A Spanish major provides students with language skills that translate into a practical tool for use in our increasingly bilingual landscape, whether this be Texas, the American Southwest, one of the many areas in the U.S. with large Spanish-speaking populations, or beyond our borders where over 500 million Spanish speakers reside. Above the practical aspect of the major, students of Spanish acquire a rich view of the world. Focusing on analytical and critical thinking, as well as cultural awareness, our students are prepared for graduate studies in Spanish and professional schools (medicine, law, business), and for professions in fields such as education, business, human resources, research, government, social service, tourism, journalism, and translation. To enhance their career options, Spanish majors are encouraged to seek out a complementary minor or second major/degree, to create even more opportunities after graduation. Similarly, students can also complete an internship that will provide practical hands-on experience.
To underscore the focus on cultural awareness and to support the achievement of increased linguistic proficiency, our major requires a minimum 10-week experience abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. This experience abroad can be in a formal academic setting, through an internship or other comparable environment. For cases where an experience abroad is not possible, a student may petition that an internship or service-learning project be used instead.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
| 3 |
| Public Speaking | |
| Communication for Technical Professions | |
| Argumentation and Debate | |
| Writing about Literature | |
| Technical and Professional Writing | |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
SPAN 202
| Intermediate Spanish II
or Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 1 | 1 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 13 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 |
| | Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
A grade of C or higher is required if a course is to be counted in the major field.
Graduation requirements include 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. The required 6 hours may be met by courses satisfying other areas of a degree program. See your academic advisor for further information.
Spanish majors are required to complete a credit-bearing 10-week minimum semester-long study or experience abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Study abroad options include University-sponsored, reciprocal, affiliated, and independent programs. Selection of location and type of experience abroad should be made in consultation with departmental advisors. For students who are unable to study abroad, an internship may be used instead. This option is available only with prior approval by the Spanish advisor.
HISP-Related Interdisciplinary Courses
