Do you have a university degree from a Spanish-speaking country? William Paterson University in Wayne is offering an opportunity for students with international degrees to earn a teaching credential and become a Spanish teacher in New Jersey.

Obtaining a teaching degree provides access to excellent job opportunities. Students who take advantage of this program can meet the high demand for Spanish teachers across all grade levels in the state.

Many individuals with foreign degrees lack the information and guidance needed to pursue a career in the United States, and many do not realize they can transfer or validate their credentials. Some may believe a professional career is impossible, often resulting in employment in low-paying jobs that do not align with their qualifications due to language barriers or financial constraints.

The Spanish alternate route program requires an individual to hold a bachelor’s degree with 30 credits in Spanish and a New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility in Spanish.

Verónica Roa, a student returning to college this semester, is already benefiting from the program. Roa studied in Caracas, Venezuela, at the National Experimental Simón Rodríguez University, where she

earned a bachelor’s degree in administration with a focus on finance and a postgraduate degree in tax law. She said meeting with Professor Maria Tajes provided the guidance and support she needed, as she was previously unaware the program existed. Roa said the program offers her hope for a new professional career. Of her previous coursework, 96 credits were converted toward her Spanish teaching degree. She expects to complete the program during the spring and fall semesters this year.

Tajes views the program as a significant opportunity to increase the variety of classes offered in the Spanish program each semester. Participants must also complete 50 hours of pre-professional coursework, followed by a two-year mentoring program.

The Spanish department team provides support throughout the process, offering evaluations of foreign degrees, credits for courses taken at Latin American universities, academic advising in Spanish, and evening courses during the fall and spring semesters.

For more information in Spanish, contact Maria Tajes, the director of the Spanish program. Tajes is a professor at William Paterson and has helped many students achieve success, drawing from her own experience as a former international student. Interested individuals may also contact Professor Rodriguez, who holds a doctorate in literature and teaches in the Department of Spanish.