Initial Licensure to Teach Spanish

Initial Licensure to Teach Spanish

Spanish teachers are in demand in Massachusetts! UMass Boston can prepare you to earn your license to teach Spanish while you are still an Undergraduate. And there are thousands of dollars in state and federal grants to help you get your degree.

Four Steps to Earn your Initial License to Teach Spanish:

1. Major in Latin American and Iberian Studies, and choose the track in Language, Culture, and Society

The major consists of 12 courses, including four intermediate and advanced language courses, three foundational courses in culture and society, and five upper-level courses in Spanish in your area of interest.

Majors in this track who participate in the Teacher Education Program (steps 2 and 3 below) may, with departmental approval, make the following substitution: The Teaching Practicum may replace two advanced courses at the 300 level in the LAIS major.

For more information on this Track, visit: https://www.umb.edu/academics/cla/latam_iberian/ug/lais/language_culture_society

To get started on declaring the major and selecting courses, please contact us at: [email protected] or at 617-287-7550.  Or visit us at McCormack 4^th Floor, Room 618.

2. Declare a Minor in Secondary Education

The minor is 6 courses covering topics such as curriculum design, technology in the classroom, methods and materials in foreign language instruction, and equity and inclusion. 

For more information on this minor, visit: https://www.umb.edu/academics/cehd/curriculum/ug/middle_secondary_education_minor

To declare a minor and choose courses, contact the College of Education and Human Development at [email protected] or visit Wheatley Hall, 1^st Floor, Room 50.

Once you declare the minor, be sure to fill out the UMB Licensure Candidate Form at: https://w.taskstream.com/Survey/SurveyComplete/StartSurvey?e_surveyId=umhlhwhyhvhlhh&anonKey=e8c0ccfd

3. Complete a Teaching Practicum and a class on equity

Students must complete a 12-credit teaching practicum (EDC U 499 Practicum and Seminar) and a 3-credit course on equity (EDC U 451: Rethinking Equity in Teaching English Language Learners).  Ask at the College of Education and Human Development for more information.

4. Pass the MA Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)

Spanish teachers must pass two areas to receive Initial Licensure:

• Communication and Literacy (Reading and Writing)
• Spanish

For more information on the MTEL, go to: www.mtel.nesinc.com

Grants to support your Teaching Degree

There are grants and fellowships available for students to support their pursuit of Initial Licensure to Teach Spanish, including the Federal Teach Grant, which provides students enrolled in the Secondary Education minor with a GPA of at least 3.25 the opportunity to get thousands of dollars in support.  To learn more, you should ask at the College of Education and Human Development and visit: https://finaid.umb.edu/current-student-aid/grants

For more information on getting started on your teaching degree in Spanish, contact the Department of Latin American and Iberian Studies at [email protected] or 617-287-7550. 

• Completed UMass Boston online admission application
• Application fee: $60
• An official high school record, leaving certificate and/or graduation examination results or their notarized copies. All documents in foreign languages must be translated by a certified professional. Records must be sent directly from the institution to be considered official.
• Academic recommendation letter (from a school-based counselor and/or teacher)
• 500-word essay
• Test scores

If you seek admission to UMass Boston as an international student, we strongly encourage you to apply online by submitting either the UMass Boston Web Application or the Common Application

Please be sure to send us your application and all required materials by the posted international application deadline.

If you experience any technical problems with the application, please email us immediately at [email protected].