Best Master's in Spanish Language Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published July 16, 2026·Last updated July 22, 2026

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 25 out of 28 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

1
CUNY City College
New York, NYPublic
- 21Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Secondary Spanish Education (Spanish 7-12) master's/certification programs
- New York State Education Department approved-accredited
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY City College offers a master's in Secondary Spanish Education that treats Spanish as both a foreign language and a heritage language, an emphasis reflected in field-based coursework across Peninsular, Latin American, and Latino literature and culture. Five program tracks ranging from 30 to 42 credits, plus an advanced certificate, sort candidates by prior certification and major, making room for Spanish majors, career changers, and already-certified teachers alike. Approved by the New York State Education Department, the program leads to Initial and Professional Certification in Spanish for grades 7 through 12. Each course carries 15 to 30 hours of embedded field experience, keeping preparation tied to real classrooms. The heritage-language focus and layered pathways make it a strong fit for educators serving New York's multilingual communities. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
2
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate nonprofit
- 15Master's/yr
- $58,300Metro teacher pay
- Master's in Spanish Language Education (M.S. in Spanish Language Education)
- Online
About the program
Nova Southeastern University offers a Master of Science in Spanish Language Education through its Fischler College of Education, a 36-credit program delivered entirely online. The curriculum centers on K-12 Spanish instruction and addresses the full range of learners a Spanish teacher encounters, from heritage speakers to students learning Spanish as a second language. Its fully online format suits practicing or aspiring language educators who need to study around existing schedules. The degree reads as a focused credential for teachers looking to strengthen their preparation in Spanish language pedagogy. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in Florida.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,300, roughly $51,071 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
3
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita, PRPrivate nonprofit
- 10Master's/yr
- Maestria en Educacion en Curriculo y Ensenanza, Especialidad en Espanol (Master's in Education in Curriculum and Teaching, Spanish Specialization)
About the program
Inter American University of Puerto Rico offers a Maestria en Educacion en Curriculo y Ensenanza with a Spanish specialization, a track embedded within its broader Curriculum and Teaching M.Ed. The 15-credit specialization concentrates on advanced grammar applied to modern writing, twentieth-century Puerto Rican and Hispanic-American literature, applied linguistics, and innovative methods for teaching Spanish. That mix positions the degree for educators who want to teach Spanish with genuine command of both its literary heritage and its contemporary use rather than as a general curriculum credential. Delivered in Spanish through the university's graduate catalog, it fits teachers in Puerto Rico and Spanish-language settings seeking a subject-deep addition to their preparation. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in Puerto Rico.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
4
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NYPublic
- 8Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish
- On-campus
About the program
Stony Brook University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish that meets New York State requirements for certification in Adolescent Education: Spanish, grades 7 to 12, with extension options reaching into grades 5-6 or K-12. The 47-credit program pairs demanding language study, including Spanish linguistics, Hispanic culture, and 500-level literature, with a clinical sequence of 100 field hours and 6 credits of supervised student teaching. An ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview at the Advanced-Low level or higher is required, underscoring that candidates are expected to teach from real command of the language. The degree is run jointly by the School of Professional Development, the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature, and the Distributed Teacher and Leader Education program, a collaboration that fuses scholarly depth with pedagogy. AAQEP accreditation runs through mid-2030. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
5
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, ORPublic
- 8Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Single Subject endorsement (Spanish)
- Leads to an Oregon Preliminary teaching license-accredited
- Hybrid
About the program
Southern Oregon University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that leads to an Oregon Preliminary teaching license, with Spanish available as one of many Single Subject endorsements alongside other languages, sciences, and arts, plus a Multiple Subjects track. The two-year, cohort-based structure has students enter, take classes, and finish together, a rhythm that builds a supportive peer community through the demanding path to licensure. Beginning each September, the hybrid program extends distance options to candidates living beyond the Rogue Valley, widening access for aspiring teachers across the region. The pairing of a preliminary license with the master's degree marks it as a complete entry point into secondary Spanish teaching. Its cohort model reads as built for candidates who value shared momentum through their preparation. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Oregon.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
6
SUNY Old Westbury
Old Westbury, NYPublic
- 7Master's/yr
- Adolescence Education: Spanish (7-12), M.A.T.
- On-campus
About the program
