Become an in-demand educator trained to teach Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish to middle and high school students in the US or abroad. You’ll start off with language, liberal arts, and pedagogy courses, then student teach in the New York City school system, where more than 200 languages are spoken. This degree leads to eligibility for initial certification in New York State.
Degree Details
Official Degree Title
Bachelor of Science in World Language Education, Grades 7–12, Initial Certification
Licensure or Certification
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
128
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadlines
Early Decision 1
Early Decision 2
Regular Decision
Internal Transfer Applications
Transfer Applications
Our faculty members are experts in areas like world language instruction in urban educational settings, intercultural communication and linguistics, and second language assessment. You will work closely with them to:
- Immerse yourself in Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish
- Gain a broad education in language development and approaches to language acquisition
- Develop a deep understanding of speakers’ cultures and acquire critical cross-cultural sensitivity
- Build skills in teaching techniques and methods; testing for language proficiency; and creating curricula, materials, and audiovisual aids
Hands-On Teaching Experience
You will complete two semesters of classroom observation and student teaching in your junior and senior years, testing your own teaching techniques and instructional plans under the close supervision of an experienced teacher. Student-teaching placements often lead to full-time employment upon graduation.
University-Wide Resources
Take language classes in NYU’s College of Arts and Science, and pedagogy classes at NYU Steinhardt, interacting with different groups of students. You will have access to University resources like Deutsches Haus, La Maison Francaise, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò and the Hagop Kevorkian Center, where you can access reference materials and attend academic and cultural events.
Student Research Opportunities
Qualified seniors can participate in a special year-long seminar, Honors Research in Teaching and Learning, where you’ll be guided through the process of selecting a topic of inquiry, developing research questions, choosing appropriate methodologies, building outlines, and preparing drafts.
This program leads to eligibility for New York State initial teaching certification in teaching Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish for grades 7–12, as well as qualifying you to teach grades 5 and 6. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for careers in a number of fields, including:
- Secondary school world language education
- Interpreting and translating
- Domestic or international business
- Government work
- Public, private, and community organizations involved in bilingual and multicultural activities
- Publishing
- The travel industry
You’ll have the opportunity to meet education professionals and potential employers each year at the Foreign Language Conference, sponsored by NYU and the New York City Department of Education. The Department of Education also recruits prospective teachers on campus.
Learn more about teacher certification and our degree's accreditation.
Questions
If you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact the Program Director at language.education@nyu.edu.
Financial Support for Graduate Study
If you’re interested in graduate study, we offer generous scholarships for advanced study to graduating seniors who want to continue on for a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning at NYU Steinhardt.
Take the Next Step
Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.
Apply Now