2015-2016

Spanish Education, Master of Arts in Teaching

Department of Global Languages and Cultures

College of Arts and Letters

This coursework-based advanced degree prepares students by providing them with relevant classes in learning theories, instructional strategies, assessment modes, and technology/media methods. An internship and teaching assistantship round out a curriculum that includes input from educational psychology.

 

This program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2021

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 46-unit program providing candidates with a pathway for earning a Master's degree in teaching Spanish, with secondary certification.
  • At least 25 of the graduate units are earned through Spanish graduate classes.
  • The remaining 21 graduate units consist of professional coursework offered by the College of Education, and include 9 units of student teaching.

Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.

Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, and professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):

Minimum Units for Completion 46
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Arizona Certification/Endorsement

Prepares student for Arizona Certification and/or Endorsement.
Foreign Language

A foreign language is required.
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching is required.
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study
Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium

  • Standard 1. Language, Linguistics, Comparisons
    • Demonstrating Language Proficiency: Candidates demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the target language, and they seek opportunities to strengthen their proficiency.
    • Understanding Linguistics: Candidates know the linguistic elements of the target language system, recognize the changing nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own knowledge of the target language system by learning on their own.
    • Identifying Language Comparisons: Candidates know the similarities and differences between the target language and other languages, identify the key differences in varieties of the target language and seek opportunities to learn about varieties of the target language on their own.
  • Standard 2. Cultures, Literature, Cross-Disciplinary Concepts
    • Demonstrating Cultural Understandings: Candidates demonstrate that they understand the connections among the perspectives of a culture and its practices and products, and they integrate the cultural framework for foreign language standards into their instructional practices.
    • Demonstrating Understanding of Literary and Cultural Texts and Traditions: Candidates recognize the value and role of literary and cultural texts and use them to interpret and reflect upon the perspectives of the target language.
    • Integrating of Other Disciplines in Instruction: Candidates integrate knowledge of other disciplines into foreign language instruction and identify distinctive viewpoints accessible only through the target language.
  • Standard 3.  Language Acquisition Theories and Instructional Practices
    • Understanding Language Acquisition and Creating a Supportive Classroom: Candidates demonstrate an understanding of language acquisition at various developmental levels and use this knowledge to create a supportive classroom learning environment that includes target language input and opportunities for negotiation of meaning and meaningful interaction. 
    • Developing Instructional Practices That Reflect Language Outcomes and Learner Diversity: Candidates develop a variety of instructional practices that reflect language outcomes and articulated program models and address the needs of diverse l described in the evidence for a standard gathered in a course or a field experience language learners.
  • Standard 4. Integration of Standards into Curriculum and Instruction
    • Understanding and Integrating Standards in Planning: Candidates demonstrate an understanding of the goal areas and standards of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning and their state standards, and they integrate these frameworks into curricular planning.
    • Integrating Standards in Instruction: Candidates integrate the Standards for Foreign Language Learning and their state standards into language instruction.
    • Selecting and Designing Instructional Materials: Candidates use standards and curricular goals to evaluate, select, design, and adapt instructional resources.
  • Standard 5. Assessment of Languages and Cultures
    • Knowing Assessment Models and Using Them Appropriately: Candidates believe that assessment is ongoing, and they demonstrate knowledge of multiple ways of assessment that are age- and level-appropriate by implementing purposeful measures.
    • Reflecting on Assessment: Candidates reflect on the results of student assessments, adjust instruction accordingly, and analyze the results of assessments, and use success and failure to determine the direction of instruction.
    • Reporting Assessment Results: Candidates interpret and report the results of student performances to all stakeholders and provide opportunity for discussion.
  • Standard 6. Professionalism
    • Engaging in Professional Development: Candidates engage in professional development opportunities that strengthen their own linguistic and cultural competence and promote reflection on practice.
    • Knowing the Value of Foreign Language Learning: Candidates know the value of foreign language learning to the overall success of all students and understand that they will need to become advocates with students, colleagues, and members of the community to promote the field.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • Three Letters of Recommendation
    • Academic essay written in Spanish
    • Spanish oral sample that talks about a past experience to gauge your speaking abilities in Spanish
    • Personal Statement or Essay
Master's Requirements

  • Take the following 46 units:

    Content/Spanish Requirements (25 units)


    Professional Education Unit/Professional Knowledge Requirements (21 units)

    Complete professional courses offered by the College of Education to qualify for certification to teach Spanish in Arizona and most other states. You must be admitted to the Professional Education Unit.
    Requirement for Arizona Certification

    This is not a part of the MAT Spanish Education Degree Requirements.

    You may also take POS 220 (or POS 110 and POS 241) to satisfy Arizona certification requirements for Federal and State Constitutional knowledge. You may meet this requirement by demonstrating proficiency on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) Exam.

     

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.