Optional Third-year Teaching Licensure Track

Optional Third-year Teaching Licensure Track

The current Spanish/Portuguese MA does not lead to state licensure. Therefore, an optional third-year licensure track is available for students who wish to not only graduate with an MA but also obtain a teaching license.

There is an industry need for trained and qualified instructors who are prepared to teach a variety of languages, particularly in Utah, where there are more dual language immersion (DLI) programs (one-way) than in any other state. The proposed third-year licensure track will meet all licensing requirements including coursework and exams.

The third-year licensure option will only be available to students in languages that are taught in BYU's partnership districts (Provo, Alpine, Nebo, Jordan, Wasatch) where BYU can place students for practicum and student teaching.

Application Requirements

• Prospective students should apply to be admitted to the third-year licensure program before the fourth semester of the second year.
• This acceptance will be contingent upon the completion of the MA requirements, including the thesis or project.

• Students who are accepted into the third year licensure program must attain an ACTFL OPI rating of Advanced Low or higher.

  (Advanced Mid or higher is required for DLI).

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and may not have any grade lower than a B- (classes can be repeated).
• Students should submit one letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

Tuition

Scholarships are available for the third-year licensure option from the Center for Language Studies and are based on student academic performance and student evaluations. Availability is dependent on need. Contact mollymccall@byu.edu after acceptance for scholarship inquiries.

McKay School of Education Classes

Spanish/Portuguese MA students who choose to do the third-year licensure track will join with BYU education majors to take the following classes during Fall semester.

• CPSE 402 - Educating Students with Disabilities in Secondary Classrooms (2 cr. hours)

• SC ED 353 - Multicultural Education for Secondary Education (3 cr. hours)

• SC ED 375 - Adolescent Development and Classroom Management (3 cr. hours)

• IPT 371, 372 - Integrating K-12 Educational Technology 1, 2 (2 cr. hours)

• IPT 373 - Teaching in K-12 Online and Blended Learning Contexts (1 cr. hour)

Additional Field Experience Classes

Third-year licensure track students will join the Spanish teaching practicums and student teaching courses (below). These students will have a cohort and meet weekly to develop lesson plans, discuss teaching experiences, refine teaching skills, and engage in professional development and reflection. A BYU professor skilled in target language pedagogy will serve as the university supervisor that completes the observations and evaluations required for licensure. All students will be expected to pass the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), which is an online portfolio that measures teacher candidates’ abilities and readiness to teach.

• Exploration of Foreign Language Teaching: FLANG  276 (4 credits). Ideally this class should be taken 3^rd or 4^th semester of the MA program as prospective teachers visit many different language classrooms.
• Practicum in Language Teaching: SPAN 380 (1credit). This 1-hour practicum should be taken Fall semester.

• Student Teaching/PPAT: Span 476 (12 credits)

  • Students must pass the Praxis in their language of instruction prior to beginning student teaching.