (b) an undergraduate degree with a major in Spanish or appropriate course work in Spanish.

Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. A minimum GPA of 3.00 in graduate courses is required to maintain matriculation.

International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test or 79 on the internet-based test, before being considered for admission.

Applicants who have not completed all the specific course requirements are given individual consideration and may be admitted with conditions, with the approval of the chair of the Department of Secondary Education and the chair of the Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

General matriculation and admission requirements of graduate studies are in the section “Admission.”

Each student is evaluated individually based upon prior experiences. Based upon this evaluation and current certification requirements of the New York State Education Department, courses in education or another department may be substituted for required courses with permission of the program coordinator.

Program Requirements (30–40 Credits)

Students enroll in the appropriate education courses listed below (Option A or B) based upon teaching experience, previous coursework, and the teaching certificates, if any, they hold.

Option A (30 Credits)

Spanish (18 credits)

Students who possess Initial Certification in teaching Spanish or the equivalent must complete the following courses in Spanish: Spanish 7010X, 7510X, or 7520X; a course in Latin American literature; and a course in Peninsular Spanish literature and six credits of electives as approved by the chair or deputy chair of the Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department.

Students must also complete a substantial final project, which may take the form of a thesis in Spanish, or may consist of a “teaching unit” completed under the co-direction of the Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the School of Education. The writing of the thesis or completion of the teaching unit may take place during a three-credit tutorial, Spanish 7790G, taken as the final course of the student’s program. Spanish 7790G, however, is not a required course for the degree.

Courses in the Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department and the School of Education offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses. The program of study must be approved early in the first semester by the chairperson or deputy chair of the Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Department of Secondary Education.

Education (12 credits)

Students must also complete 12 credits in courses in Education as follows: Research in Modern Languages Education: SEED 7622T; Literacy: SEED 7503X; Mindfulness SEED 7504X; Development and SEL: SEED 7507X.

Option B (40 Credits)

Spanish (15 credits)

Students who do not possess Initial Certification in teaching Spanish or the equivalent must complete the following courses in Spanish: Spanish 7010X, 7510X, or 7520X; a course in Latin American literature; and a course in Peninsular Spanish literature and three credits of electives as approved by the chair or deputy chair of the Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department.

Students must also complete a substantial final project, which may take the form of a thesis in Spanish, or may consist of a “teaching unit” completed under the co-direction of the Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the School of Education. The writing of the thesis or completion of the teaching unit may take place during a three-credit tutorial, Spanish 7790G, taken as the final course of the student’s program. Spanish 7790G, however, is not a required course for the degree.

Courses in the Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department and the School of Education offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses. The program of study must be approved early in the first semester by the chair or deputy chair of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Department of Secondary Education.

Education Core (12 credits)

The following four education courses are required unless candidates have taken one or more as part of previous coursework. Foundations: SEED 7500X; Literacy: SEED 7503X; Development and SEL: SEED 7507X; and Special Education: SEED 7671X.

Student Teaching (4 credits)

The following two student-teaching courses are required unless candidates have a New York State waiver: SEED 7541T, 7542T, and 7543T. (SEED 7500X and SEED 7620T must be completed before student teaching.) SEED 7543T is not required if the candidate is teaching English full time at an appropriate grade level.

Students teaching with a New York State Internship Certificate must be enrolled in either SEED 7001T or 7542T during every semester that they are teaching under the certificate.

Spanish Education (9 credits)

The following Spanish education courses, or Spanish education courses approved by the program coordinator, are required in the stated sequence unless candidates have taken one or more as part of previous coursework: SEED 7620T, 7621T, and 7622T.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Alignment with Standards for Content and Teaching Mastery

Develop pedagogical-content knowledge in order to support all students including English Language Learners, students with special learning needs, and students from all racial, cultural for New York State World Language Standards, and ACTFL World Readiness Standards.

2. Adolescent Development and Social-Emotional Learning

Develop knowledge of adolescent development and Social-Emotional Learning to support students to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, show empathy, maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.

3. Creating Instructional Plans

Apply knowledge of adolescent learners, learning theory, curriculum design, pedagogy, differentiation, and educational technologies when creating instructional plans that support all students in building historical knowledge, historical thinking, inquiry and literacy in world language.

4. Supporting Diverse, Equitable, and Positive Learning Environments

Informed by the NYSED Culturally-Responsive Sustaining Education Framework, candidates demonstrate they have knowledge of the impact of culture and language on learning, implement culturally responsive practices while fostering a positive learning environment, and develop the skills required for working with colleagues, parents, guardians, and communities for the benefits of all students.

5. Analysis of Student Work to Improve Instruction

Analyze and evaluate student work for evidence of learning, errors, and misconceptions and use findings to engage in reflective practice supporting the improvement of learning and teaching.

Admissions Requirements

• Fall Application Deadline: May 15. Applications after this date may be accepted on a rolling basis until all places are filled.
• Spring Application Deadline: November 1. Applications after this date may be accepted on a rolling basis until all places are filled.

Supporting Documents for Matriculation

Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the United States need to submit a course-by-course international transcript evaluation. See Graduate Admissions for more information.
• Two letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Photocopy of New York State or other state teaching certificate
• Brief biographical statement of 500 to 1,000 words describing your reasons for pursuing the specific graduate program to which you are applying and your future professional goals.

Interview with department.

Required Tests

• F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL—79, IELTS—6.5, PTE—58–63, Duolingo—105–160.

All students accepted to the School of Education are required to submit fingerprint verification before signing up for most education classes. Fingerprint verification is required for work in New York City Department of Education schools if you already have fingerprint records or not. Follow these instructions.

Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.

Contact

Ralph Di Bugnara, Program Coordinator

2416 James Hall
E: RalphDB@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000 ext. 3903

Bernardita Llanos

4214 Boylan Hall
E: bllanos@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000 x3676

Or contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.4536

Office Hours

Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Schedule an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor.