Spanish

Major, Minor
Spanish Translation and Interpretation Minor

How We Work

1. You'll create your own path. Our major and minor requirements leave you with the freedom to focus on the subjects that interest you. For instance, the required course Culture of the Spanish-Speaking World has five forms: Spain; Mexico and Central America; the Caribbean; the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay); or the Andean region (Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador). Each version of the course is taught by an expert on the region, and you can even retake the course for different regions. As you discover your passions, you may even choose to complete an independent study or an Honors Project, or study abroad in one of these regions!

2. We're invested in your language-learning process. The beginning Spanish courses are taught by experienced professors with backgrounds in language teaching, culture, and literature. This means that during your introduction to the language, you'll receive individual guidance from an expert in key areas of language-learning. As you progress into higher-level courses, you will study and write about topics that connect our concerns in the US with those in the Spanish-speaking world, which will allow you to keep your study of Spanish meaningful and relevant, while letting your instructors help you achieve the next level of proficiency.

3. We go beyond grammar. The Spanish language doesn't exist in a vacuum—so you shouldn't learn it in one! We strive to understand the diverse people and cultures to which this language belongs. Starting in the introductory-level courses, your study of vocabulary and grammar will be integrated with the study of Spanish-speaking cultures. You'll study the music, film, geography, literature, and history of the regions where Spanish is spoken, as well as the social and political economic issues facing the Spanish-speaking world.

4. Our faculty are diverse. The breadth of our research interests includes a variety of skills we apply to the diverse regions of the Spanish-speaking world. You might learn about Flamenco, Don Quixote or monsters in Hispanic Literature with Fernando Gómez, Anarchism in Spain or the Spanish Civil War with Antonio Prado, the cultures of the Andean and Southern Cone regions with Julio Noriega. , the representation of indigenous peoples of the Americas in Latin American literature, or translating and interpreting for different professional fields with Robin Ragan. Whatever your passion, there will be a faculty member with the expertise to help you pursue it.

5. We learn all over the world. Study sustainable development in Costa Rica, tropical island biodiversity in Panama, or conduct socio-cultural field research in Guatemala. Many of our students even pursue post-graduate opportunities abroad; you'll find them in Spanish-speaking countries across the world as Peace Corps Volunteers and Fulbright Fellows.

6. We get students involved in a fast-growing field. Along with a more traditional Spanish minor, we offer a specialized minor in Spanish Translation & Interpretation. Our courses provide real-world immersion opportunities by relying on our established partnerships with NGOs and nonprofits in need of translation and interpretation services. Our curriculum centers on project-based, practical applications of translation and interpretation in various professional fields such as education, medicine, law, and social work. We even offer courses that prepare you for specific professions like Spanish for Business, Spanish for Healthcare, and Legal Interpreting.