Spanish Major

Major Requirements

A major in Spanish consists of a minimum of nine courses beyond SPAN 204  or SPAN 220  . Every major plan must be designed in consultation with a Department of Spanish and Portuguese faculty advisor. It will include SPAN 305  or SPAN 306; PORT 111 , PORT 221 , or PORT 231 ; SPAN 488 . In addition, students must take a minimum of one course from each of the three areas of the department curriculum (1) Empires, Colonialisms and Resistance; (2) Borders, Identities and Transgressions; (3) Language, Linguistics, and Communities. A minimum of three courses besides the capstone seminar (SPAN 488 ) must be numbered 354 or above.

In addition, students majoring in Spanish are required to successfully complete one term of a study abroad program, although the Department of Spanish and Portuguese reserves the right to waive this requirement under exceptional circumstances. With prior approval from the Chair, up to two courses successfully taken on a study abroad program can apply toward the courses required for the Spanish major. These classes need to be in Spanish and in disciplinary areas of the humanities such as literature, cultural studies, linguistics, art, and history. (Check with the department for specific guidance about what classes abroad would count toward the minor.) Most study away classes will count at the lower 300-level, so it’s best to plan to take your advanced classes (354 and above) on campus. Nevertheless, we can sometimes count one direct-enroll class as an advanced class with approval from the Department Chair.

Successful completion of SPAN 488  fulfills the capstone seminar requirement.