Course Major in Spanish

The Spanish major develops advanced linguistic proficiency while fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and a deep understanding of the diverse literary and historical traditions of the Spanish-speaking world.

Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 8 credits of work in courses taught in Spanish numbered 010 and above. Only one of these may overlap with the student’s major or other minor.
  2. All majors must take either SPAN 022 or SPAN 023, except in special cases when the department waives this requirement.
  3. Majors must maintain a curricular balance in their overall program. Students are encouraged to choose courses representing each one of the following areas: Caribbean, Mexico/Central America, South America, and Spain.
  4. AP/IB credits do not count towards the major. (Students –with AP- 4 or 5 Higher IB- 6 or 7 scores– can receive a maximum of one credit toward their general graduation requirements upon successful completion of a Spanish course in the department.)
  5. To ensure the development of Spanish linguistic competence, only courses conducted in Spanish will count toward the major.
  6. During the fall of their senior year, all majors must complete the departmental seminar. Students may enroll in a seminar after completing one advanced course (040–089). Only one seminar counts as two credits toward the major. Seminars taken for one credit, with instructor approval, do not fulfill the major requirement but count as an advanced one-credit course.
  7. Study Abroad Requirement: Students majoring in Spanish are required to engage in an immersion experience in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester through an approved program by the Department of Spanish. Only two courses taken abroad that align with the curriculum of the department may count towards fulfilling the major requirements. For full immersion, all courses taken abroad must be conducted in Spanish. Only advanced language courses taken abroad may receive Spanish credit.
    1. Exceptions to the Study Abroad Requirement:
      1. Summer Language Program: In special cases, the study abroad requirement may be fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program identified and approved by the department, particularly for students with advanced language proficiency. For summer programs, only one relevant course may count towards fulfilling the major or minor.
      2. Bilingual Students: Spanish/English bilingual students who have recently arrived in the U.S. and have received substantial schooling in Spanish, either in Spanish-speaking countries or in the United States, may petition for a waiver of the study abroad requirement. Each case will be evaluated individually by the Spanish faculty.
      3. Exemptions: Students who are unable to fulfill the study abroad requirement due to academic or other constraints should consult with the chair of the Department of Spanish. Exemptions may be granted under exceptional circumstances, such as when other major requirements or compelling reasons prevent participation in a semester or summer abroad program.
      4. Alternative Immersion Activities: Exempted students are required to participate in an internship or another long-term activity (minimum six weeks) that provides Spanish immersion. Upon completion, a detailed report (3-4 pages) must be submitted to the Department of Spanish for formal exemption from the Study Abroad requirement.
  8. Upon returning from abroad, majors must enroll in a one-credit advanced course in the department.
  9. A minimum of four of the eight courses must be taken at Swarthmore.
  10. To graduate with a major in Spanish, a student must maintain a minimum grade of B in the discipline, and a C average in course work outside the department.

Culminating Exercise

Majors will participate in a senior research panel during the spring of their senior year. The panel will be based on the research conducted in the fall seminar and will be guided by the professor who taught the seminar.

Acceptance Criteria

For admission to the Course Major, the student needs a minimum of “B” level work in courses taken at Swarthmore taught in Spanish or the required introductory-level literature course (SPAN 022 or SPAN 023), demonstrated ability and interest in language and literature, and a minimum “C” average in course work outside the department.

Prerequisite: SPAN 004 or its equivalent is the language prerequisite for entering the Spanish major. It does not count as one of the 8 credits required for the major.

Application Process Notes

In addition to the process described by the Student Affairs Division and the Registrar's Office for how to apply for a major/minor, please complete the Spanish major application form available in the menu.

If after applying you are denied admission to the major/minor, you may reapply once you have addressed the recommendations made by the department.

Important Notes:

  1. SPAN 008 has been renumbered to SPAN 014. However, SPAN 008 will still count for students who took the course under its previous number.
     
  2. Course Policy for Class of 2025 and 2026 Majors:
    The course taken in English under the rubric LITR/SPAN, as specified in the previous requirements, will count toward the major only for students graduating in the class of 2025 or 2026.