Adolescent Spanish - MA / Advanced Certificate

The master’s and advanced certificate programs prepare candidates to teach Spanish in grades 7-12 to students of diverse backgrounds, abilities and interests. These programs are not designed for individuals who already have NYS certification in Spanish 7-12.

The master’s program (Academic Plan: SPANAE-MA) is for applicants with no prior NYS certificate. The advanced certificate program (Academic Plan: SPAAE-AC) is a post-master’s program for applicants with no prior NYS certificate.

Admission Requirements

Master’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution acceptable to Hunter College with an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, and a major in Spanish with a grade point average of 3.0, with a minimum of 18 credits in Spanish literature above the intermediate level; and oral proficiency at the advanced low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).

Or

Applicants who do not have a Spanish major but have a liberal arts and science major (or interdisciplinary liberal arts or science concentration) of at least 30 credits can take two exams to meet the Spanish coursework requirement and writing component: the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL), and a rigorous Spanish literature written exam administered by the Department of Romance Languages. Candidates must achieve a minimum score of advanced low on the ACTFL OPI exam to meet the admission requirement, and must achieve a passing score in the Department’s written test of Spanish literature.

Plus (for all applicants)
General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.Two professional references.
A personal statement.
Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Advanced Certificate

An undergraduate major of at least 30 credits in Spanish, and a master’s degree in the content area with a GPA of at least 3.3 from an accredited institution.
General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.
Two professional references.
A personal statement.
Oral proficiency at the Advanced Low level on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) Advanced Level Check Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

Progress Standards

Minimum GPA for Retention - Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain at Hunter College. Students whose grades fall below this standard are required to raise their GPAs to at least 3.0 within one semester.
No F in the first two semesters—students who receive a grade of F or WU in any course in the first two semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Progress holds due to Incomplete Grades - Students with two or more INCs will not be allowed to register for any courses.
Key Course Performance Standards
- Students must receive a grade of at least a B in key program courses.
- Students who receive a grade of F or WU in key program courses may not continue in the program.
- Key Program Courses are identified by the label (KC) in the course title.

Course of Study

Academic Plans

Master’s Degree: SPANAE-MA
Advanced Certificate: SPAAE-AC

Total Credits

SPANAE-MA: 44-45
SPAAE-AC: 26-27

Education Courses

For Advanced Certificate and Master’s Degree Programs

26-27 credits

Spanish Courses

For Master’s Degree Program Only

18 Credits

3 credits in Structures of Modern Spanish (SPAN 60100 ).
6 credits in Spanish Peninsular Literature.
6 credits in Latin American Literature.
3 credits in either Spanish or Latin American Literature.

Exit Requirements

An overall GPA of 3.0.
Master’s degree students will develop a professional teaching portfolio, which is a cumulative effort, integrating course and fieldwork throughout the program.
Master’s degree students must pass a final examination based on a short reading list (40 titles: 20 in Spanish literature, 20 in Latin American literature). This exam will be different from the one offered to MA students in Spanish, although it may be administered on the same day: Romance Languages department.
Complete the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop.