Jesse Carnevali, alumnus GREAT TEACHING PREP "After graduating, I immediately found a job and felt comfortable managing my own classroom, designing meaningful materials for lessons, and helping my students progress and have success with the Spanish language. I appreciate the rigor of the Spanish program," said Jesse Carnivali, a Spanish teacher at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania.

Get Your Spanish Teaching Credentials from a Model Program of Foreign Language Teacher Preparation

IUP's renowned program in Spanish Education K-12 program has been nationally recognized in four consecutive accreditation cycles as a model program of foreign language teacher preparation (twice by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and, most recently, by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation and ACTFL).

The program prepares you to communicate effectively in English and Spanish, access and use educational research, develop pedagogical practices based upon sound theory, make decisions and solve problems strategically, and serve as effective advocates for the profession.

The program has boasted a 100 percent placement rate in recent years of our graduates accepted positions in Pennsylvania, other states, and abroad. It's rigorous and very selective, but, when you get your degree, you will have mastered advanced-level Spanish proficiency, as validated by an external assessment agency. You will have the needed training and skills to teach children at PK-12 levels and in urban, rural, and suburban settings.

BA + Certificate in Spanish Education PK-12

  • Go through a three-step process for teacher certification: Step 1 is the application for teacher education and a mid-program review assessing your proficiency; Step 2 is the application for student teaching; Step 3 involves the applications for graduation and Pennsylvania teacher certification.

  • Your oral proficiency will be assessed a minimum of two times: once during the second semester of your sophomore year and again the semester prior to student teaching.

  • Learn how to think critically and accept responsibility for your own learning.

  • Acquire the skills necessary to teach language, culture, and literature, and the philosophical knowledge to understand your multifaceted role as an educator.

  • Study abroad for at least four weeks. Choose to go to Spain, Costa Rica, or Mexico.

The Foreign Languages Department also offers a certificate program in Spanish Language.