Spanish Studies

Programs Offered

• Spanish Studies (major and minor)
• Spanish Heritage (minor)

Spanish is, after Chinese, the most common first language in the world, spoken by some 500 million people. It is an unofficial second language in the United States. 

In support of the SPU mission to cultivate graduates of competence and character, the Spanish Studies major and minor programs seek to further your linguistic and cultural competence by affording you opportunities for learning in classroom settings and overseas.

Find out more about this program’s mission, vision, and learning outcomes.

Spanish Studies (BA)

VIEW DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Spanish Studies (BA)

• A minimum 56 credits is required for this major, including 25 upper-division credits, 18 of which will be taught in Spanish.
• You must complete all non-credited and language proficiency requirements.
• You are required to participate in an accredited study abroad program to accumulate the required number of credits and to expand your knowledge of the language and country.    
• A Senior Paper is required and is to be presented in conjunction with the Capstone Seminar.
• You are required to complete an Oral Proficiency Interview conducted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages prior to graduation.

Spanish Studies minor

VIEW DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Spanish Studies Minor

• A minimum of 30 credits is required for this minor, including 15 upper-division credits.
• This minor’s required courses include Core courses, history courses, literature courses, and electives.

Spanish Heritage minor

VIEW DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Spanish Heritage Minor

• A minimum of 30 credits is required for this minor, including 15 upper-division credits.
• This minor is designed for Spanish heritage speakers who use the language in their home or have lived in a Spanish-speaking community or nation.
• This minor honors students’ existing knowledge and experiences, while improving their skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• This minor provides opportunities to reflect on identity and culture, and ways to connect with Spanish-speaking communities.

Entering and completing the major or a minor

In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major or minor, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.

Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) and minor(s) by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.

• If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified the Spanish Studies major as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major or minor, follow these instructions.
• If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major or minor in this department.
• Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
• The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
• To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
• You must complete the major or minor requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major or minor.