Master of Arts Program in Spanish

For Secondary School Teachers

Director: Professor Ana Diz
718-960-8215 or Anadiz@aol.com

General Description of Program:

The Department of Romance Languages offers a Masters of Arts in Spanish for individuals who wish to teach at the secondary school level.
Designed for teachers and other professionals with a strong undergraduate background in Spanish, the Program focuses on the language, literatures, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.
The Program's main goals are:

to refine and enrich the student's oral and written performance in Spanish;

to provide a sound grammar foundation for teaching the language;

to offer models for the analysis of literary works;

to widen the student's knowledge of the literatures written in Spanish; and

to enhance the student´s awareness of the rich and varied cultures of the Spanish-speaking peoples.

The curriculum requires 18 credits in Spanish (including Spa 601: Workshop in Spanish Grammar), 6 credits in education (ESC 761 and ESC 762 are recommended), and 6 credits in elective courses in Spanish or in education.

Admission Requirements:

Possess a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited college or university;

Demonstrate ability to pursue graduate study successfully (above average academic achievement in general and in the teaching specialization is required);

Have completed 18 credits in advanced (300 level and above) undergraduate Spanish courses (including a minimum of 9 advanced credits in literature courses conducted in Spanish) plus 12 credits in secondary education courses and one semester of student teaching (or its equivalent). If these requirements are not met, additional undergraduate courses must be completed before admission to the program and after consultation with the Department.

Satisfy appropriate voice, speech, and health standards.

If conditionally admitted, make up not more than 12 credits of specified undergraduate course work, starting in the first semester and finishing in no more than three consecutive semesters.

Submit two letters of recommendation.

Report to the department for consultation with the chair and assessment of Spanish language skills prior to matriculation.

Non-matriculants are also required to report to the Department for assessment of skills prior to registration.

Continuation Requirements:

Students must maintain an average of 3.0. They are placed on academic probation for a semester after which, if their average is still below the minimum required, they cannot continue.

Exit Requirements:

Spanish Courses: A candidate for the M.A. degree for Secondary School Teachers of Spanish must complete a minimum of 18 credits in Spanish graduate courses with a grade average of B or better. SPA 601 is a required course and must be taken by all students.
Education Courses: A minimum of 6 education credits are required for graduation. ESC 761 and 762 are recommended for secondary school teachers of Spanish. Students who do not have prior education credits at the undergraduate level and wish to meet the state certification requirements may have to take additional education courses. All students must consult with the Department of Secondary, Adult, and Business Education as early as possible, for advisement.
Elective Courses: A minimum of 6 credits in Spanish or education elective courses is also required.
Comprehensive Examination: All students in the program must pass a comprehensive examination in Spanish literature based on a reading list distributed to entering students.

Spanish @ Lehman

Department of
Languages & Literatures