Spanish, B.S.

Program Description

This major encourages students to prepare for careers in which fluency in Spanish can be combined with training in other academic disciplines.

Applied Spanish Option

This option is designed to develop basic skills in Spanish (speaking, understanding, reading, writing) and to provide Spanish majors with concentration in a professional area where a command of Spanish can be particularly relevant and useful. Students are eligible to participate in the University's Education Abroad Programs.

Business Option

This option is designed to develop basic skills in Spanish (speaking, understanding, reading, writing) and to acquaint students with a number of fields essential to business, especially in the international area. Courses in translation techniques, Spanish civilization, and Ibero-American civilization are an integral part of the option. Students are eligible to participate in the University's Education Abroad Programs.

What is Spanish?

Spanish is the native language of nearly 500 million people, making it the second-most widely spoken language in the world. It is an official language in 21 countries, each with a rich history and culture that are reflected in the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of this one language in its many dialectal variations. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and is the second most spoken language in the United States, which currently ranks as the third largest Spanish-speaking country in the world (after Mexico and Colombia).

You Might Like This Program If...

• You are passionate about Spanish and eager to use it professionally.
• You understand that proficiency in Spanish opens a lot of doors.
• You love to travel.
• You want to make your passion for the Spanish language and culture work for you, and for your future employer.
• You look forward to serving the Spanish-speaking community in the United States as a bilingual professional.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

0-13 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 0-4 credits of GQ courses; 0-6 credits of GS courses, 0-3 credits of GWS courses.

Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
SPAN 215	The Science of Spanish: A Beginner's Guide to Hispanic Linguistics	3
SPAN 253W	Introduction to Literary & Cultural Studies en Español	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
SPAN 200	Intensive Grammar and Composition 1	3
or SPAN 200A	Intensive Grammar and Composition for Spanish Bilinguals
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
SPAN 100	Intermediate Grammar and Composition
SPAN 100A	Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Spanish Bilinguals 1
SPAN 100B	Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-Related Fields
SPAN 100C
Select 9 credits from the following:		9
SPAN 210	Readings in Iberian Civilization
SPAN 220	Readings in Ibero-American Civilization
SPAN 297	Special Topics
SPAN 299	Foreign Study--Intermediate Conversational Spanish
SPAN 300	Advanced Grammar and Composition Through Reading
SPAN 300B	Advanced Grammar and composition for Students in Medical-related Fields
SPAN 305	Spanish for Social Services
SPAN 314	Spanish Sounds
SPAN 315N	Spanish and Spanish-speakers in the U.S.
SPAN 316	Building Words and Sentences in Spanish
SPAN 353	Topics in the Cultures of Spain
SPAN 354	Topics in Cultural Contact and Exchange
SPAN 355	Topics in the Cultures of Latin America
SPAN 356	Topics in the Cultures of the Americas
SPAN 397	Special Topics
SPAN 399	Foreign Study--Spanish
SPAN 411	The ABCs of Bilingualism: Acquisition, Brain, and Community
SPAN 417	How Languages Are Learned
SPAN/LTNST 470	Youth Cultures in Latin(a/o) America
SPAN 474	Many Mexicos
SPAN 491	Masterpieces of Spanish Drama and Poetry
Requirements for the Option
Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better
Select an option		39-50

¹

Heritage speakers (students with Spanish language in family background) and native speakers of Spanish must take SPAN 100A and SPAN 200A instead of SPAN 100 and SPAN 200. May not take SPAN 100, SPAN 200,or SPAN 410.

