The Major in Spanish is an integral part of traditional education in the liberal arts. The Spanish Major is designed to contribute to the cultural and intellectual formation of students, as well as to prepare them for teaching on the elementary or secondary level, and for work in social services, medical fields, law, criminology, and as interpreters, translators, or representatives in business or government, or for continued work on the graduate level. Spanish majors are expected to achieve proficiency and fluency in the spoken and written language, to become knowledgeable about Hispanic cultures, and to read with critical appreciation and enjoyment representative works of the principal authors of Spain and Latin America. The selection of courses in this major will be made in consultation with the advisor with a view to a complete formation in the language, literature, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish majors are strongly advised to spend a semester or an academic year in a Spanish-speaking country.

Required Courses (10)

A total of 10 major-level courses (those numbered 202 or higher) is required for a major. Students are expected to include language skills, literature, and culture study in their program. The following are the minimum around which an individual program of study should be developed. These must include at least

A minimum of three courses numbered 210–299 and three courses at the 300-level.

Students who are considering a major in Spanish are advised to fulfill the Introduction to Literature requirement by taking SPA 204. 

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures accepts for credit from an approved study abroad program three courses (9 credits) per semester towards a major.

All courses for the major must be in Spanish.

Course Descriptions

• Academic Catalog & Advising Guide
• Major in Spanish Course Descriptions

Students minoring in Spanish must take a total of six one-semester courses (18 credits) at level SPA 201 or higher. At least one course must be taken at level SPA 210 or higher. All courses for the minor must be taught in Spanish.

Note on Study Abroad Credit

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures accepts for credit from an approved study abroad program two courses (6 credits) per semester towards a minor. The same policies regarding the language in which the course is taught apply for courses abroad. Students must have courses approved by the chair of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures. Any exceptions to this policy will be reviewed and decided by the chair, in consultation with departmental faculty as the chair deems appropriate.

Course Descriptions

• Academic Catalog & Advising Guide
• Minor in Spanish Course Descriptions

Required Courses (10)

The Major in Latin American and Latino Studies consists of 10 courses which include a minimum of three 300–400 level courses and a maximum of three in any single discipline selected from C and D. They are divided into five areas:

Language: One course at level SPA 203 Spanish V: Conversational Spanish and Grammar Review, or above.

Two courses, one course in each discipline, from the following: HIS 250 Colonial Latin American History HIS 251 Modern Latin American History SPA 231 Survey of Latin American Literature 172

Five courses selected from:

Students may choose an elective from the following courses if the course has a substantive component on Latin America, and with the approval of the director

Note: Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this major, several courses fulfill Core requirements, thus allowing for a minor or double major. Students are encouraged to consider these options.

Course Descriptions

• Academic Catalog & Advising Guide
• Major in Latin American and Latino Studies Course Descriptions