Spanish (B.A.) - Teaching Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact

José (Pepe) Álvarez, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish
School of American and Global Studies
Wagner Hall 115, Box 2275
605-688-4273

Program Information

The Spanish major - Teaching specialization at SDSU consists of language, culture, literature and professional courses to prepare students for teaching careers in primary, middle or secondary schools or for further graduate study.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the Spanish major, students should be able to:

• Speak, read and write Spanish at the Intermediate-High or Advanced level, developing solid competence in the language needed for everyday life and advanced narrative skills in the past, present, and future.
• Demonstrate understanding of and growth in the skills required for intercultural communication and competence and life-long learning.
• Identify the cultural perspectives of the Spanish-speaking world’s civilizations and their cultural products, such as literatures, arts, institutions, pop cultures, etc. and compare the cultural frames that determine everyday life in Spanish- speaking cultures and the U.S.
• Adapt behavior to a variety of cultural contexts through critical analysis of cultural frames.
• Articulate the value of their language and cultural studies and apply this knowledge in future employment.

Academic Requirements

Major Coursework

• A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 , ENGL 101 , PSYC 101 , and MATH 103  or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
• An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.

Placement

• Students who have a background in modern language study before entering the University should take the Placement Examination to determine the appropriate course in which to enroll. Credit may be obtained for courses exempted upon completion of one course in the department, with a grade of “C” or better, and the payment of the established fee to the Testing Center. Please refer to Modern Language Credit under Policies & General Academic Information  in the catalog for more detailed information.

Oral Proficiency Interview

• An official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) certified by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is required of all students majoring in Spanish. A minimum ranking of Intermediate Mid is required for all Spanish Majors and Intermediate High for majors with a teaching specialization.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

• Completion of an approved bachelor’s K-12 preparation program.
• Completion of an approved Indian Studies course.
• Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
• Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
• Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

The Spanish major offers a combination of face-to-face on campus and online courses every semester. During the summer term, we also offer faculty-led study abroad programs and non-faculty-lead internships abroad as well as online courses.