Program Overview

Spanish Heritage Language Education Graduate Certificate

Overview

The graduate certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education (SHLE) provides training in heritage language educational policy and practice as well as social justice-oriented approaches to teaching Spanish. Students develop familiarity with the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural characteristics of Spanish-speakers in the US. The SHLE certificate prepares educators and affiliated professionals to advocate for heritage speakers of Spanish, design and implement Spanish for Heritage Speakers (SHL) curricula, and develop teaching materials and pedagogies for use in both SHL and mixed classes.

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6.8 Requirements for Graduate Certificates.

Certificate Requirements

Total credits: 15

This certificate may be pursued on a full-or part-time basis.

Core Courses

• FRLN 575: Heritage Language Education (3 credits)
• SPAN 575: Teaching Spanish for Social Justice (3 credits)
• SPAN 574: Critical Approaches to Teaching Spanish-language Culture (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 9

Restricted Elective

• Select one of the following:
  • SPAN 502: Hispanic Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
  • SPAN 503: Spanish Linguistics for Educators (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 3

Additional Elective

• Select one of the following or a relevant 500-level or above course:
  • SPAN 502: Hispanic Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
  • SPAN 503: Spanish Linguistics for Educators (3 credits)
  • SPAN 505: Applied Spanish Stylistics in Multilingual and Multimodal Contexts (3 credits)
  • SPAN 512: Mass Media and Popular Culture (3 credits)
  • SPAN 570: Language Politics and Policy (3 credits)
  • SPAN 571: Methods and Curriculum Design for Teaching Spanish (3 credits)
  • SPAN 585: Languages in Contact (3 credits)
  • SPAN 590: Bilingual Education in the Spanish-Speaking World (3 credits)
  • FRLN 572: Integrating Technology into Language Learning (3 credits)
  • FRLN 573: Basic Issues in Language Pedagogy (3 credits)
  • FRLN 650: The Teaching of Culture in Foreign Language Programs (3 credits)
  • FRLN 670: Topics in Language Learning and Teaching (3 credits)
  • EDUC 537: Introduction to Culturally Linguistically Diverse Learners (3 credits)
  • EDCI 516: Bilingualism and Language Acquisition Research (3 credits)
  • EDCI 520: Assessment of Language Learners (3 credits)
  • EDCI 560: Methods of Teaching in Foreign/World Languages (3 credits)
  • EDCI 684: Advanced Methods of Teaching Foreign/Second Languages in PK-12 Schools (3 credits)
  • EDRD 620: Reading/Writing in Foreign/World Languages (3 credits)
  • Other relevant course with approval (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 3

Relevant courses may include special topics in Spanish teaching methods and materials design, Latinx Studies, or sociolinguistics. Elective courses other than those listed must be pre-approved, in writing, by the program director.