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 and SPN 302 or SPN 308, 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, Spain, Oviedo, Spain, or Quito, Ecuador.
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 STAMP 4S language proficiency assessment for graduation. Majors will be contacted to take the exam during the spring semester in two separate sessions. The testing of the students’ four language skills will give the students national certification of their actual skill levels; such certification should provide students and employers with an accurate comparative indicator of a student’s competency in the language. See statement on learning outcomes for language majors for further details on the Avant STAMP 4S.
University Requirements - 39 hours
See Core Curriculum
College Requirements - 21-33
See College Requirements BA
Degree Requirements
Major Requirements — 27 hours (including 6 hours study abroad)
| SPN 301 | Advanced Spanish Composition, Conversation, and Culture I | 3 |
| SPN 302 | Advanced Spanish Composition, Conversation, and Culture II | 3 |
| Culture/Literature of Spain | 3 |
| Culture/Literature of Latin America | 3 |
| Major electives | 15 |
Culture/Literature of Spain: SPN 330, SPN 331, SPN 340, SPN 440, or any SPN 389/489 (Granada) course with a focus on Spanish culture or literature.
Culture/Literature of Latin America: SPN 350, SPN 351, SPN 361, SPN 450, or SPN 451.
300-level electives are intended to expand students' knowledge of the cultures of Hispanic countries and regions while still focusing on strengthening the four linguistic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students are advised but not required to take these courses before enrolling in 400-level seminars, where the focus shifts more towards cultural content and the development of research skills.
The Spanish program currently allows for one course with content in Latin America or Spain taken outside the program i.e., in English, to count towards the Spanish Studies track.
General Electives — 21-33 hours
Spanish Latin American Studies Track
Degree Requirements
Major Requirements—27 hours (including 6 hours study abroad in Latin America)
Prerequisite: HST 254 or HST 256
| SPN 301 | Advanced Spanish Composition, Conversation, and Culture I | 3 |
| SPN 302 | Advanced Spanish Composition, Conversation, and Culture II | 3 |
| Culture/Literature of Spain | 3 |
| Culture/Literature of Latin America | 3 |
| Two additional Spanish electives with content on Latin America | 6 |
| One Additional Spanish Elective | 3 |
Two non-Spanish-language courses (6 credits) from the following list may be counted towards the 27 upper-division hours needed to complete the Latin American Studies track of the Spanish major
| CST 431 | Intercultural Communication and Identity | 3 |
| HST 357 | Environmental History of the Americas and the World | 3 |
| HST 354 | History of Modern Cuba | 3 |
| HST 355 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HST 356 | Latin American History Through Popular Culture | 3 |
| HST 450 | Seminar in Non-Western History | 3 |
| PHL 336 | Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| POL 455 | Foreign Policies of Latin America | 3 |
| SW 343 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| THE 458/THE 358 | Intercultural Feminist Theology | 3 |
Students are allowed to count no more than one intercultural course such as CST 431, SW 343, and THE 458 towards this track.
Students can replace study abroad with an immersive experience in a Latin American country and/or a significant immersive experience within a Latino community in the U.S.
General Electives — 21-33 hours
Total Credit Hours: 120