Earn your online Spanish MATL degree with Southern Miss!

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Teaching of Languages (Spanish) MATL

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Discover the world of language with a Masters of Arts in the Teaching of Languages (Spanish) from the University of Southern Mississippi. Our online Spanish MATL degree program is offered fully online and is one of the largest programs of its kind in the United States addressing language teachers’ needs. The focus of the MATL is on developing and enhancing knowledge, skills, and theories in language, language acquisition, and language instruction, factors essential for effective teaching and successful learning.

This convenient and affordable online Spanish MATL degree from Southern Miss brings together world language teachers and teachers-to-be from all parts of the United States and abroad. Our large variety of courses are aimed to meet the multi-faceted needs of today’s language teachers. This is your life, plus college!

Your future starts at Southern Miss!

The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). That means you can expect a program with the highest standards and quality.

The Graduate School will be authorizing standardized test waivers to applicants to the Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 terms. Please contact Graduate Admissions at graduateschool@usm.edu to request a waiver.

Check out some of the jobs our graduates landed after earning this degree:

  • College Spanish Instructor or Lecturer
  • Private Corporate Spanish Instructor
  • Language Institute Coordinator
  • Private School Spanish Teacher
  • Spanish Secondary Teacher (prior certification needed)
  • FLES Teacher/Spanish Elementary Teacher (prior certification needed)

 

General Program Academic Requirements

All students are expected to complete the following requirements:

  1. A total of thirty-three (33) hours of graduate-level courses, including eighteen (18) hours in courses numbered 600 or above. A 3.0 GPA is required for graduation.
  2. WL 561, WL 663, WL 664, and WL 665
  3. A practicum tailored to the teaching experience of each student (WL 694)
  4. For students in the Spanish or French emphasis areas, a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level courses in the specific language
  5. Comprehensive examination, which consists of a successful defense of a portfolio

 

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does this program lead to initial licensure or an upgraded license in Mississippi or any other state?

This program does not lead to initial licensure in Mississippi. Licensure requirements and approval are determined by each state’s licensing board.  For general information about professional licensure, please review the Online Programs & Professional Licensure Page. If you have professional licensing questions regarding licensure relative to one of our online programs, please read our Professional Licensure Disclosure and then fill out the Professional Licensure Inquiry Form. If you have other questions regarding licensure, please email professional licensure.

Additional course fees may apply to the online Spanish MATL degree. Fees range between $20 – $60.

Yes, you can complete the online Spanish MATL degree program entirely online. It will take approximately 5-6 semesters to do so. We offer courses in the fall, spring, and summer online. In order to speed up your progress in our program, there are study abroad options in Spanish as well as in-class options, should you be able to come to campus.

Students are charged in-state tuition for online enrollment and for summer enrollment. To find pricing information, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.

The online Spanish MATL degree program is designed for students who work and want to go to school part-time. We offer at least two courses a semester (fall, spring, and summer).

Students may take up to 9 hours of non-degree work with the school director’s approval. Students will be approved for this option if there are strong indications the student can do well in the courses and qualify for the Spanish emphasis. Taking courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission to the program.

Yes, all students who apply to the MATL program must take the Graduate Record Examination and submit the general section scores in verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. We do not accept GRE scores that are more than 5 years old. In general, your grade point average from your undergraduate studies, along with letters of recommendation and your statement of purpose, serve as the best indicators of success in our online Spanish MATL degree program.

  • Fall – August 1st
  • Spring – November 1st
  • Summer – April 1st

You must first qualify for language study at the graduate level in Spanish . If you do not have a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish or its equivalent (generally 10 courses are required beyond the beginning levels of language study), then you may qualify for graduate level work by taking the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and scoring in the Advanced range. Your OPI scores must be sent to the program coordinator before beginning the program. Past study abroad course work is also applicable.

You may qualify to do the online Spanish MATL degree program by taking the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and scoring in the Advanced range. Your scores must be sent to the program cooridinator before beginning the program. Study abroad course work is also applicable. Faculty will also review your statement of purpose, which must be written in the target language, to further evaluate your readiness for graduate-level course work.

Yes, you may transfer up to 33% of the total required hours of appropriate graduate level course work into our online Spanish MATL degree program. Coursework from a completed degree cannot be transferred, however.

The prospective student must complete the Graduate School admission application online and pay the application fee at http://apps.usm.edu/graduate-school/grad-school-apps/.

The graduate online Spanish MATL degree is different from traditional face-to-face course work. There will be required chats and discussion groups in the target language that will allow you to be part of an online second language community. But this type of participation also requires more self-discipline and personal motivation. You may have to make more effort to connect with instructors and fellow graduate students. Keep in mind that graduate school requires a lot more reading and writing, and this is especially true in an online environment. Students should expect to spend a significant amount of time weekly studying, attending online class meetings, and completing projects.

It is recommended that you have a fairly new computer and a high-speed Internet connection. For chat group sessions you will need a headset with a built-in microphone.

Yes, as long as you qualify for the languages in which you would like the dual emphases. A dual-emphasis degree is 45 hours. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more information.

All international students must follow the same application procedures as domestic students. In addition they must take the IELTS or TOEFL to qualify for the program. Please see the Bulletin for details.

Yes, most courses have a chat component in the fall and spring semesters. You would need to be available to chat during those times. Times are listed on SOAR. Teachers can work with you to make up missed chats, if necessary, but keep in mind that chat is included as part of your grade and is considered important for increasing interaction with your classmates and professors. Chat usually occurs once a week and lasts an hour. It occurs either in late afternoon or early evening, making it convenient to working teachers.

Ask professionals (e.g., professors, supervisors) who know your academic and/or professional work to write letters of recommendation for you. Letters of recommendation from former professors and other credentialed academics carry more weight.

If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs. We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions and course enrollment.

Please visit our programs page here: https://online.usm.edu/programs/

If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!

Admission Requirements

The materials listed below are reviewed in the admission process.
 Application Deadlines: November 1, April 1, and August 1

Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the Admission Requirements and Procedures, the master’s program applicant must present the following items:

  1. Official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  2. A current resumé.
  3. A statement of purpose written in Spanish (300-500 words) that explains the applicant’s professional goals and reasons for pursuing graduate study in language teaching. The statement can include particular interests, academic accomplishments, travel abroad, teaching experience, or other relevant preparation.
  4. Non-native speaker applicants to the Spanish emphasis should have an undergraduate degree in the language or present evidence of equivalent language experience (30 hours in the language). Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in the language will be required to either complete more coursework before being allowed to take language emphasis courses or take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and score in the Advanced range. A copy of the test score must be sent to the MATL coordinator. In cases where an applicant does not have an adequate background in the emphasis language, conditional admission may be granted with undergraduate language requirements and/or the ACTFL OPI set for full admission; such graduate students can begin MATL core courses while completing the prerequisites. This information pertains to heritage language speakers, but not to international students whose native language is Spanish.
  5. For international students whose native language is not English, official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required. Successful applicants should have a score of 83 on the Internet-based test, with no section lower than 19. Information on the TOEFL is available at http://www.toefl.org. The school will also accept an IELTS score of a 6.5 with no sub-test score below a 6.
  6. Three Letters of Recommendation

Program Requirements and Academic Policies
The comprehensive examination consists of a successful defense of a portfolio. For other requirements and expectations, see General Degree Requirements and General Academic Information.

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