SUNY Old Westbury offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education: Spanish that leads to New York State initial certification for grades 7 to 12, with professional certification following the state's required paid classroom experience. The 42-credit program is split evenly in spirit between 24 credits of pedagogy and 18 credits of Spanish content, ranging across language structure, literature, Hispanic culture, and US-Latin American relations, with electives in areas like Caribbean narratives, cinema, and pre-Columbian cultures. Jointly offered by the School of Education and the Modern Languages Department, it expects applicants to arrive with substantial Spanish preparation and an ACTFL proficiency rating of Advanced Low or higher. That balance reads as a program for committed language specialists who want equal grounding in subject and craft. The on-campus format supports its clinical and collaborative design. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
7
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NYPublic
- 6Master's/yr
- $76,490Metro teacher pay
- Spanish Education: Adolescence, Master of Education (EdM) in Teaching Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
- On-campus
About the program
The University at Buffalo offers a Master of Education in Teaching Languages Other Than English with a Spanish Education concentration for the adolescence level, leading to New York State certification to teach Spanish in grades 7 to 12. The LOTE framework extends to French and Latin as well, positioning Spanish within a broader world languages teacher-preparation model. Delivered entirely in person, the 36 to 60 credit program offers both full-time and part-time enrollment and typically finishes in one to two years, a range flexible enough to accommodate both direct-entry candidates and those balancing other commitments. Officially registered with the New York State Education Department, it reads as a foundational, certification-aligned path for aspiring secondary language teachers. The on-campus setting keeps candidates connected to sustained faculty mentoring. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
8
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZPublic
- 6Master's/yr
- $53,900Metro teacher pay
- Spanish, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- On-campus
About the program
Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Spanish, a 36-unit on-campus program conducted entirely in Spanish for both native and non-native speakers. Its three concentrations, in Teaching and Pedagogy, Literature and Culture, and Linguistics, let candidates shape the degree toward classroom practice, literary and cultural study, or the structure of the language itself. Notably, the plan does not lead to Arizona state teacher certification, so students seeking a credential pursue a separate route through the College of Education, positioning this MAT as an advanced degree in Spanish and its teaching rather than a licensure pathway. An accelerated undergraduate-to-graduate option lets students begin the MAT while finishing a BSEd in Secondary Education-Spanish. The program suits those who want deep disciplinary and pedagogical grounding in the language. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in Arizona.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Flagstaff, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $53,900, roughly $53,725 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
9
Salem State University
Salem, MAPublic
- 5Master's/yr
- $98,060Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Spanish
- On-campus
About the program
Salem State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Spanish notable for immersing candidates in the language itself, since all Spanish coursework is taught entirely in Spanish by full-time faculty. Available through evening synchronous, hybrid, and asynchronous options, the program leads to Massachusetts Initial and Professional licensure at either the PreK-6 or 5-12 level. A two-semester methods sequence anchors the preparation, and candidates on the Advanced track complete an action research project that ties study back to their own classrooms. Partnerships with more than fifty schools across the Greater Boston area give students a wide field for practicum placements. The design fits aspiring and practicing Spanish teachers who want rigorous linguistic preparation alongside connected clinical experience, with the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure required for the credential. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Massachusetts.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
10
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, ILPublic
- 3Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in the Teaching of Spanish (MAT)
- On-campus
About the program
The University of Illinois Chicago offers a Master of Arts in the Teaching of Spanish through its Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies, a 36-hour on-campus program spanning literature, language, and education coursework. Its scheduling tells the story of its audience, with classes meeting in the evenings and summers after 4:30 pm, a structure designed for working K-12 teachers who are already in or moving toward Illinois certification. An optional concentration in Teaching Spanish as a Heritage Language lets candidates specialize in serving students who bring Spanish from home. The program culminates in a comprehensive examination rather than a thesis, keeping the emphasis on breadth of preparation. For teachers holding or pursuing Illinois certification, it results in a K-12 Professional Educator License in Spanish. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Illinois.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
11
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NYPublic
- 3Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Spanish Teacher (7-12), M.A. (Master of Arts in Education for Spanish Teachers)
- Licensed by the New York State Education Department-accredited
