Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish (MAT)

Masters, at Rutgers-Camden, Ranked Nationally No. 6 

Washington Monthly ranked Rutgers University—Camden as the “Best Bang for Your Buck” among all NJ colleges and universities, ranked our campus 18th among all higher education institutions in the U.S., and sixth among all M.A.-granting colleges.

Apply HERE!  Follow this guide to apply to our program: Steps to apply to the MAT in Spanish

Contact

For questions, contact our Graduate Program Director, Dr. Próspero N. García at pg289@camden.rutgers.edu

What is the MAT?

The Master of Arts in Teaching is a graduate degree intended primarily for people who want to be teachers in the K-12 system or perhaps in two-year colleges; it is different from a traditional MA in that it focuses on providing training that will be of practical use to K-12 teachers. This program is especially designed for teachers of Spanish working in the unique, bilingual conditions of the South Jersey area.

We have a wide range of courses (growing in number every year) to cover all your interests and a 100% employment rate. Check our graduates’ placement here.

Why Pursue the MAT?

Demand for Spanish teachers in K-12 systems and two-year colleges in our region is strong and appears likely to grow, given the World Languages requirements in New Jersey schools and the strong presence of Spanish speakers in our area.

The MAT at Rutgers-Camden is a program designed in collaboration with the Teaching Preparation Program that allows both undergraduate and graduate students to develop their pedagogical skills to succeed and excel in their educative profession here, in the unique cultural conditions of South Jersey.

Additionally, all or graduating students have excellent job placements!

How Does the Program Work?

The MAT at Rutgers-Camden offers three tracks:

Track 1: MAT for already Certified Teachers of Spanish (30 credits)

  1. Complete 27 credits in foreign language courses. These include 15 Spanish content credits in in linguistics, or literature/culture, and 12 credits in methodology, second language acquisition, psychological foundations of learning, and assessment.
  2. Take 3 credit Capstone course. Based upon previous and current course work. The course provides structured and critical reflection on the practical experiences gained by the students in their workplace. A culmination Teaching Portfolio presented and defended to a three-person committee.
  3. Comprehensive Exam for contents in the 24 credits in foreign language, literatures, and cultures. The exam will be divided into two parts, one for courses in linguistics and another for courses in literatures and cultures.

Track 2: MAT for students pursuing Teacher Certification without 30 content credits in Spanish (45 credits)

  1. Complete 30 credits in foreign language courses. These include 18 Spanish content credits in in linguistics, or literature/culture, and 12 credits in methodology, second language acquisition, psychological foundations of learning, and assessment. 
  2. Exceptionalities (3 credits, online). Taught by the Teacher Preparation Program, this course will focus on contemporary issues in secondary education.
  3. Clinical Practice I (3 credits). Supervised by the TTP, involves 45 hours of field experience. It is mandatory according to New Jersey certification guidelines.
  4. Clinical Practice II (6 credits) (held in the last semester). Student Teaching is supervised by the TTP. It is mandatory according to New Jersey certification guidelines.
  5. Professional Responsibility Course (3 credits). Based upon previous and current course work. The course provides structured and critical reflection on the practical experiences gained by the students during their Clinical Practice.
  6. Students applying for a teaching license in Spanish should provide the following documents at the beginning of their last semester before clinical practice:
    1. NJ State Physiology and hygiene requirement:
    2. GPA 3.0 or above (MAT level)
    3. 50 hours of K-12 observation with special ed. hours or equivalent
    4. OPI (Advanced Low)
    5. PRAXIS Core or equivalent 
    6. PRAXIS II
    7. Current NJ Substitute License

Track 3: MAT for students pursuing Teacher Certification with 30 undergraduate credits in Spanish (30 credits)

