Languages, Literatures & Cultures B.A. concentration in Spanish
The Spanish concentration is designed to provide students with a working proficiency in practical communicative skills in Spanish and familiarity with the cultures in which it is spoken. Spanish has become the second language of the United States. According to US census, the Hispanic population of the United States as of July 2014 is of 55 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority. Hispanics constitute 17 percent of the nation’s total population (data from Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15, 2015). Spanish is spoken in the United States and also in twenty-one countries of Latin America, Spain, and some parts of Africa.
The Spanish major progresses from courses in basic language skills through intermediate and advanced courses in conversation, grammar, composition and linguistics to the study of the masterpieces of Spanish and Spanish American literature, representative Hispanic films and the historical and contemporary civilizations of Spain and Latin America. Applied Spanish courses in business Spanish and specialized Spanish vocabulary for various professions are also offered.
Approximately one-third of the Spanish faculty are native speakers from Spain and several Latin American countries, while the remaining faculty all have spent extensive periods of time in study, teaching or research in various Spanish-speaking countries. Their varied backgrounds include specializations in periods and genres of Latin American or peninsular (Spain) Spanish literature, Spanish for the professions, linguistics and foreign language pedagogy.
Career Opportunities
A concentration in Spanish helps students prepare for a wide variety of careers in education, politics, foreign service, the helping professions, travel and tourism, and communication.
South Carolina Honors College
Students who qualify for participation in the South Carolina Honors College program may choose to pursue a concentration in Spanish. Our curriculum allows students to take full advantage of academic opportunities in both the Honors College and the College of l Arts and Sciences. Some departmental faculty regularly teach honors courses.
The Curriculum
During the first two years, students pursuing a BA concentration in Spanish typically focus on taking general education courses and beginning and/or intermediate Spanish courses. Only courses numbered 300 and above count toward the concentration, and it is normally in the junior and senior years that students take advanced 300-400-500 courses that lead to the B.A. Concentration in Spanish.
For course descriptions and pre-requisites for our Spanish courses, please see the Undergraduate Academic Bulletin here.