Programs by Campus

Indianapolis

Spanish
School of Liberal Arts

Departmental E-mail: wlac [at] iupui [dot] edu

Departmental URL: liberalarts.iupui.edu/wlac/graduate/mat_in_spanish

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degree Offered

Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish

Program Information

This course of study has been designed specifically for teachers of Spanish. It provides graduate-level course work in the Spanish language, Hispanic cultures, teaching methodology, applied linguistics, and Hispanic art and literature. It provides for the professional development of Spanish teachers through the improvement of their language and teaching skills, and it will enable their career advancement. Graduates of the program will in turn contribute to better teaching of Spanish and, improve the language skills and the cultural awareness of students.

Who might be interested in this kind of degree program?

  • Current K-12 Spanish teachers;
  • Students graduating with a degree in Spanish (or a related field) who are seeking to obtain a master’s degree;
  • Current or future community college and adjunct university faculty in Spanish.

Student Learning Outcomes: http://bulletins.iu.edu/iupui/2014-2016/schools/liberal-arts/graduate/student learning_outcomes/Spanish.shtml

  • Gain Knowledge and understanding of a variety of theories of second language acquisition and effective methods of teaching Spanish.
  • Know the formal properties of the Spanish language as well as the main cultural manifestations of the language in Spain and Latin America and among U.S. Hispanics.
  • Understand structural and cultural differences between Spanish and English and between the communities that use these languages.
  • Understand the importance of critical thinking in examining other cultures and comparing them with one's own and the connections between language studies with other disciplines.
  • Be able to interact within multilingual international communities here and abroad in ethically and culturally sensitive ways.
  • Be able to identify appropriate teaching objectives, techniques, materials and outcomes and implement effective pedagogical practices.
  • Be able to reflect on their teaching practice and seek professional development opportunities.

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the student’s undergraduate major, documented by an official transcript. Applicants are expected to have a B.A. in Spanish, but admission is also considered for those who otherwise demonstrate the competencies necessary for successful graduate work in Spanish. Students lacking advanced course work in Spanish are required to take a 400-level course in each of these three areas: Hispanic linguistics, literature, and culture. Students must complete these courses with a grade of B or better before beginning the graduate curriculum, either at IUPUI or at the University of Salamanca. Formal petitions will be necessary for any exception to this requirement.
  2. Proficiency in the Spanish language. There are two options: (a) Exam—Students may take the Basic Diploma in Spanish (DELE) issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education. Only scores obtained within three years of the date of application will be accepted. Or (b) A tape—including applicant’s oral sample of 10-15 minutes of spontaneous speech.
  3. A sample of academic writing in Spanish on some aspect of Hispanic culture, literature, linguistics, or pedagogy. The essay may be in the form of a paper written for a course.
  4. Three letters of recommendation. At least two of these should be from professors.
  5. For international students, the university requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper version and 213 on the computer-based test. Send scores to Institution Code 1325, Dept. Code 2608. Students who do not achieve this score may be admitted to the university conditionally and may be required to take English as a Second Language courses through the Department of English. While taking these courses they will be allowed to register for a maximum of six credit hours in the M.A.T. in Spanish. If admitted, international students will also be required to take IUPUI’s ESL placement test before registering for the first semester. For further admissions instructions and requirements for international students, prospective students should refer to the Office of International Affairs Web page at www.iupui.edu/%7eoia/.

Please note: We do not require the GRE for admission to the M.A.T. in Spanish program, but it is required for consideration for a university fellowship.

Online application: Please access the online portion of the application from this link: http://www.iupui.edu/~gradoff/admissions/.  Please pay careful attention to the personal statement, in which you explain your reasons for pursuing the Spanish graduate program.  The statement should be written in English.  Please note: under “educational objectives” you must choose “master’s” as your type of admission, “Spanish (IU Graduate School)” as your academic program, and “Spanish M.A.T.” as your major.

Supporting documentation, as outlined above, should be directed to the Spanish M.A.T. Program, Cavanaugh Hall Room 545, IUPUI, 425 University Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140.

Please note the deadlines below:

  • For admission in either fall or spring semesters with university fellowship consideration (GRE required), applications must be received by January 15.
  • For admission in the fall semester, all other applications, including requests for departmental aid consideration (teaching or research assistantships), must be received by April 1.
  • For admission in the spring semester with no financial aid consideration, applications must be received by October 15 of the preceding year.

Course Requirements

The M.A.T. in Spanish consists of 36 graduate credits that may be completed through several options: 

Master's Thesis Option:

This option is intended for those students who already have a teaching license, or for those who plan to teach  at the college/university level. Students complete 30 credits of coursework and 6 thesis credits. 

Study Abroad Option:

Students may complete 6-12 creidits of coursework in two sequential summer sessions at the Unviersity of Salamanca in Spain. The summer work abroad is optional, but highly recommended. Coursework may be completed in three or four academic semesters and two five-week courses abroad completed in seqential years or through coursework at IUPUI.

Coursework Option:

Students may complete 36 credits of coursework at IUPUI.

Teacher Certificate Option:

This option combines the M.A.T. with teacher certification through the IU School of Education and their "T2T" ("Transition to Teaching") Program. Students enrolled in this option develop a professional teaching portfolio and prepare for a career as a teacher in Indiana public schools. It consists of 47 graduate credit hours including additonal courses and field work.

Core Required Courses (9 cr.)

  • S515 Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language (3 cr.)
  • S517 Methods of Teaching College Spanish (3 cr.)
  • S519 Practicum in the Teaching of Spanish (3 cr.)

Other Coursework (27 cr.)

Academic Bulletins

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