Assessment of Emotional Intelligence in a Sample of Prospective Secondary Education Teachers

In the past few years, skills related to emotional intelligence (EI) have acquired special relevance in the educational domain. This study assesses EI in a sample of 155 students of 5 different specialities of a Master's degree in Teacher Training for Secondary Education. Data collection was conducted through the administration of the Trait Meta Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) and the Mayer, Salovey & Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Results show adequate levels of EI, especially in the strategic area, as well as some speciality-based differences among students. There is a need to develop specific training geared towards the development of emotional skills in the Master's in Secondary Education capacitation programmes according to the trainee's background.