Education: Spanish Language and Culture for Educators Concentration, M.Ed.

The Master of Education with a concentration in Spanish language and cultures for educators serves individuals who are teaching Spanish language and culture in settings that may include but are not limited to community colleges, high schools, colleges, industry and business. The program provides candidates with opportunities for in-depth study of advanced pedagogical practices in teaching, best practices in curriculum development and current research in the fields of teaching and learning.

In addition, students’ content knowledge in the language and culture of Spain will be studied through course offerings supported from the expertise of faculty from the University of Salamanca (USAL). The program is delivered using both face-to-face and distance education models. It includes one summer residency on the JMU campus and one summer residency on the USAL campus.

Admission Criteria

All criteria are considered when reviewing the candidates for admission to the Master of Education with a concentration in Spanish Language and Culture degree program. However, no one criterion will be the sole reason for lack of admission to the program. Students should meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:

• Submitted online application.
• Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Transcripts reflecting all post-secondary education.
• Satisfactory grade point average (GPA).
• Officially accredited B2 Spanish level according to The Common European Framework for Languages or Spanish as a native language or a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish.
• Personal Statement in English and Spanish.
• Two letters of recommendation.

Degree Requirements

This program is offered jointly by James Madison University (JMU), United States and the University of Salamanca (USAL), Spain. Students are required to complete a total of 36 continous credits of graduate coursework, based on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges, and receive the commensurate number of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) from USAL. The program has three primary focus areas: Spanish Linguistics, Pedagogical Foundings, and Spanish Culture.

The program leads to a Master in Education (M. Ed.) with a concentration in Spanish Language and Culture for Educators degree from JMU and a Salamanca Masters for Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language degree from USAL. This program is an 18-month commitment in which students spend one summer at JMU, one summer at USAL, and three additional academic semesters (fall, spring, fall) in online classes at the students’ home locations. The program is delivered using both face-to-face and distance education models. Students’ content knowledge in the language and culture of Spain will be studied through course offerings supported from the expertise of faculty from USAL.