Spanish Major B.A.
- Careers in a variety of posts that require foreign language proficiency
- Double majors, with preparation for print or broadcast media, government, teaching, social services, or industry.
- Opportunities for internships, study abroad, post-graduate Fulbright scholarships, Peace Corps experience
- Preparation for graduate programs, law school
Major code: BA5225
Faculty contact: Nikhil Sathe, Undergraduate Programs Chair
Program Overview
Spanish courses provide students with a base of knowledge not only in languages but also in cultural content so vital for understanding and navigating the world. Spanish majors learn to think analytically and critically in courses on literature, culture, linguistics, film, and art, and they acquire clarity of thought and expression through frequent writing assignments and speaking activities.
Spanish majors are required to study abroad. Most students participate in one of the Ohio University sponsored immersion programs, where they polish their language skills and develop first-hand familiarity with the culture of a Spanish-speaking country.
The Spanish faculty is committed to student mentoring and guiding students through the options of double majors, minors, complementary certificate programs, and elective courses. Class sizes are limited so that professors can address the needs of individual learners and encourage dialogue, collaboration, openness, and critical thinking.
To complement course work, the Spanish Club and the Spanish National Honor Society sponsor events such as weekly conversation meetings and foreign film series. The Spanish major challenges undergraduate students in a supportive environment where they can thrive and prepare themselves for a successful future.
Careers and Graduate School
Spanish majors are not limited to a specific career track. The ability to think analytically, communicate clearly, and understand people from diverse cultural backgrounds has served our graduates well in a wide range of professions. Ohio University Spanish majors discover that current job listings call for the types of abilities they have acquired through their liberal arts education: communication skills, analytical skills, interpersonal skills, a capacity for problem solving, and the ability to learn quickly. Many job listings include foreign language proficiency as a desirable or necessary tool.
In consultation with a faculty mentor and with the help of Ohio University career services, students approaching graduation can identify companies and organizations offering job opportunities that correspond to their personal interests. When recent graduates can employ their marketable skills in the pursuit of an individual passion, they greatly enhance their chances for success, satisfaction, and lifelong rewards.
Some of our students combine a major in Spanish with a secondary discipline such as journalism, political science, education, sociology, or business, and then seek employment in print or broadcast media, government, teaching, social services, or industry. These students possess career-specific skills in addition to general knowledge and language proficiency.
Many of our majors acquire additional training prior to seeking employment. Some pursue internships, either in the United States or abroad, in which they employ their foreign language skills in a professional capacity. With faculty guidance, our seniors have successfully competed for postgraduate awards such as Fulbright Scholarships. Many graduates enter M.A. and Ph.D. programs, either in Spanish or another discipline, and go on to academic positions at universities. Others attend law school or medical school. Volunteer service abroad with organizations such as the Peace Corps provides training that can help a student identify a future career track.
Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Modern Languages Majors General Information
Courses in the major must be taken for a letter-grade (A-F). A grade of C (2.0) or better must be earned in a course for those hours to count toward a major. All students majoring in a language are strongly urged to study abroad in one of the department’s programs. A major in French or Spanish requires study abroad. Suggested electives are classical languages, comparative literature, cultural anthropology, English, fine arts, history of the country in your major interest, and linguistics.
If you are an Arts & Sciences student interested in becoming licensed to teach languages K-12 (elementary, middle school or high school), please seek assistance at the department chair's office, Gordy 283C, to meet with language department faculty knowledgeable about language education. Together you can plan how to complete the licensure requirements listed under Modern Languages in the Patton College of Education section of the catalog. Prospective teachers are highly encouraged to spend at least one semester in education abroad.
Spanish Hours Requirement
Complete a total of 27 semester credit hours of SPAN coursework, beyond SPAN 2120.
Language Foundation Requirement
Complete the following course with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 3110 - Advanced Conversation and Composition I Credit Hours: 3
Advanced and Specialized Language Requirement
Complete one of the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 3120 - Advanced Conversation and Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 3215 - Business Spanish Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to Peninsular Culture
Complete the following course with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 3348 - Spanish Civilization and Culture Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to Latin American Culture
Complete one of the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 3300 - Mexican Civilization and Culture Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 3310 - Mayan Civilization and Culture Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 3320 - Yucatecan Civilization Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 3349 - Spanish American Civilization and Culture Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to Linguistics and Literature
Complete the following courses, each with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 3460 - Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 3550 - Introduction to Literature Credit Hours: 3
Advanced Hispanic Linguistics
Complete one of the following 4000-level courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 4436 - Spanish Pragmatics Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4437 - Applied Phonetics Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4438 - Hispanic Dialectology and Sociolinguistics Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4439 - Modern Spanish Usage Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4441 - Stylistics Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4457 - History of the Spanish Language Credit Hours: 3
Advanced Latin American Literature and Culture
Complete one of the following 4000-level courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 4513 - Survey of Spanish American Literature I Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4514 - Survey of Spanish American Literature II Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4517 - Themes from Spanish American Prose Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4518 - Contemporary Spanish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
Advanced Peninsular Literature and Culture
Complete one of the following 4000-level courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
- SPAN 4375 - History of Art in Spain - 1500-present Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4555 - Medieval and Golden Age Spanish Literature Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4558 - Don Quijote de la Mancha Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4560 - 19th-Century Spanish Literature - 1800-1898 Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4565 - 20th-Century Spanish Literature Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4568 - Film and Literature of the Franco Era Credit Hours: 3
- SPAN 4570 - Contemporary Spanish Literature Credit Hours: 3
Study Abroad
Complete a minimum of a five-week approved study abroad program in a Spanish-speaking country.
Oral Proficiency Interview
Complete an official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), resulting in a rating of Intermediate High or better.