At which campus can I study this program?
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 majoring in a social science and may wish to serve the Spanish-speaking community.
- You like Spanish, but the demands of your major prevent you from majoring in it.
- You understand that familiarity with Spanish opens doors.
- You want to share your interest in the Spanish language and culture with your students, in a career in education.
- You want to travel.
- You are a foodie, a film-buff, a word-gamer, or an adventurer.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
Courses that do not require knowledge of Spanish may not be counted toward the minor.
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| SPAN 200 | Intensive Grammar and Composition 1 | 3 |
| or SPAN 301 | Intensive Grammar and Composition for Spanish Bilinguals | |
| SPAN 215 | The Science of Spanish: A Beginner's Guide to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| or SPAN 253W | Introduction to Literary & Cultural Studies en Español  | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intermediate Grammar and Composition 1 | ||
| Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Spanish Bilinguals | ||
| Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Students in Medical-Related Fields | ||
SPAN 100C | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| Readings in Iberian Civilization | ||
| Readings in Ibero-American Civilization | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Study--Intermediate Conversational Spanish | ||
| Advanced Grammar and Composition Through Reading 1 | ||
| Spanish for Social Services | ||
| Spanish Sounds | ||
| Building Words and Sentences in Spanish | ||
| Topics in the Cultures of Spain | ||
| Topics in Cultural Contact and Exchange | ||
| Topics in the Cultures of Latin America | ||
| Topics in the Cultures of the Americas | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Study--Spanish | ||
| Select 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Oral Expression and Communication 1 | ||
| Translation | ||
| Interpretation | ||
| The Evolution of Spanish | ||
| Spanish for Business and International Trade | ||
| Don Quijote | ||
| The Contemporary Spanish American Novel | ||
| Many Mexicos | ||
| Masterpieces of Spanish American Literature | ||
| U.S. Latina/o Culture en Espanol | ||
| Masterpieces of Spanish Prose | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Foreign Study--Spanish | ||
- 1
Heritage speakers (students with Spanish language in family background) and native speakers of Spanish should take SPAN 100A and SPAN 301 instead of SPAN 100 and SPAN 200. May not take SPAN 410.
SPAN 199, SPAN 299, SPAN 399, and SPAN 499 (Study Abroad - Spanish) and SPAN 197, SPAN 297, SPAN 397, SPAN 497 (Special Topics Courses) may also be applied to the Spanish minor and will be substituted for the appropriate course by the Spanish minor adviser. All courses taken abroad must be taught in Spanish.
NOTE: SPAN 130, SPAN 131, SPAN 230 and any course that does not require a knowledge of Spanish do not count toward the Spanish minor.
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
Altoona
Kathryn A. Mussett
Assistant Teaching Professor, Spanish
Hawthorn Building 126
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5211
kam13@psu.edu
Berks
Maria C. Fellie
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Gaige 315
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6449
BKSpanish@psu.edu
Erie
Laurie Urraro, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish
54 Kochel Center
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6641
llu106@psu.edu
Harrisburg
Raquel Lodeiro, M.A.
Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish
W356 Olmsted Building
Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6203
rlo12@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Robin Yaure
Teaching Professor in HDFS
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu
Career Paths
A minor in Spanish enhances almost any major, as it indicates a level of proficiency that employers in government, business, law, medicine, and education value. If in addition to completing a minor you have also studied in Spain or Latin America, you will find that your knowledge of Spanish language and culture will place you ahead of other applicants. You will very likely discover that while you may not be hired because of your Spanish skill, it will never be irrelevant. When your employer realizes you can communicate with foreign clients, vendors, officials, patients, students, migrants, your stock may soar.
Careers
Your minor in Spanish will appeal to employers in business, who value international competence; in government, where you may find a career with almost every agency serving an increasing Hispanic population; in medicine, where health care practitioners with knowledge of Spanish are in great demand; in law and law enforcement, where too few are trained to address the needs and interests of Spanish speakers. No matter what your major might be, or where your career may take you, your Spanish minor will be a significant career enhancer.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
A minor in Spanish will cover your world language requirement in graduate school. It will also strengthen your application to graduate school in certain fields, including comparative literature, international relations or politics, medicine, law, cultural anthropology, and sociology.
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH, ITALIAN AND PORTUGUESE
442 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-4252
sp-it-port@psu.edu
Altoona
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Hawthorn Building 126
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5211
kam13@psu.edu
https://altoona.psu.edu/person/kathryn-mussett
Berks
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Gaige 315
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6449
BKSpanish@psu.edu
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HSSOffice@psu.edu
https://behrend.psu.edu/school-of-humanities-social-sciences
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
W356 Olmsted Building
Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6330
cpb5942@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/humanities/spanish-minor
Mont Alto
PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu