Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education-World Languages Education

The Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education-World Languages Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University is a non-degree, certification-focused pathway for individuals who want to teach languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese or Latin in grades seven through 12. The 19-credit graduate certificate is tailored for professionals who want to pursue a new career and multilingual professionals with strong content backgrounds. The program prepares you to become a certified language educator in Pennsylvania.

Through a blend of pedagogy, language acquisition theory and culturally responsive teaching practices, you will develop the skills to engage diverse learners in meaningful communication and intercultural exploration. The program fosters both instructional proficiency and a deeper understanding of global perspectives and language diversity.

Courses are scheduled in the evening at Temple’s Main Campus to accommodate part-time learners. A full-time, supervised student teaching placement is required during the final semester and provides essential classroom experience.

Why study Secondary Education-World Languages Education in the College of Education and Human Development?

Graduates of the Secondary Education-World Languages Education Certificate program are well-prepared to teach world languages in upper middle and high school settings and to foster inclusive classrooms that promote communication, cultural understanding and global perspectives. Through the curriculum, you will

• learn strategies to support second-language acquisition in adolescent learners;

• promote communication, cultural competency and global citizenship; and

• prepare for Pennsylvania certification in your specific target language (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin or Spanish).

Program Outcomes

You will be well-equipped to

• plan and deliver language instruction aligned with ACTFL standards and PDE requirements;

• support student communication skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening;

• foster cultural awareness, identity development and global citizenship;

• design inclusive and engaging lessons that reflect the richness of world languages and cultures; and

• demonstrate professionalism and readiness for Pennsylvania teacher certification in a world/foreign language.

Program Format & Curriculum

The Secondary Education-World Languages Education Graduate Certificate program comprises 19 credits. Courses are held on Temple’s Main Campus in Philadelphia, though some online and hybrid options are available. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. You can attend on a full-time or part-time basis, and you have up to four years to complete the program. Learn more about the curriculum.