MA Spanish and Portuguese Pedagogy

Program Purpose

Full program information, including detailed descriptions of measures of student learning and current data generated by those measures is available on the College of Humanities assessment summary

The purpose of the Spanish Pedagogy and Portuguese Pedagogy M.A. programs is to prepare graduate students who desire to enter the field of Spanish or Portuguese language teaching with additional understanding, knowledge, and pedagogic skills beyond those acquired at the B.A. level in order to be an effective teacher in the language classroom and/or a successful student in a doctoral program in foreign language education.

The programs are designed to provide a broad understanding of principles of foreign language teaching and learning, as well as to further students' knowledge of Hispanic and Lusophone linguistics and literatures. They are also designed to establish habits of broad spiritual thought and appreciation that will provide a source of life-long personal betterment and service to the extended community.

Curricular Structure

Curricular structure for these programs can be found on the department website:

Emphasis in Spanish Pedagogy: https://spanport.byu.edu/graduate-programs/spanish-pedagogy-ma/

Emphasis in Portuguese Pedagogy: https://spanport.byu.edu/graduate-programs/portuguese-pedagogy-ma/

Co-curricular Activities Designed to Support Program Goals

1. Support for graduate student instructors: The Department offers a one-week Fall Workshop, a methods class (SPAN/PORT 376), an inservice class (SPAN/PORT 673R), and observation visits by Pedagogy faculty to provide training and support for graduate student instructors.

2. Sigma Delta Pi and Phi Lambda Beta National Honor Societies

3. Spanish Resource Center: Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling (CITES) both from BYU. The Spanish Resource Center sponsors workshops and seminars, organizes cultural activities, and promotes efforts to encourage the teaching and learning of the Spanish language.

4. Study abroad: The department offers a number of study abroad programs each year in Spain and Latin America. Graduate students may participate in these programs either as students or as graduate assistants. More specifically, our department offers the Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers designed for graduate students who are in our programs and potential graduate students currently teaching in the K-12 system.

5. Spanish and Portuguese Writing Laboratories

Learning Outcomes

Pedagogical Expertise

Our graduates teach Spanish/ Portuguese with integrity and compassion, using sound pedagogy, effective assessment, appropriate technology, and current language-teaching practices to inspire learning and strengthen faith.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 601C PORT 674 PORT 679R SPAN 601C SPAN 671 SPAN 672 SPAN 674 SPAN 676 SPAN 677 SPAN 678 SPAN 679R
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
Research and Scholarship

Our graduates pursue truth through original research and pedagogical scholarship, contributing to language education with critical thinking, creativity, and ethical engagement.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 601C PORT 680R PORT 698R PORT 699R SPAN 601C SPAN 671 SPAN 676 SPAN 678 SPAN 680R SPAN 698R SPAN 699R
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
Professional Preparation

Our graduates lead with integrity, empathy, and professionalism in educational, community, and academic settings, using their expertise to serve others and promote lifelong learning.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 601C PORT 673R PORT 674 SPAN 601C SPAN 671 SPAN 673R SPAN 674 SPAN 677 SPAN 678
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging, Lifelong Learning and Service
Cultural and Linguistic Proficiency

Our graduates communicate in Spanish/Portuguese with advanced linguistic, cultural, and intercultural proficiency, fostering appreciation for diverse peoples, perspectives, and traditions.

Courses that Contribute: PORT 520 PORT 521 PORT 522 PORT 529R PORT 581R PORT 582R PORT 625 PORT 626 PORT 631R PORT 638 PORT 639R PORT 642 PORT 647 PORT 649R PORT 652 PORT 653 PORT 659R PORT 662R PORT 674 SPAN 520 SPAN 521 SPAN 522 SPAN 529R SPAN 581R SPAN 582R SPAN 622 SPAN 625 SPAN 626 SPAN 629R SPAN 638 SPAN 639R SPAN 640 SPAN 643R SPAN 644 SPAN 646R SPAN 648R SPAN 649R SPAN 650R SPAN 652 SPAN 654R SPAN 655R SPAN 656R SPAN 658R SPAN 659R SPAN 674
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging

Evidence of Learning

Please see the alignment table for explanations of program-level assessments.

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

1. The department has a curriculum committee made up of members from the different specialty sections and supervisors of multi-section courses. Proposals for curriculum change are discussed at section meetings, executive committee meetings, and faculty meetings, and are decided by a faculty vote. More lengthy discussions take place at department and college faculty retreats.

2. Student ratings of courses and instructors are scrutinized at the end of each semester, and are discussed with faculty members in annual interviews.

3. Plans for improvement are typically formulated by the curriculum committee or appointed task committees and tracked to completion by the department executive committee.

4. Proposals for curriculum change are submitted to the college and the university curriculum committees.