Bachelor of Arts in Spanish - Secondary Education

About

Prepare to teach Spanish at the middle and high school level with the BA in Spanish – Secondary Education option.

You’ll take advanced language courses, study grammar and composition, and learn about Spanish-American civilization, culture, and literature. You’ll also gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to lead your own classroom and support student learning.

Request Info Apply

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Spanish - Secondary Education Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

This major satisfies the endorsement for grades 5-12.

The BA in Spanish Education prepares students to become certified Spanish teachers in Washington. The program combines advanced Spanish language study with coursework in pedagogy and supervised teaching experiences to prepare graduates to teach Spanish in grades 5-12.

Advising Note: Students need to meet with a Spanish advisor as soon as the major is declared to create a comprehensive academic plan. 

Grade Requirements: A cumulative GPA ≥2.8 for all courses, ≥ B- is required for each required course in the major and required supporting course, ≥B- in each required education course. Education Grade Requirements

Admission: This Program requires admission into the School of Education.  

Required Spanish Courses
SPAN 201INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE5
SPAN 202INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE5
SPAN 203INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE5
SPAN 310ADVANCED GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION3
SPAN 311ADVANCED GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION3
Choose two of the following courses: 10
HISPANIC LINGUISTIC STUDIES
HISPANIC CULTURAL STUDIES
HISPANIC LITERARY STUDIES
Electives–choose courses above SPAN 30014
Senior Capstone
SPAN 491SPANISH SENIOR CAPSTONE4
or CSBS 490 SENIOR CAPSTONE
World Languages Courses
ESLG 380INTRODUCTION TO TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE5
GNML 303LANGUAGE ACQUISITION ASSESSMENT1
GNML 390WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHING METHODS4
GNML 394WORLD LANGUAGE PRACTICUM (must be repeated)6
Required Education Courses
CSBS 186EARLY CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE1
EDUC 231FOUNDATIONS OF INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT3
EDUC 232FOUNDATIONS OF CLASSROOM COMMUNITY AND CULTURE3
EDUC 233FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING, LEARNING, AND MOTIVATION IN SCHOOL CONTEXTS4
EDUC 234UNDERSTANDING EDUCATION IN THE US3
SOST 300PEOPLES AND GOVERNANCE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST5
EDUC 331SECONDARY APPLIED INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT4
EDUC 332PRACTICES OF CLASSROOM COMMUNITY AND CULTURE IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS4
EDUC 431DESIGNING EQUITABLE LEARNING IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS4
EDUC 434PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS3
EDUC 386AFIELD EXPERIENCE 12
EDUC 386BFIELD EXPERIENCE 22
EDUC 386CFIELD EXPERIENCE 35
GNML 420STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR1
or CSBS 420 STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR
EDUC 423FULL-TIME STUDENT TEACHING15
Total Credits124

Students who earn a BA in Spanish - Secondary Education from EWU should be able to:​​

  • articulate one’s philosophy and methods for teaching World Languages through a teaching portfolio (PLO1);
  • demonstrate listening comprehension at the advanced-low (or higher) level of proficiency on the ACTFL scale in Spanish (PLO2);
  • read at the advanced-low (or higher) level of proficiency on the ACTFL scale in Spanish (PLO3);
  • speak at the advanced-low (or higher) level of proficiency on the ACTFL scale in Spanish (PLO4);
  • write at the advanced-low (or higher) level of proficiency on the ACTFL scale in Spanish (PLO5);
  • analyze in Spanish Hispanic artistic products taking into consideration historical, political, economic, and other social issues (PLO6).

Applied Learning Opportunities

Students in Salamanca

  • Internships: Get real-world experience by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals. Spanish-speaking students can pursue internships with bilingual workplaces, international companies, healthcare providers, legal offices, or community organizations that serve Spanish-speaking populations—making you especially competitive in diverse job markets.
  • Practicums: Hone your skills in structured field placements, such as classrooms or community organizations, which are often required for professional certification. Spanish proficiency is especially valuable in education, social work, counseling, and healthcare settings where you can support Spanish-speaking clients, students, and families.
  • Student Employment & Leadership at EWU: Gain skills, connections, and confidence through on-campus jobs and leadership roles in student government, departments, athletics, or clubs. Bilingual students can serve as cultural ambassadors, peer mentors, or support staff for multicultural programs.
  • Study Abroad: Travel, learn, and experience new cultures while earning credit and developing communication skills that help you thrive anywhere. Studying in Spanish-speaking countries strengthens language fluency and cultural competence—these are key assets for many careers. EWU offers a faculty-lead program in Salamanca, Spain, every summer.
  • Undergraduate Research: Collaborate with professors on real-world research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover. Spanish skills can open opportunities to conduct research with Spanish-speaking communities, analyze cross-cultural data, or contribute to global research initiatives.
  • Volunteerism: Give back to your community while gaining experience, building connections, and applying classroom knowledge to make an impact. Spanish-speaking volunteers are in high demand at hospitals, schools, legal aid clinics, and nonprofit organizations, where they help bridge language gaps and improve access to essential services.

