Adolescence Education: Spanish, B.A./M.A.T.

Admission Requirements

Adolescence brings many challenges and adjustments for students in grades 7-12. Central to the success of these students are teachers armed with the knowledge, skills and commitment to student development that, when combined, foster achievement.

To prepare teachers for careers in middle and high school education, SUNY College at Old Westbury offers three degree opportunities and a certificate in Adolescence Education: Spanish (7-12):

• The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) leads to initial certification for aspiring teachers and career-changers seeking to advance their careers.
• The Master of Science (M.S.) leads to professional certification, and is for those who hold initial or provisional teaching certification.
• The combined B.A./M.A.T (Undergraduate Spanish Language AND Graduate Spanish Adolescence Education) leads to initial certification for aspiring teachers.
• The Advanced Certificate is for candidates who already have a master’s degree in Spanish and need to take education courses for certification.

Requirements for admission to the M.A.T. program (Initial Teaching Certification):

• B.A. in Spanish or a B.A./B.S. degree with at least 30 credits in Spanish starting at the intermediate level.
• Interview in Spanish via Skype or in person.
• GRE scores (http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/centers_dates/)
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• Personal statement submitted through our web application.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from an academic source.
• Official transcripts from undergraduate degree

* ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) & ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI or OPIc) in Spanish should be passed prior to student teaching (last semester in the program) with minimum score of “Advanced Low.” Candidates who do not have the required credit hours in Spanish but are fluent in the language can demonstrate their proficiency for admission to the program by passing the following tests with minimum score of “Advanced Low”:

• ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) (www.languagetesting.com)
• ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI or OPIc) (www.languagetesting.com)

* If the candidate has not taken any grammar courses at the college level, ML 3110 (spring semester) or ML 3362 (fall semester) should be taken in addition to the Spanish graduate courses and passed with a grade of B or higher during the first year.

Requirements for admission to the M.S. program (Professional Teaching Certification):

• Initial or provisional certification in Adolescence Education: Spanish.
• Submission of scores on the CST (Content Specialty Test).
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• B.A. in Spanish or a B.A./B.S. degree with at least 30 credits in Spanish starting at the intermediate level.
• Personal statement submitted through our web application.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from an academic source.
• Official transcripts from undergraduate degree.

Requirements for admission to the Advanced Certificate program (Initial Teaching Certification):

• Graduate degree in Spanish.
• Interview in Spanish via Skype or in person.
• GRE scores (http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/centers_dates/)
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• Personal statement submitted through our web application.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from an academic source.
• Official transcripts from undergraduate & graduate degrees.

* ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) & ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI or OPIc) in Spanish should be passed prior to student teaching (last semester in the program) with minimum score of “Advanced Low.”

For combined BA-MAT applicants:

• Applications to the combined B.A.-M.A.T Program are submitted at the end of Year 3.
• Completion of 102 undergraduate credits required for the area of specialization, including all general education requirements, proficiency requirements, all but 18 credits (6 required for the major and 12 elective), by the end of Year 3
• At least two semesters as a full-time student at Old Westbury, by the end of Year 3
• For international students. Contact the Assistant Director of Admissions, International Student Advisor and Support for additional admission requirements. Contact information can be found on the webpage: https://www.oldwestbury.edu/admissions/international.