  1. Complete 15 credits in foreign language courses. These include 12 credits in methodology, second language acquisition, psychological foundations of learning, assessment, and 3 Spanish content credits in in linguistics, or literature/culture. 
  2. Exceptionalities (3 credits, online). Taught by the Teacher Preparation Program, this course will focus on contemporary issues in secondary education.
  3. Clinical Practice I (3 credits). Supervised by the TTP, involves 45 hours of field experience. It is mandatory according to New Jersey certification guidelines.
  4. Clinical Practice II (6 credits) (held in the last semester). Student Teaching is supervised by the TTP. It is mandatory according to New Jersey certification guidelines.
  5. Professional Responsibility Course (3 credits). Based upon previous and current course work. The course provides structured and critical reflection on the practical experiences gained by the students during their Clinical Practice.
  6. Students applying for a teaching license in Spanish should provide the following documents at the beginning of their last semester before clinical practice:
    1. NJ State Physiology and hygiene requirement:
    2. GPA 3.0 or above (MAT level)
    3. 50 hours of K-12 observation with special ed. hours or equivalent
    4. OPI (Advanced Low)
    5. PRAXIS Core or equivalent
    6. PRAXIS II
    7. Current NJ Substitute License

How is this MAT Different from Other Programs?

Our MAT program, with coursework entirely in Spanish, but offered in cooperation with the Teacher Preparation Program, will offer fluent Spanish speakers who may come from other cultural and educational traditions a thorough grounding in the methodologies and expectations of the US classroom, at the same helping Anglophone students develop full fluency in Spanish.

Graduates will combine advanced abilities in the target languages with intense training in pedagogical methods and acute sensibility to the special needs of the academic and cultural communities it serves. The combination of all three factors, pedagogical training, linguistic competence, and cultural awareness, distinguishes our program sharply from others offered in nearby institutions.

How do I Apply?

Access the online application and follow the step by step instructions provided in this PDF document (CLICK HERE)

Visit the Graduate School website for more about the application process.

Application Requirements

Applicants must:

  1. Submit two recommendation letters.
  2. Provide a writing sample/statement of purpose both in English and Spanish
  3. Have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA from an accredited college or university.
  4. Passing of two exams that demonstrate the candidate’s proficiency in a foreign language; the Oral Proficiency Interview and Praxis II (a Pre-Professional Skills Test). The State of New Jersey requires that all teachers pass these exams. These exams are not required for admission but must be passed before the end of the student’s final semester for the student to get a state license. The minimum passing requirement for OPI is Advanced Low. The minimum score for Praxis II is 168.

The GRE is not required.

An undergraduate major in foreign language is not mandatory for MAT study, and, in fact, many students will be coming to develop their proficiency in Spanish or teaching skills from a variety of disciplines and circumstances.

Admission through the B.A/M.A. Dual-Degree Program

Applicants seeking admission to the Masters of Teaching in Spanish through the dual-degree program must be approved for admission by the Director of Graduate Studies in their junior year, whereupon they can take three graduate courses in their senior year.

Download the B.A./M.A. application (PDF) and email it to our Graduate Program Director, Dr. Próspero N. García at pg289@camden.rutgers.edu.

Students using this option must still apply for admission to the MAT program during their senior year, following the procedure for a standard admission.

Contact

For questions, contact our Graduate Program Director, Dr. Próspero N. García at pg289@camden.rutgers.edu, or Dr. Silvia Perez-Cortes at sp1019@camden.rutgers.edu.

FAQs About the Alternative Route

Q. What is alternative route?

The Alternate Route program is a non-traditional teacher preparation program designed for those individuals who have not completed a formal teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university, but wish to obtain the necessary training to become a N.J.-certified teacher. See the alternate license information for details.

Q. Do my MAT credits count towards my alternative route certificate?

The program is in the final stages of accreditation to become a state approved regional training center.

See the list of approved courses.

Q. Is mentoring towards my alternate route certificate offered by the MAT program?

An alternate Route implies that you are willing to work on your license requirements by yourself. If you think you would be more comfortable with some traditional mentoring, you should work on this license through the MAT Program (TRACK 2) For additional information about the requirements established by the New Jersey Department of Education for the Alternative Route, see the alternate license information and the necessary steps towards obtaining a provisional teacher certification through this route.

If you have any questions about the Alternate Route Program, email altroute@doe.state.nj.us or call (609) 984-6377.