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Brooklyn College offers a Master of Arts preparing candidates to teach Spanish in grades 7 through 12 and leading to New York State Initial Certification. The program is structured around three tracks of 30 to 42 credits, calibrated to whether applicants already hold certification or teaching experience, so entrants of varied backgrounds can find an appropriate on-ramp. Substantial clinical work is built in, with 100 hours of fieldwork and 40 full days of student teaching before completion. Candidates culminate the degree with either a thesis written in Spanish or a departmentally co-directed teaching-unit project, a choice that lets them lean scholarly or applied. Licensed by the New York State Education Department, the program notes that it is not accepting new students for the 2026-27 academic year. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
12
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NYPublic
- 3Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Spanish Teacher 7-12, M.A. (Plan code SPAH-MA)
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Lehman College offers a Master of Arts preparing candidates to teach Spanish in grades 7 through 12, housed in its Middle and High School Education department. Two admission sequences sort applicants by their prior certification and academic background, and a separate Transitional B alternative-certification option opens a path for those entering teaching through an accelerated route. Graduates become eligible for New York State certification in Spanish upon completing the additional requirements set by the State Education Department. Delivered on campus in the Bronx, the program serves aspiring language teachers preparing for the borough's secondary classrooms, with entry points shaped to fit both traditional candidates and career changers. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
13
Brigham Young University
Provo, UTPrivate nonprofit
- 2Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Spanish Pedagogy
- On-campus
About the program
Brigham Young University offers a Master of Arts in Spanish Pedagogy built around the craft of teaching the language, with a structure that bends to fit different kinds of students. The 33 credit-hour degree, split between 27 hours of coursework and 6 project or thesis credits, requires a methods course and a full semester of supervised teaching, and it typically funds students through graduate teaching assistantships that put them in front of learners while they study. A Traditional Track serves full-time students in fall and winter terms, while a Professional Track schedules evening courses and full-time summers for practicing teachers who cannot step away from their jobs, a design that reads as intentionally accommodating for those already in classrooms. Licensure is not built in, since a separate K-12 language teaching certificate is required, but the program offers an optional third-year track for candidates who want to add it. A triennial Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers rounds out a program centered on professional community and instructional expertise. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Utah.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
14
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NYPublic
- 2Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Adolescent Spanish, M.A.
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Hunter College offers a Master of Arts in Adolescent Spanish leading to New York State certification to teach Spanish in grades 7 through 12. The program accommodates both full-time and part-time students with fall-start and spring-start options, an accessibility that widens its reach to career changers and working adults. Its clinical centerpiece is a full-time, full-semester supervised student-teaching placement observed by Hunter clinical supervisors, grounding candidates in sustained classroom practice. The college reports strong outcomes, with more than 90 percent of graduates passing New York certification exams on the first attempt and finding employment within six months. Delivered on campus, the program reads as a practice-oriented route into secondary language teaching backed by close supervision and measurable results. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
15
Gordon College
Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available
- 2Master's/yr
- $98,060Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education in World Languages Education
- Online
About the program
Gordon College offers a Master of Education in World Languages Education delivered fully online, combining synchronous and asynchronous evening and weekend courses so that working professionals can study without leaving the classroom. The program serves candidates seeking either Massachusetts Initial or Professional teacher licensure in Spanish or French, spanning grade bands from PreK through 6 and 5 through 12. Its paired Initial and Professional Licensure tracks let it welcome both newcomers to teaching and experienced educators advancing an existing credential. The flexible schedule and online delivery read as a deliberate fit for practicing teachers balancing coursework with full-time work. For language educators across Massachusetts, the design offers a route to licensure that bends around a professional life rather than interrupting it. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Massachusetts.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
16
DePaul University
Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit
- 2Master's/yr
- $78,390Metro teacher pay
- Teaching and Learning: World Language - Spanish (MA or MEd)
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved-accredited
- Hybrid
About the program
