BA in Spanish

The major in Spanish encompasses broad and deep study of the language, literature, history, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world, including Spain, Latin America, and the US. Small, discussion-based courses equip students with advanced knowledge and skills for understanding nuances of the Spanish language and using it effectively in academic, daily, and professional contexts. Emphasis on the study of literature, film, and other media develops students’ cultural competence, communication, and research skills. Students graduate with the capacity for close, analytical reading and interpretive argumentation through spoken and written engagement with major works, events, periods, and people responsible for shaping the history of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and Latino communities in the US, with special attention to the remarkable diversity of human experience reflected in cultural products from the Middle Ages to the present. Study abroad is strongly encouraged, and many students fulfill requirements for the major at one of Boston University’s Study Abroad programs in Spain or Latin America.

Skills and knowledge gained through the Spanish major provide an excellent preparation for continuing on to graduate study, as well as sought-after intercultural competence for globally and internationally oriented careers in education, international development, government, journalism, law, communications, business, health professions, and scientific fields.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BA in Spanish will demonstrate:

• An advanced level of proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension of Spanish, following ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
• Knowledge of literary and cultural production from Latin American, Iberian, and US Latino communities and of their intellectual and historical contexts.
• Corresponding understanding of the national and cultural diversity of these regions in relation to colonial and postcolonial histories.
• Engagement with critical or theoretical works concerning literature and culture in these regions.
• The ability to read, analyze, and write critically about literature, culture, and linguistic diversity with attention to contextual, thematic, and formal issues.
• The ability to demonstrate cross-cultural understanding, communication, and adaptability and to make connections across disciplines and areas of study.

Prerequisite

CAS LS 211 or equivalent placement results.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Spanish will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation, as well as some requirements in Communication, Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship and the Intellectual Toolkit.

Nine 4-unit courses with a grade of C or higher are required for the major.

Students typically progress through three categories of coursework: foundation courses, gateway courses, and upper-division courses. Students with advanced standing should begin with a level-appropriate course (see below on Placement Test) and must complete a minimum of six major courses at Boston University. Students participating in the Boston University Madrid Study Abroad program must complete a minimum of five major courses on the Boston campus (six courses for students participating in other approved Study Abroad programs).

Foundation Courses

Select up to four language and culture courses numbered CAS LS 212–349 on the BU Charles River Campus or via a BU Study Abroad program, including an internship conducted in Spanish. Heritage speakers should select courses designed for heritage learners, such as CAS LS 309, or consult with an advisor. Native speakers should skip foundation courses and begin with a gateway course, though they may choose to complete an internship via Study Abroad.

Gateway Courses

Select at least one gateway course numbered CAS LS 350–359 on the analysis of Iberian, Latin American, and US Latino literature, film, and media.

Upper-Division Courses

Select at least four courses in Iberian, Latin American, and US Latino literature, film, and media numbered CAS LS 400 and above on the BU Charles River Campus, or equivalent courses taken abroad.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Students should always consult with a faculty advisor before going abroad, to determine which Study Abroad courses may fulfill major and minor requirements.

Students may take courses to fulfill their language requirement or courses toward a Spanish major or minor at one of Boston University’s Study Abroad programs in Spain or Latin America. The BU Madrid Program offers several options, including the Internship Program, the Spanish and European Studies Program, and the University Studies Program, as well as a summer program.

Opportunities to take courses abroad taught in Spanish are also available in management, through the Madrid Business Internship Program, and science, through the Madrid Science Program. Additional information on these programs is available in the Study Abroad and Internship Programs portion of this Bulletin.

Placement Test

A placement test is required of all students whose most recent course in Spanish was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University and who wish to continue their study of this language here. Information regarding online placement exams is available in the department or on the departmental website.

Honors in the Major

Requirements

Graduation with Honors in Spanish requires three courses beyond the nine courses required for the major. Those 12 courses must be completed with an overall GPA of at least 3.7. The three additional courses must include a substantial advanced research and writing component and are chosen in consultation with the advisor from a combination of the following:

• One or two terms of Senior Independent Work (CAS LS 401, CAS LS 402)
• One other 400-level LS course

Procedure for Applying

A student may apply to the Honors Program no sooner than the end of sophomore year and no later than the spring term of junior year. For admission into the program, students must have completed at least four courses for the major. Qualifications for admission into the Honors Program include a GPA of at least 3.65 in all CAS courses and a minimum GPA of 3.7 in the set of LS courses satisfying requirements for the major. Both are calculated in courses completed at the time of application. Students should consult with their advisors about application procedures.