Admission to this program has been suspended. Any students wishing to study Spanish can now opt to complete a major in Global Studies, with a focus on the Spanish language and a region where Spanish is spoken.

The Major in Hispanic Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Spanish-speaking world. It is designed to provide students with a solid background in the cultural history of Latin America, Spain, and the Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. Students combine language, culture, and practical skills courses in the Spanish program with elective courses offered by other related programs at Catholic University. They also add a practical immersion experience through study in a Spanish-speaking country. Students are encouraged to supplement their studies with courses dealing with the Spanish-speaking world in areas such as Anthropology, Art, Drama, History, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, and Theology and Religious Studies.

Curriculum

The Hispanic Studies major entails 12 courses:

• 3 intermediate and advanced language courses:
  SPAN104 or 111, 203 or 210, 204 or 211 (203 and 204 can be taken out of sequence)
• 2 gateway seminars:
  SPAN 300, 301 (can be taken out of sequence)
• 1 practical skills course, such as:
  SPAN 303: Spanish for the Professions
  SPAN 401: Spanish for Business
  SPAN 402: Spanish Translation
  SPAN 485: Legal Translation and Interpretation
  MLL 495: Modern Languages Internship
• 2 content research seminars, such as
  SPAN 407, 412, 435, 436
• 1 senior thesis seminar: SPAN 489
• 3 elective courses that are pre-approved by the advisor. No more than 2 can be taught in English

Please note that students who place out of one of the language courses (104, 111, 203, 204, 210, 211) will enroll in additional elective courses.

Education Abroad

Hispanic Studies Majors are required to spend a semester studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. All credits earned abroad are eligible for transfer if the student is enrolled in affiliated programs.

SPAN 489 must be taken at Catholic University.

Under special circumstances may students petition that the study abroad requirement be waived.

Interdisciplinary Course Work

Hispanic Studies Majors are strongly advised to complete the course work for the Certificate in European Studies, the Certificate in Latin American and Latino Studies, or to consider a minor or a second major in a related discipline, such as Art, Drama, History, International Business, Media and Communication Studies, Philosophy, or Politics.