Course Minor in Spanish

The Spanish minor 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 5 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 minors must take either SPAN 022 or  SPAN 023, except in special cases when the department waives this requirement.
3. Minors must maintain a curricular balance in their overall program. Students are encouraged to choose courses representing the following areas: Caribbean, Mexico/Central America, South America, and Spain.
4. AP/IB credits do not count towards the minor. (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 minor.
6. Minors are encouraged to take seminars offered by the department. Students may enroll in a seminar after completing one advanced course (numbered 040 to 089). Seminars count as one credit toward the minor.
7. Study Abroad Requirement: Students minoring 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 minor 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 study abroad, minor must enroll in a one-credit advanced course in the department.
9. To graduate with a minor in Spanish, a student must maintain a minimum grade of B in the discipline, and a C average in course work outside the department.

Important Note: SPAN 008 has been renumbered to SPAN 014. However, SPAN 008 will still count for students who took the course under its previous number.