Requirements for the Option

Applied Spanish Option (39 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits of 400-level Hispanic Linguistics:		3
SPAN 411	The ABCs of Bilingualism: Acquisition, Brain, and Community
SPAN 417	How Languages Are Learned
SPAN 418	The Evolution of Spanish
SPAN 497	Special Topics
Select 3 credits of 400-level Hispanic Literature:		3
SPAN 439	Don Quijote
SPAN/LTNST 470	Youth Cultures in Latin(a/o) America
SPAN 472	The Contemporary Spanish American Novel
SPAN 474	Many Mexicos
SPAN 476	Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature
SPAN/LTNST 479	U.S. Latina/o Culture en Espanol
SPAN 488	War, Revolution, and the Struggles for Modernity: Spain 1898-1939
SPAN 490	Masterpieces of Spanish Prose
SPAN 491	Masterpieces of Spanish Drama and Poetry
SPAN 497	Special Topics
Select 12 additional credits from the following 400-level course list: 1		12
SPAN 410	Advanced Oral Expression and Communication
SPAN 411	The ABCs of Bilingualism: Acquisition, Brain, and Community
SPAN 412	Translation
SPAN 413	Interpretation
SPAN 417	How Languages Are Learned
SPAN 418	The Evolution of Spanish
SPAN 420	Spanish for Business and International Trade
SPAN 439	Don Quijote
SPAN/LTNST 470	Youth Cultures in Latin(a/o) America
SPAN 472	The Contemporary Spanish American Novel
SPAN 474	Many Mexicos
SPAN 476	Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature
SPAN/LTNST 479	U.S. Latina/o Culture en Espanol
SPAN 488	War, Revolution, and the Struggles for Modernity: Spain 1898-1939
SPAN 490	Masterpieces of Spanish Prose
SPAN 491	Masterpieces of Spanish Drama and Poetry
SPAN 497	Special Topics
SPAN 499	Foreign Study--Spanish
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 21 credits (at least 6 credits at the 400 level) in consultation with the adviser in any related area of study such as social services, the teaching of English as a second language, or in any other professional area in which competency in Spanish is desirable		21

¹

Courses satisfying this requirement are in addition to the 400-level Hispanic Linguistics and Hispanic Literature requirements. Courses may not count in multiple areas.

Business Option (50 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ACCTG 211	Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making	4
ECON 102	Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy	3
ECON 104	Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy	3
ECON 333	International Economics	3
ENGL 202D	Effective Writing: Business Writing	3
IB 303	International Business Operations	3
IB 403	International Business and National Policies	3
SPAN 420	Spanish for Business and International Trade	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BA 301	Finance	3
or FIN 301	Corporation Finance
BA 303	Marketing	3
or MKTG 301	Principles of Marketing
BA 304	Management and Organization	3
or MGMT 301	Basic Management Concepts
SCM 200	Introduction to Statistics for Business	4
or STAT 200	Elementary Statistics
Select 12 credits from the following:		12
SPAN 410	Advanced Oral Expression and Communication
SPAN 411	The ABCs of Bilingualism: Acquisition, Brain, and Community
SPAN 412	Translation
SPAN 413	Interpretation
SPAN 417	How Languages Are Learned
SPAN 418	The Evolution of Spanish
SPAN 439	Don Quijote
SPAN/LTNST 470	Youth Cultures in Latin(a/o) America
SPAN 472	The Contemporary Spanish American Novel
SPAN 474	Many Mexicos
SPAN 476	Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature
SPAN/LTNST 479	U.S. Latina/o Culture en Espanol
SPAN 488	War, Revolution, and the Struggles for Modernity: Spain 1898-1939
SPAN 490	Masterpieces of Spanish Prose
SPAN 491	Masterpieces of Spanish Drama and Poetry
SPAN 497	Special Topics
SPAN 499	Foreign Study--Spanish

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Integrated B.S. in Spanish and M.S. in Human Resources and Employment Relations

Requirements for the Integrated B.S. in Spanish and M.S. in Human Resources and Employment Relations can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Program Learning Objectives

• Students will have developed oral skills in Spanish that allow them to communicate efficiently in a range of settings from informal to professional.
• Students will have developed literacy skills that allow them to read texts written for native speakers of Spanish.  Majors should be able to understand and interpret a variety of media ranging from newspapers to literary texts to formal academic prose.
• Students will have developed control of Spanish grammar and syntax as demonstrated in written work.
• Students will have developed a broad cultural awareness of the Spanish-speaking world.
• Students will be familiar with major authors and literary works from Spain and Latin America.
• Students will have been strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester abroad immersed in the target language and its culture through a study abroad program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Applied Spanish Option: Spanish, B.S. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Most students start at level 2 or 3. Students starting at level 1 may accelerate their progress by taking intensive SPAN 10 and 20 instead of the SPAN 1-3 sequence, or by taking 3-9 cr. of SPAN through the summer program in Seville, Spain or Puebla, Mexico.