Sample Courses

SPAN 460. SPANISH POETRY. 3-5 Credits.

Notes: may be repeated.
Pre-requisites: SPAN 310 or SPAN 312.
Selected poems by Hispanic authors within a designated thematic or period framework. Content varies.

Catalog Listing

SPAN 474. SPANISH TRAVEL NARRATIVE. 3-5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: SPAN 310 and SPAN 311, or SPAN 312 and SPAN 313, and SPAN 323, SPAN 324.
A chronological exploration of the connections between travel narratives and the construction of Hispanic identity. Students continue to develop their cultural understanding of the Spanish speaking world while targeting the four language skills through material related to Spanish travel narratives.

Catalog Listing

SPAN 479. SPANISH DIALECTOLOGY. 3-5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: SPAN 310, SPAN 311, SPAN 313, SPAN 320, SPAN 321.
Examines the history and diversity of the different Spanish dialects by presenting the geographical, ethnic, and sociolinguistic factors that contribute to the variety present in current modern peninsular and Latin American Spanish. Special emphasis is placed on the situation of the Spanish in the U.S. as the second most widespread language, second only to English.

Catalog Listing

Career Possibilities

  • Spanish Teacher (K-12)
  • Dual Language Immersion Instructor
  • ESL Teacher
  • College or University Lecturer 
  • Curriculum Developer 
  • Foreign Language Department Chair
  • Language Assessment Coordinator
  • Study Abroad Program Coordinator
  • Translator 
  • Interpreter 
  • Test Translation Specialist
  • Simultaneous Interpreter 
  • Academic Research Translator
  • Bilingual Education Coordinator
  • Dual Language Program Administrator
  • ESL/Bilingual Curriculum Specialist
  • Teacher Trainer 
  • Multilingual Program Evaluator
  • Literacy Specialist 
  • Academic Intervention Specialist 
  • Language Acquisition Researcher
  • Community Language Advocate
  • Nonprofit Program Coordinator 
  • Spanish Literacy Program Director
  • Family Engagement Specialist 
  • Migrant Education Program Coordinator
  • Cultural Outreach Coordinator
  • Parent Liaison 
  • Language and Cultural Competency Trainer
  • Foreign Language Education Policy Advisor
  • Bilingual Program Analyst
  • Cultural Affairs Specialist
  • Language Training Consultant 
  • Translator/Interpreter for Immigration Services
  • Spanish-Language Outreach Specialist
  • Multilingual Public Affairs Specialist
  • Educational Grants Manager
  • Spanish Textbook Editor
  • Bilingual Content Writer
  • Educational Material Developer 
  • Spanish-Language Children’s Book Author
  • Spanish Curriculum Reviewer
  • Media Specialist 
  • Language Instruction Podcast Host
  • Audiovisual Language Content Developer
  • Study Abroad Advisor
  • Exchange Program Coordinator
  • International Language Trainer
  • Educational Consultant 
  • Bilingual School Administrator 
  • Global Education Policy Researcher
  • Cultural Immersion Program Director
  • Foreign Exchange Liaison
  • Corporate Spanish Language Trainer
  • Workplace Diversity Educator
  • Cross-Cultural Communication Specialist
  • Bilingual Human Resources Specialist
  • Language Program Developer 
  • Consultant for Multilingual Corporate Policies
  • Business Translator 
  • Employee Language Support Specialist
  • Spanish Cultural Center Educator
  • Museum Program Coordinator 
  • Language Workshop Facilitator
  • Tour Guide
  • Cultural Event Organizer
  • Spanish Performing Arts Educator
  • Arts Outreach Coordinator
  • Historical Interpreter
  • Sociolinguistics Researcher
  • Spanish Language Pedagogy Specialist
  • Cultural Studies Researcher 
  • Research Assistant 
  • Academic Journal Editor 
  • Spanish Education Policy Analyst
  • Language Preservation Advocate
  • Dissertation or Thesis Consultant

As a Spanish Education major, you won’t just achieve fluency—you’ll learn how to teach the language in engaging and inspiring ways. Throughout your studies, you’ll also explore Spanish-speaking cultures and discover how to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

You’ll gain real classroom experience, delve into effective teaching methods, and develop the cultural knowledge necessary to make your lessons impactful.

In addition to teaching, you’ll be prepared to create bilingual programs, support language learning in your community, and lead global initiatives.

Explore careers in Spanish Education: