A major in Spanish (2620) consists of at least 24 semester hours in courses numbered 300 or above, taught in the target language, including SPAN 341 , SPAN 342 , SPAN 451 , three hours of culture and civilization, and three hours of literature. Completion of SPAN 341 or SPAN 342 is prerequisite to all other courses above 300. Additional non-foreign language requirements for the major are HIST 121 -HIST 122 and INST 200 . For majors intending to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school, ENGL 450 is strongly recommended. All general education requirements for the B.A. degree must be met.
Majors in a foreign language are required to complete a language immersion experience as approved by the faculty adviser. The department will assist in placement appropriate to the student’s needs, which might include residence in a foreign country, study abroad, exchange programs, international internships, or other experiences that assure intensive cultural and language experiences. In the semester prior to graduation, majors are also required to assemble a portfolio under the supervision of a faculty advisor. This portfolio will include writing samples from various advanced classes and the results of two tests designed to assess language knowledge, proficiency and cultural literacy: an Oral Proficiency Interview and a departmental exam in advanced Spanish grammar.
Majors in a foreign language are encouraged to enhance their education by completing, as appropriate, complementary programs of study in fields as diverse as English, political science, economics, travel and tourism, communications and education. Combining foreign language with training in such fields will better enable majors to pursue graduate studies and careers in various professions.