DePaul University offers a Teaching and Learning: World Language - Spanish degree, available as either an M.A. or an M.Ed., preparing candidates to teach Spanish in grades PK through 12 in Illinois. The two credentials diverge at the capstone, with the M.A. requiring a master's thesis and oral defense while the M.Ed. does not, letting candidates choose a research-oriented or a practice-oriented finish. Coursework runs on a flexible schedule of weekday evening classes at the Lincoln Park campus, online, or hybrid, a rhythm built for candidates working during the day. Extensive clinical preparation anchors the program, with 100 to 110 hours of daytime field experience, much of it in International Baccalaureate schools, plus a full-time student-teaching placement of at least ten weeks. Graduates earn an Illinois Professional Educator License with a World Language Spanish endorsement for grades PK through 12. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in Illinois.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
17
University of Maine
Orono, MEPublic
- 2Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Spanish
- On-campus
About the program
The University of Maine offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Spanish delivered in a hybrid format that combines an on-campus summer institute with distance coursework during the academic year. The structure historically fit working educators, letting candidates concentrate intensive study in the summer while continuing to teach, with the student-teaching component waived after a successful school year in the classroom. Completion has led to State of Maine World Language Teacher Certification. As of 2026, however, the university has suspended admissions to the program, and a proposal to discontinue the Spanish degree entirely is under review by the Faculty Senate and Board of Trustees. Prospective students should confirm the program's current status directly with the department. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in Maine.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
18
Lamar University
Beaumont, TXPublic
- 2Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language
- Online
About the program
Lamar University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language delivered largely online but anchored by an international partnership with the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. The 30 semester-hour degree pairs graduate coursework in Spanish and Hispanic literature, art, and culture with teaching methodology, so it reads as much as an immersion in the language's intellectual traditions as a training in how to teach it. The Salamanca collaboration requires in-residence summer sessions abroad and awards a companion certificate from the Spanish university alongside the Lamar M.A., giving graduates a credential with reach beyond Texas. Its single-track structure and absence of a GRE requirement lower the barrier for practicing or prospective Spanish instructors who want depth in the subject rather than a menu of concentrations. The result suits teachers and language professionals looking to deepen their command of Spanish through study on both sides of the Atlantic. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Texas.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
19
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit
- 1Master's/yr
- $98,060Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (secondary education, Foreign Language: Spanish or French concentration)
- On-campus
About the program
Boston College's Lynch School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Teaching for secondary candidates specializing in a foreign language, with concentrations in Spanish or French. The degree leads to Massachusetts Initial licensure for grades 8 through 12, and because the program is approved under the Interstate Certification Compact, that credential carries portability to many other states. What distinguishes the offering is choice of route, since candidates aiming for the same secondary language licensure can pursue the M.A.T., the M.Ed., or the M.S.T., selecting the track that best matches their background and goals. Taught on campus, the program suits aspiring language teachers who want a research-informed preparation grounded in a strong education school. The multiple pathways make it adaptable to both career changers and those continuing directly from undergraduate study. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in Massachusetts.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
20
Binghamton University
Vestal, NYPublic
- 1Master's/yr
- Adolescence Education, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- On-campus
About the program
Binghamton University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education that leads to initial New York State certification for grades 7 to 12, with Spanish among nine disciplinary options that also span the sciences, mathematics, English, and social studies. The minimum 35-credit program balances its coursework deliberately, with 21 credits in teaching, learning, and educational leadership, 8 in the academic discipline, and 6 in a supervised internship. A full day of weekly fieldwork before that internship signals steady immersion in real classrooms rather than a late clinical add-on. An accelerated 4+1 pathway lets Binghamton undergraduates in Spanish move efficiently into the degree, marking this as a program that grows subject-matter specialists into secondary teachers. The on-campus structure keeps candidates tied to close faculty supervision throughout. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
21
University of Rochester
Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 1Master's/yr
- $62,840Metro teacher pay
- MS in Adolescence Education: Spanish (grades 7-12)
- On-campus
About the program
The University of Rochester's Warner School of Education offers a Master of Science in Adolescence Education with a Spanish specialization that leads to New York State initial and professional certification for grades 7 to 12. The program is oriented toward practicing educators adding a certification area, a focus reflected in its allowance of up to 10 transfer credits against the 32-credit total. Coursework moves beyond language pedagogy into questions of equity, including a required course on race, class, gender, and disability in American education, and it closes with a capstone tailored to foreign language teaching. That mix reads as a program for reflective teachers who want their Spanish credential embedded in a broader understanding of who sits in their classrooms. The on-campus format keeps candidates close to Warner's clinical and mentoring support. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in New York.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Rochester, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,840, roughly $64,760 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
