Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Why pursue a major in Spanish?
Spanish, the 2nd most spoken native language in the world with approximately 475 million native speakers, is an official language in 21 countries and territories, including the United States, where Spanish is one of the official languages of Puerto Rico. Moreover, according to the Instituto Cervantes, the United States ranks 2nd behind Mexico in the number of Spanish speakers. Similarly, Portuguese, the official language in 9 nations, is spoken by approximately 258 million people over the world (the 6th most spoken language). Fluency in more than one language and a deep understanding of literary and cultural texts create educated citizens who can contribute to the betterment of our society.
A major in Spanish demonstrates to future employers and/or graduate schools that you have the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, a high level of cultural competency, and carefully refined analytical and writing skills. Our curriculum is designed to help students hone their oral and written language skills and to learn more about Spanish, Spanish American, and Luso-Brazilian cultures through literary and cultural studies. (See the degree requirements section for the Portuguese courses that can be counted toward the Spanish major). This knowledge is highly beneficial if you plan a career path with an international component or with an orientation toward the predominantly Hispanic populations in the United States. The major is useful in such diverse careers as advertising, marketing, journalism, health services, government, social welfare, and public administration (to name only a few). See the University Career Center’s page for more information about careers in which you can use your Spanish major.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Spanish Major Prerequisite or Co-Requisite Knowledge | ||
Majors must complete the following 2 courses (or one course in the case of heritage speakers who choose not to take SPAN 328). These hours do not contribute to the minimum number of hours required for the major. Majors must complete either SPAN 323 or 324 and SPAN 328, or SPAN 325. A grade of B- or higher is strongly recommended in order to go on to advanced-level Spanish classes. | ||
Intermediate Composition and Grammar. Satisfied by: | ||
Spanish Composition and Cultural Analysis | ||
or SPAN 324 | Grammar and Composition | |
Intermediate Conversation. Satisfied by: | ||
Intermediate Spanish Conversation | ||
Students who meet the qualifications may substitute SPAN 325 for the SPAN 323 or SPAN 324 and SPAN 328 requirements. | ||
Spanish Major Introductory Knowledge. Majors must complete the following 2 courses: | ||
Textual Analysis and Critical Reading. Satisfied by: | ||
SPAN 340 | Textual Analysis and Critical Reading | 3 |
Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures. Satisfied by: | ||
SPAN 346 | Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures | 3 |
Requirements for the B.A. Major
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Spanish Major Core Knowledge and Skills | ||
Majors must complete at least 1 course (3 hours) in each of following areas: | ||
Literature: Peninsular Spanish Literary and Cultural Studies. Satisfied by 1 of the following: | 3 | |
Topics in Transatlantic Hispanic Studies: _____ | ||
Special Topics in Spanish Literature and Culture: _____ | ||
Topics in Hispanic Studies - Peninsular Emphasis: _____ | ||
Medieval Spanish Studies: _____ | ||
Early Modern Spanish Studies: _____ | ||
Nineteenth Century Spanish Studies: _____ | ||
Twentieth Century Spanish Studies: _____ | ||
Literature: Latin American Literary and Cultural Studies. Satisfied by 1 of the following: | 3 | |
Topics in Transatlantic Hispanic Studies: _____ | ||
Special Topics Latin American Literature and Cultures: _____ | ||
Topics in Hispanic Studies - Latin American Emphasis: _____ | ||
Colonial Spanish-American Studies: _____ | ||
Nineteenth Century Spanish-American Studies: _____ | ||
Twentieth Century Spanish-American Studies: _____ | ||
National Traditions in Spanish America: _____ | ||
Reading and Analysis of U.S. Latino/a Literatures: _____ | ||
Language: Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar. Satisfied by: | ||
SPAN 424 | Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar | 3 |
Language: Advanced Spanish language or linguistics. Satisfied by 1 of the following: | 3 | |
Spanish Phonetics | ||
Spanish Language and Culture for Business | ||
Structure of Spanish | ||
Advanced Studies in Spanish Language: _____ | ||
Studies in Hispanic Linguistics: _____ | ||
Language: Advanced language, linguistics, or Portuguese. Satisfied by 1 of the following: | 3 | |
Structure of Spanish | ||
Advanced Studies in Spanish Language: _____ | ||
Studies in Hispanic Linguistics: _____ | ||
Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese I | ||
Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese II | ||
Intensive Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese | ||
Textual Analysis and Critical Reading | ||
Brazilian Studies: _____ | ||
Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture for Business | ||
Studies in Brazilian Film: _____ | ||
Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese Conversation | ||
Special Readings in Brazilian Studies | ||
Studies in Brazilian Culture and Civilization: _____ | ||
Studies in Brazilian Literature: _____ | ||
Advanced Brazilian Portuguese Conversation | ||
Intensive Advanced Portuguese | ||
Portuguese Phonetics and Phonology | ||
Textual Analysis and Critical Reading | ||
Brazilian Studies: _____ | ||
Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture for Business | ||
Studies in Brazilian Film: _____ | ||
Advanced Conversation. Satisfied by: | ||
SPAN 428 | Advanced Spanish Conversation | 2 |
Spanish Major Required Electives. Majors must complete 2 additional courses (6 hours) from the following courses: any Spanish 400+ or 500-level course (literature, language or culture), or PORT 212 or higher (except PORT 300, PORT 346, and PORT 611). | 6 | |
Spanish Major Capstone: Literature Colloquium. Majors must complete 1 (3 hour) capstone course in literature. Satisfied by 1 of the following: | 3 | |
Colloquium on Hispanic Studies: _____ | ||
Colloquium on Spanish Film | ||
Colloquium on Latin American Film |
Majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Please see your advisor about this opportunity.
