Spanish Majors and Minors

Requirements for Major in Spanish

A minimum of eight units at the 201-level or higher, including: 301, at least two units from 302 through 315, and at least two units from 350 through 402.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the major.
All courses for the major must be taken for a numerical grade.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.
Study abroad in an approved off-campus program. (If individual situations prevent this, the student should speak with the department chair.)

Requirements for Minor in Spanish

A minimum of six units at the 201-level or higher, including: 301, at least one unit from 302 through 315, and at least one unit from 350 through 402.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the minor.
All courses for the minor must be taken for a numerical grade.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.

Requirements for Major in Spanish Language and Culture for the Professions

As the world continues to become increasingly diverse across traditional borders and cultural boundaries, there will be more demand in the workplace and for communities to effectively negotiate otherness—different ways of living lives—which will directly impact professional practices.

Knowledge of a modern language and culture will continue to grow in importance as a foundation for functioning successfully in a global economy across many professions. This track in Spanish is intended for those students who are pursuing preprofessional studies in fields such as economics and management, communication studies, science or public policy, among others, or for those students who are pursuing more traditional liberal arts fields and wish to add a practical component to their education. This track will provide a combination of preprofessional courses in the target language and cultural courses in order to prepare students for working in a culturally diverse world and economy. Students will be expected to attain high linguistic competence.

Qualified students may choose a “fast track” language program at an approved summer institution domestically or language/internship program abroad during the summer after their freshman year. To qualify for this special program a student must complete an interview to be conducted by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. For information about College policies on transfer credit, see the section of this catalog entitled General Academic Regulations.

The specific requirements for the major are:

A minimum of nine units, including: Modern Languages and Cultures 105; Spanish 201, 202, 301, or equivalent; Spanish 303; a seminar (Spanish 401, 1/2 unit); and the remaining units selected from 300- or 400-level Spanish courses. The seminar must be taken after all other requirements have been met or in the final semester of completion of the major requirements.
An internship abroad or a documented internship-like experience abroad that has been approved by the MLAC Department.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the major.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.

Requirements for Minor in Spanish Language and Culture for the Professions

A minimum of six units, including: Modern Languages and Cultures 105 or another Spanish course above 303; Spanish 201, 202, 301 or equivalent; Spanish 303; and the remaining units selected from 300- or 400-level Spanish courses.
An internship abroad or a documented internship-like experience abroad that has been approved by the MLAC Department.
A maximum of one unit Advanced Placement credit can count toward the minor.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.

Requirements for Major in TransAmerican Latino/a Studies

Contemporary North and South America have been and continue to be defined by the movement of people immigrating, migrating and transmigrating. As the United States continues to be impacted by the growing demographic, cultural, political and economic presence of Spanish-speaking communities, we face an increased demand to understand the dynamic cultural exchange between the northern and southern hemispheres of the Americas.

The TransAmerican Latino/a studies track is an interdisciplinary opportunity intended for students who seek to be proficient in the Spanish language, while acquiring an understanding of Chicano/a, U.S. Latino/a, Latin American and Caribbean identities. This program is designed to enable students in many fields (anthropology, business, communications, economics, education, health care, law, marketing, international relations, and political science, among others) to gain the linguistic competencies and the cultural aptitudes necessary to effectively work and develop productive ties in this rapidly changing world. By analyzing a broad array of Spanish-language cultural and literary productions, students will develop critical thinking skills in a second language. In addition to high linguistic competency, the TransAmerican Latino/a studies track provides an interdisciplinary perspective that may include courses in the fields of history, anthropology, sociology, English, political science and ethnic studies. This multifaceted approach to the cultures of the Americas and Spanish language will prepare students to engage in a lifelong dialogue on contemporary issues.

The specific requirements for the major are:

A minimum of nine units, including: Modern Languages and Cultures 107; Spanish 201, 202, 301, or equivalent; Spanish 306 or 307, 362; and a seminar (Spanish 401, 1/2 unit). The remaining units to complete the nine-unit requirement can be selected from Spanish 302, 303 or 304; 306 or 307; 315, 350, 361, 402 (provided the topic of the course deals with the Americas). The seminar must be taken after all other requirements have been met or in the final semester of completion of the major requirements.
Study abroad in an approved off-campus program in the Americas.
History 142, 270, or 301, or approved courses in anthropology and sociology, political science, English and ethnic studies may count toward the major with departmental permission.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the major.
All courses for the major must be taken for a numerical grade.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.

Requirements for Minor in TransAmerican Latino/a Studies

A minimum of six units, including: Modern Languages and Cultures 107; Spanish 201, 202, 301 or equivalent; Spanish 362; a seminar (Spanish 401, 1/2 unit). The remaining units to complete the six-unit requirement can be selected from Spanish 302, 303, or 304; 306 or 307; 315, 350, 361, or 402 (provided the topic deals with the Americas). The seminar must be taken after all other requirements have been met or in the final semester of completion of the minor requirements.
Students are placed in the 200- or 300-level language courses according to proficiency. Students must fulfill the six-unit requirement beginning at the level into which they are placed.
History 142, 270, or 301, or approved courses in anthropology and sociology, political science, English and ethnic studies may count toward the minor with departmental permission.
A maximum of one unit Advanced Placement credit can count toward the minor.
All courses for the minor must be taken for a numerical grade.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.

Requirements for Major in Spanish with Secondary or K-12 Education Certification

A minimum of eight units at the 300-level or higher, including: 301; 302, 303, or 304; one unit from courses focusing on Latin America (306, 314, 361), one unit from courses focusing on TransAmerican Latino/a studies (307, 362); and one unit from courses focusing on Spain (305, 360).
Study abroad in an approved off-campus program in the Spanish-speaking world.
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.
Completion of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) examination at an "Advanced Low" level of proficiency (or higher). Students should consult closely with the Modern Languages and Cultures Department and consider taking this examination directly after the study abroad experience.
All courses for the major must be taken for a numerical grade.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the major.
Education 338 or 339 (see Education Department) and Education 371 (K-12).
Completion of all other requirements for teacher certification.

Requirements for Minor in Spanish with Secondary Education Certification

A minimum of six units at the 300-level or higher, including: 301; 302, 303, or 304; one unit from courses focusing on Latin America (306, 314, 361); one unit from courses focusing on TransAmerican Latino/a studies (307, 362); and one unit from courses focusing on Spain (305, 360).
Residence in language-learning housing for at least one semester and successful completion of Modern Languages and Cultures 110.
Completion of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) examination at an "Advanced Low" level of proficiency (or higher). Students should consult closely with the Modern Languages and Cultures Department and consider taking this examination directly after the study abroad experience.
A maximum of one unit of Advanced Placement credit can count toward the minor.
All courses for the minor must be taken for a numerical grade.
Education 338 or 339.
Completion of all other requirements for teacher certification.