2016-2017

Spanish, Master of Arts in Teaching

Department of Global Languages and Cultures

College of Arts and Letters

The Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish is designed to prepare you to apply the most current methods, strategies, and technologies for teaching Spanish in a classroom environment that fosters cultural diversity.

The M.A.T. Spanish offers a professional foundation in the academic areas of Teaching and Pedagogy, Literature and Culture, and Linguistics to prepare teachers to excel in a rapidly changing classroom with an increasing number of bilingual and heritage language speakers.

Students (both native and non-native Spanish speakers) will be enrolled in graduate-level courses conducted entirely in Spanish. This will allow you to attain a high level of proficiency in the language.

  • 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:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 36
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exam is required.
Foreign Language

A foreign language is required.
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

By the end of the program, the graduate students will be able to:

  • develop detailed lesson-plans and assessment instruments, as well as effective activities and resources for teaching secondary and/or junior college level Spanish
  • teach Spanish at the secondary and/or junior college level using the latest methodologies
  • integrate technology into the teaching of Spanish to enhance students’ learning
  • participate in scholarly activities related to the teaching of Spanish in the state of Arizona and in the US
  • critically examine a variety of methods of Spanish Instruction
  • critically examine current theories of Second-Language Acquisition
  • integrate literature into the Spanish classroom to promote cultural awareness and provide context to language instruction
  • develop teaching-related research projects that combine knowledge of the three areas of the MAT program: Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature
  • analyze the linguistic features of the Spanish language at the sound, word, sentence and discourse levels and explain how they change across time, place and social groups

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

  • 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.