The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (BA) is intended to prepare students for the many careers where educated bilingual speakers are highly valued. Most of our students choose to double major or combine their Spanish BA with fields such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, English, Pre Nursing, Political Science, Media Communication, Business, Exercise Science, Public Health, etc. Other students complete their Spanish BA for teaching, translation certifications, or admission to graduate school. 

Specific Admission Requirements

While there are no specific requirements for admission to the program, however, students who have prior exposure to Spanish through family interaction or previous studies need to be placed in the appropriate course for their level. 

1. Students who have taken no Spanish in high school or at another institution of higher learning should begin with SPN 101 Beginning Spanish I.
2. Students, who have taken Spanish in high school, but not at another institution of higher learning, must take a placement exam to determine their proper placement.
3. Heritage Spanish speakers (that is, students who speak Spanish at home to a greater or lesser extent), students with significant Spanish immersion experience, and students who have taken Spanish courses at other institutions of higher learning must meet with a Spanish advisor in order to determine correct placement. The advisor will place the student based on any of the following or a combination thereof: an oral interview, a placement exam, a written composition.

Student Learning Outcomes

Spanish Majors will achieve a level of proficiency in Spanish communication skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and in the understanding of Hispanic cultures sufficient to allow them to function effectively in careers in teaching, business, the media, government, the arts, etc.

These outcomes will be achieved by showing proficiency in the 5 C’s:

1. Communication: The communication standard stresses the use of Spanish for communication in “real life” situations. It emphasizes “what students can do with language” rather than “what they know about language.” Students are asked to communicate in oral and written form, to interpret oral and written messages, to show cultural understanding when they communicate, and to present oral and written information to various audiences for a variety of purposes.
2. Cultures: Cultural understanding is an important part of Spanish language education. Experiencing other cultures develops a better understanding and appreciation of the relationship between languages and other cultures, as well as the student’s native culture. Students become better able to understand other people’s points of view, ways of life, and contributions to the world.
3. Connections: Spanish-language instruction must be connected with other subject areas. Content from other subject areas is integrated with Spanish-language instruction through lessons or courses that are developed around themes common to other subject areas.
4. Comparisons: Students are encouraged to compare and contrast Spanish language and cultures with their own. They discover patterns, make predictions, and analyze similarities and differences across languages and cultures. Students often come to understand their native language and culture better through such comparisons.
5. Communities: Extending learning experiences from the Spanish-language classroom to the home and multilingual and multicultural community emphasizes living in a global society. Activities may include: field trips; use of e-mail and the Internet; participation in clubs, exchange or study-abroad programs, and cultural activities; school-to-work opportunities; and opportunities to hear speakers of Spanish at the University and in the classroom.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

The faculty of the Spanish program uses several methods for evaluating student learning outcomes for Spanish majors. These include an oral proficiency interview, a written proficiency test, a student portfolio, and an exit survey. 

Specific Program Requirements

In addition to the courses listed below, Spanish majors must also meet the following requirements:

1. A senior assessment portfolio.
2. A minor or a second major.
3. Completion of the oral and written proficiency exams and of the graduating-senior survey.
4. At least one upper-division SPN course must emphasize Latin America, one Spain.

Study abroad is strongly encouraged, especially for students planning to teach.

Specific Core Requirements

Besides completing at least 120 credits including all coursework for the Spanish major, students need to: 

• ​Attain a grade of C or better in all Spanish courses for the major
• Complete a minor, a second major, or 18 credits in another field of study.
• Complete an exit Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
• Complete an exit Written Proficiency Test (WPT)
• Complete a student portfolio
• Complete an exit survey

Planning Sheet

Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.

Note: In addition to requirements for the major and general education, students must complete a minor, a second major, or 18 credits in another field of study.