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 32 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Spanish. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
SPAN 111 (Goal 4.1 US Diversity, Major Pre-Requisite) | 5 | SPAN 212 (Goal 4.2 Global Awareness, Major Pre-Requisite) | 3 |
ENGL 101 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing I)1 | 3 | ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing II) | 3 |
Goal 1.2 Quantitative Literacy | Quantitative Reasoning (QR)3 | 3 | |
First Year Seminar (Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking) | 3 | COMS 130 (Goal 2.2 Communication) | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 2 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
13 | 15 | ||
Sophomore | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
SPAN 216 (Major Pre-Requisite) | 3 | SPAN 324 (Major Pre-Requisite) | 3 |
Goal 3 Social Science | 3 | SPAN 328 (Major Pre-Requisite) | 2 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Goal 3 Natural Science | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | BA Laboratory/Field Experience (LFE) | 1 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
18 | 15 | ||
Junior | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
SPAN 340 (Goal 3 Arts and Humanities, Major Requirement) | 3 | SPAN 424 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
SPAN 346 (Major Requirement) | 3 | SPAN 428 (Major Requirement) | 2 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | SPAN 440, 441, 450, 451, 452, or 453 (Choose one) Major Requirement, Peninsular Literature | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Goal 5 Social Responsibility & Ethics | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
15 | 14 | ||
Senior | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
SPAN 429 or 448 (Major Requirement, 400-level Advanced Languages & Linguistics) | 3 | SPAN 540, 550, or 560 (Goal 6 Integration & Creativity, Major Requirement)4 | 3 |
SPAN Advanced Language or Portuguese 500+ (Major Requirement)6 | 3 | SPAN Elective 400+ (Major Requirement) | 3 |
Latin American Literature (Major Requirement)7 | 3 | SPAN Elective 400+ (Major Requirement) | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Total Hours 120 |
- 1
The BA requires completion of two courses of collegiate-level writing instruction. Students who test out of Composition will still need to complete ENGL 102 (or equivalent) and one additional Goal 2.1 course.
- 2
Initial SPAN placement determined by online Spanish placement module or previous SPAN college-credit. The Spanish department recommends that students with some prior Spanish experience begin with SPAN 111 or higher, by placement. Only students with no prior Spanish experience should begin in SPAN 104 and discussion with an advisor is recommended.
- 3
Visit this website for a list of courses that fulfill the BA Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
- 4
Spanish majors must have completed 6 credit hours of Hispanic Literature (SPAN 440 or above) coursework before taking the Spanish Capstone course.
- 5
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through KU core, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 6
Advanced Language or Portuguese (Choose one): SPAN 520, SPAN 522, SPAN 570, PORT 212 or higher Portuguese language course.
- 7
Latin American Literature (Choose one): SPAN 440, SPAN 442, SPAN 460, SPAN 461, SPAN 462, SPAN 463
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.
Departmental Honors
Undergraduates contemplating honors work should consult their advisors. A declaration of intent form must be submitted to the department. The department notifies students of acceptance to candidacy for honors. At graduation, the student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in Spanish. 6 hours in SPAN 496 Honors in Spanish generally are required, which may be fulfilled in a variety of ways as described below.
While enrolled in SPAN 496, the student completes 2 courses, one in Peninsular literature and the other in Spanish American literature, from the following options:
- Graduate courses at the 700 level;
- Upper-division literature courses at the 500 level, including SPAN 540, SPAN 550, and SPAN 560 (only available to students who have already completed the 500-level capstone course);
- An independent study course (may only be taken once for SPAN 496 credit).
The student takes 2 courses for SPAN 496 credit and writes 2 honors papers under the supervision of 1 or more faculty members. Each 3-hour SPAN 496 course will include a major research paper. A committee of 3 faculty members, who are chosen by the student, reads these papers, and the student then makes an oral summary of their content.
Study Abroad
The department offers summer programs in Barcelona, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina, Salvador (Bahia), Brazil. KU offers semester/academic year programs in San José, Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Salamanca, Spain. More information is available from the Office of Study Abroad.
Graduate students have the opportunity to teach and conduct research during summer sessions in Buenos Aires, Argentina; or Barcelona, Spain. The department also has a graduate exchange agreement with the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.