22
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 1Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- World Language Education, MSEd
- On-campus
About the program
Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education in World Language Education that prepares candidates for initial New York State certification to teach a language such as Spanish across grades 7 to 12. Spanish sits among eight languages the program supports, and a dual-certification track pairs the language of instruction with TESOL for teachers who expect to serve multilingual classrooms. The 37-credit, on-campus design is built around demonstrated proficiency rather than seat time alone, letting candidates earn up to 28 credits of advanced standing through their ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test results. That structure reads as a program for people who already command the language and want an efficient, certification-focused path into secondary teaching. The emphasis throughout is on pedagogy grounded in genuine communicative fluency. It is a master's degree in spanish language teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
23
Austin College
Sherman, TXPrivate nonprofit
- 1Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching (Austin Teacher Program)
- On-campus
About the program
Austin College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching through its integrated Austin Teacher Program, a route that folds undergraduate study and graduate certification into one continuous pathway for aspiring foreign language teachers. Built as a five-year sequence with a 4.5-year option, the program carries students from a bachelor's degree straight into the M.A.T. while accumulating nearly 100 hours of classroom experience before they even reach graduate admission. That heavy front-loading of field time, capped by a nine-week teaching placement, signals a program that treats classroom readiness as the point rather than an afterthought. Completers earn Texas All-Level, EC-12, certification in Languages Other than English, with Spanish as the featured track and parallel certificates available in areas such as physical education, art, music, and theatre, along with an ESL supplemental credential. The design fits undergraduates at Austin College who know early that they want to teach and prefer a coherent, mentored climb into the profession over a separate post-baccalaureate program. This program offers a master's degree in spanish language teacher education in Texas.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
24
University at Albany
Albany, NYPublic
- 1Master's/yr
- $79,240Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSSE)
- On-campus
About the program
The University at Albany offers a Master of Science in Secondary Education that leads to New York State initial certification for grades 7 to 12, with a world languages track covering Spanish and French alongside the sciences, math, English, and social studies. The roughly 18-month, on-campus program opens with two summer courses and builds toward full-time student teaching, a rhythm that reads as an intensive, cohort-paced entry into the profession. Candidates prepare for the state's Education for All Students exam and the relevant Content Specialty Test as part of the certification path. An accelerated Great Dane Teacher Pathway lets qualified UAlbany undergraduates begin the master's early, signaling a program that actively recruits its own strong students into teaching. AAQEP accreditation, current through mid-2028, backs the preparation. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,240, roughly $79,585 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
25
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NYPublic
- 1Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education, Spanish 7-12 (Plan code SPSPN-MSED)
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Queens College offers a Master of Science in Education in Spanish for grades 7 through 12, a degree that draws together coursework from three distinct areas across two departments. Candidates study Hispanic language, literature, and culture alongside foreign language education and professional education courses in secondary teaching, blending disciplinary depth with pedagogy. The program leads to New York State certification to teach Spanish in grades 7 through 12. Delivered on campus, its cross-departmental structure gives future teachers a foundation in both the content they will teach and the craft of the classroom. It fits candidates who want their subject-matter expertise and teaching preparation developed in tandem. As a master's degree in spanish language teacher education, it adds to the master's-level spanish language teacher education options in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site

← Back to the overall Best Master's in Spanish Language Teacher Education

Best Master's in Spanish Language Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

CUNY City College

Nova Southeastern University

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

Stony Brook University

Southern Oregon University

SUNY Old Westbury

University at Buffalo

Northern Arizona University

Salem State University

University of Illinois Chicago

CUNY Brooklyn College

CUNY Lehman College

Brigham Young University

CUNY Hunter College

Gordon College

DePaul University

University of Maine

Lamar University

Boston College

Binghamton University

University of Rochester

Hofstra University

Austin College

University at Albany

CUNY Queens College