Program: Adolescence Education: French and Spanish (7-12) [AFS] - SUNY Cortland

2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 07, 2025

Students develop language skills and cultural awareness and acquire the pedagogical background necessary to teach both French and Spanish in grades 7-12 in New York state. Admission to the program prerequisite: An overall grade point average of 2.5.

For additional information, visit the Modern Languages Department .

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Comprehend and produce written and spoken French and Spanish at a level commensurate with the advanced low level or higher as described in the current ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
Analyze, interpret, and compare literary, artistic, and cultural texts in French within different francophone cultures, and in Spanish within different cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.
Use knowledge of linguistics and second language acquisition theory and research to plan and deliver instruction, as well as design and use ongoing performance assessment.
Use knowledge of adolescent development to create a supportive learning environment for all students.

Career Potential

French and Spanish in the elementary school
Note: French and Spanish adolescence education majors are eligible for French and Spanish K-6 extension by taking ICC 324 Foreign Language for the Elementary School
Middle school teacher
High school teacher

Spanish: 30 credit hours

A. Required Spanish Courses: 12 credit hours

SPA 306 - Advanced Spanish Conversation (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 307 - Advanced Spanish Grammar (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 308 - Advanced Spanish Composition (3 cr. hr.) and
SPA 318 - Spanish Peninsular Civilization (3 cr. hr.) or
SPA 319 - Latin American Civilization (3 cr. hr.)

B. Four elective courses in Spanish at 300-level or above: 12 credit hours

SPA 301 - Spanish Language Study in Mexico (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 309 - La Telenovela (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 313 - Survey of Spanish-American Literature (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 315 - Survey of Spanish Literature (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 317 - Literary Types in Spanish (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 318 - Spanish Peninsular Civilization (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 319 - Latin American Civilization (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 320 - Spanish for the Professions (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 329 - Special Topics in Spanish (1-4 cr. hr.)
SPA 330 - Música Contemporánea de España e Hispanoamérica (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 355 - Spanish Pronunciation and Phonetics (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 411 - The Golden Age of Spanish Literature (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 417 - Spanish Literature of the Nineteenth Century (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 419 - Literature of Twentieth Century Spain (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 421 - Spanish Literature of the Medieval Period (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 422 - Spanish-American Literature (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 423 - Themes in Literature (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 429 - Special Topics in Spanish (1-4 cr. hr.)
SPA 503 - The Grammatical Structure of Spanish (3 cr. hr.)
SPA 517 - Independent Study (1-3 cr. hr.)
SPA 529 - Special Topics in Spanish (1-4 cr. hr.)

C. Two Spanish Courses at 400 level: 6 credit hours

French: 30 credit hours

Thirty credit hours of FRE courses at the 300 level or above. At least 15 credit hours must be from the following group of FRE courses, focusing on literature and culture:
Note: At least six credit hours must be at the 400 level or above.

FRE 307 - French Through the Media (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 310 - Pratique de la Lecture (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 311 - Francophone Literatures (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 315 - Introduction to French Literature I (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 316 - Introduction to French Literature II (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 318 - French Civilization (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 319 - Francophone Civilization (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 413 - French Literature of the Seventeenth Century (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 415 - French Literature of the Eighteenth Century (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 417 - Literature of the Nineteenth Century (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 419 - Literature of the Twentieth Century (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 423 - Themes in Literature (3 cr. hr.)
FRE 515 - Seminar in Literature (3 cr. hr.)

Required Linguistics Course: 3 credit hours

Required for both French and Spanish majors; taken only once for dual certification.

ICC 353 - Linguistics for Language Teachers (3 cr. hr.)

Professional Education Courses: 36-37 credit hours

Required courses

AED 437 - Methods of Teaching Second Languages in Middle/Junior and High Schools I (3 cr. hr.)
AED 438 - Methods of Teaching Second Languages in Middle/Junior and High Schools II (3 cr. hr.)
SPE 275 - Teaching Students with Disabilities in Adolescence Classrooms (3 cr. hr.) SPE 275 must be taken concurrently with AED 438.
AED 439 - Student Teaching: Adolescence Education - Second Languages (12 cr. hr.)
EDU 471 - Foundations of Modern Education (3 cr. hr.)
HLH 110 - Personal and Community Health (3 cr. hr.) or
HLH 199 - Critical School Health Issues (2 cr. hr.)

Required prior to taking AED 437 and 438

AED 323 - Seminar for Field Experience (1 cr. hr.)
AED 391 - Introduction to Adolescence Education (MDL) (3 cr. hr.)
PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 cr. hr.)
PSY 232 - Adolescent Psychology (3 cr. hr.)

Eligibility for Student Teaching

A 2.5 grade point average overall
A 2.5 grade point average in required professional education course work
A 2.7 grade point average in course work in both majors, French and Spanish
24 credit hours in the majors
A score of Intermediate High or better on the Oral Proficiency Interview
A grade of B or better in AED 437 and 438 Methods block
A score of Advanced Low or better on the Oral Proficiency Interview required for graduation

Grade point averages are figured with all major and/or professional courses taken to date, even if not required prior to student teaching.

Required Workshops

Complete the following workshops prior to student teaching:

Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (CARR)
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE)

Additional Certification Option

Students who wish to independently pursue additional certification in areas such as TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), other languages, or FLES (Foreign Language for the Elementary School) should discuss these options with their advisors. Students should consult New York state certification requirements and meet with their program coordinator for more information.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 126

Example of the B.A. in Adolescence Education: French and Spanish over four years

The following sample course of study includes two study abroad components, one in each major. While not mandatory, these experiences are strongly recommended in order for preservice teacher candidates to be able to meet the NCATE/ACTFL Advanced Low level for language proficiency.