Spanish, B.A.
The Spanish program seeks to prepare students for living and working with individuals from Spanish-speaking countries either overseas or within the borders of the United States. The program includes courses which develop language proficiency in listening comprehension, speaking, writing, and reading. Courses focus on pertinent cultural issues, literary analysis and history, and professional terminology. This major will prepare students for careers in education, social services, business, and medicine.
The Spanish major requires that the student complete 27 credit hours which must include SPN 301, SPN 302, one survey of Spanish literature or culture class, and one Latin American literature or culture course. The Spanish major requires at least six weeks of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country or participation in the University’s programs in Granada or Segovia, Spain. Spanish majors may earn three credit hours towards the major for a course taught in English related to Spain or Latin America subject to approval by the department chair. Should a student be unable to study abroad, the department chair, in consultation with Spanish faculty, may approve a substitute language immersion experience such as a local internship.
Students studying abroad in Granada will take the D.E.L.E. (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language), an internationally recognized standardized language test at no cost to the student. In addition, students graduating from the University of Portland with a B.A. in Spanish are required to take the computerized Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc) for graduation. Majors will be contacted to take the exam during the spring semester. The testing of the students’ oral proficiency will give the students national certification of their actual skill level; such certification should provide students and employers with an accurate comparative indicator of a student’s oral competency in the language. See statement on learning outcomes for language majors for further details on OPIc.
University Requirements - 39 hours
See Core Curriculum
College Requirements - 21-33
See College Requirements BA
Degree Requirements
Major Requirements — 33 hours (including 6 hours study abroad)
| SPN 301 | Advanced Spanish Composition and Culture | 3 |
| SPN 302 | Advanced Spanish Conversation and Culture | 3 |
| | Culture/Literature of Spain | 3 |
| | Culture/Literature of Latin America | 3 |
| | Major electives | 15 |
Culture/Literature of Spain: SPN 303, 304, 320, 407, 408, 410, 412, 422, 480, 482, 484, 485, or 486
Culture/Literature of Latin America: SPN 303, 315, 316, 380, 416, 421, 422, 424, 430, 480, 481, 484, or 486
Study Abroad — 6 hours
General Electives — 15-27 hours
Total Credit Hours: 120