About the Courses

The goals of the Spanish department are to help students first understand and define for themselves their linguistic experience based on their relationship to Spanish. If a student arrives to Spanish as a second language learner (L2), our program will help them to achieve an understanding and command of the linguistic structures of the Spanish language that enable them to use it by modeling a standard and fluency in speech and in writing.

If they identify as heritage speakers of Spanish, our program will help build on the linguistic knowledge they bring to the classroom and meet their specific linguistic needs. We promote among all of our students an awareness and appreciation of the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world; a familiarity with the literary and cultural production of Spain, Latin America and its diasporas, and the ability to critically analyze it; finding connections between these aforementioned skills, values, and knowledge; and to implement these in the service of their professional and vocational objectives.

Spanish majors can be prepared for graduate study in Spanish or a more customized Spanish major with various career possibilities including business, education, government, international relations, and diplomacy. The Spanish department strongly encourages students to participate in study abroad programs or other high-impact practices (such as internships or community-based learning). We currently send students to Salamanca, Spain, through an affiliate program with AIFS. There are also short-term study abroad programs offered to Guatemala, Cuba, Cordoba, Spain.