²

 In consultation with SPAN adviser

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Advising Notes:

• All incoming freshmen must take a First-Year Seminar (FYS) during Fall or Spring of their first year. Academic advisers can provide a list of FYS being offered and help the student enroll. Most FYS in the College of the Liberal Arts are worth 3 cr. and count as a General Humanities (GH) or General Social Sciences (GS) course. For this reason, the FYS is not listed separately on this eight-semester plan; most students will be able to fulfill the FYS requirement while also fulfilling a GH or GS requirement.
• Students pursuing this major at a Commonwealth Campus might require summer attendance, study abroad, or additional semesters to complete the major coursework. Students should contact the University Park adviser to plan their major courses accordingly.

Business Option: Spanish, B.S. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Most students start at level 2 or 3. Students starting at level 1 may accelerate their progress by taking intensive SPAN 10 and 20 instead of the SPAN 1-3 sequence, or by taking 3-9 cr. of SPAN through the summer program in Seville, Spain or Puebla, Mexico.

²

In consultation with SPAN adviser

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Advising Notes:

• All incoming freshmen must take a First-Year Seminar (FYS) during Fall or Spring of their first year. Academic advisers can provide a list of FYS being offered and help the student enroll. Most FYS in the College of the Liberal Arts are worth 3 cr. and count as a General Humanities (GH) or General Social Sciences (GS) course. For this reason, the FYS is not listed separately on this eight-semester plan; most students will be able to fulfill the FYS requirement while also fulfilling a GH or GS requirement.
• Students pursuing this major at a Commonwealth Campus might require summer attendance, study abroad, or additional semesters to complete the major coursework. Students should contact the University Park adviser to plan their major courses accordingly.

Career Paths

A Bachelor of Science in Spanish will prepare you to shape the career your want, combining strong Spanish skills with a depth of knowledge in another discipline. Whether choosing the Business or Applied Option, majors will find careers in medicine, law, government, education, sociology, psychology, agriculture, international relations, politics, or business, especially those companies with a strong international presence or those whose market includes the US Hispanic Community. As a complement to any major, this major will improve your communication skills as well as your international awareness, making you a stronger candidate in today's global market.

Careers

Your Bachelor of Science in Spanish will be valued by employers who seek international expertise, including global corporations in finance and accounting, the travel industry, high tech companies, automobile companies, and import/export companies. Increasing numbers of U.S. companies are looking for Spanish speakers to work in telecommunications, health care services, real estate, and advertising and marketing to domestic Spanish-speaking consumers. Human Resource Directors need Spanish-speakers on their teams, and the hospitality industry hires many Spanish-speakers to fill management, sales, and marketing positions. Spanish is in great demand in the burgeoning business of eco-tourism, but students with this degree are also prepared to be teachers of Spanish, social workers whose work requires proficiency in Spanish, counselors whose clients include Spanish speakers, as well as doctors, lawyers, psychologists, foreign service officers, and other government officials.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Students wishing to continue on to graduate study will find that this degree may lead to advanced degrees in business administration, labor and employment relations, hotel and restaurant management, environmental and sustainability studies, public relations, second language acquisition, Spanish linguistics, and translation and interpretation. This degree is also excellent preparation for advanced degrees in anthropology, sociology, psychology, education, medicine, law, international relations or politics.

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH, ITALIAN AND PORTUGUESE
442 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-4252
sp-it-port@psu.edu

https://sip.la.psu.edu/