A bachelor's degree in Spanish is available at many higher-learning institutions. It is usually offered by the university's foreign-language department and school of education together. At Murray State University, for example, the program requirements for the Spanish component include classes in culture, Spanish literature, communications, conversation and composition. Teaching courses include information technology, psychology of human development, structures and foundations of education, teaching strategies and student teaching.
A master's degree is required to be a teacher in most states. A Spanish master's degree program tends to emphasize linguistics or literature and is aimed at preparing students for a career in one of those areas. To obtain a master's degree for teaching Spanish, the student must combine higher-level teaching courses with Spanish courses. Typical courses are folk literature, literary theory, teaching Spanish in secondary school, semantics and generative syntax and literary criticism. Graduates are prepared to teach in elementary and secondary schools.
If students want to go one step further and teach in a university setting, a Ph.D. in Spanish is available. There is a strong research component of this degree and it is typically completed in four or more years. Not only can people with a Spanish Ph.D. teach at colleges, they can also perform research at a major university or college.
Spanish teachers must be licensed to teach in the state where they accept a job. Licensing requirements vary but tend to include graduation from an approved program and completion of student teaching. There are exams given out that focus on Spanish and general education. In New York, for example, the initial teacher certification is temporary and is only valid for five years. Professional certification is awarded once an applicant holds a master's degree and teaches in the classroom for three years, under the mentoring of a certified teacher for the first year.