Program Requirements
- Total Units Required: A minimum of 30 units at the 3000 level or above, 24 of which must be taken in residence. Courses within Washington University's own study abroad programs in Spain or Chile are considered "in residence." Note: Spanish majors are allowed to apply up to 9 units from Romance Languages and Literatures study abroad programs (up to 12 units from a year-long program) and up to 6 units from the Summer Language Institute to their major requirements.
- Grade Requirement: Students must complete all courses with grades of B– or above and maintain a B average or better overall in Spanish. Courses taken Pass/No Pass do not count toward the Spanish major.
Required Courses
The following courses must be included in the 30 units:
Cultures and Communications in the Spanish-Speaking World
- SPAN 3020 Cultures and Communication in the Spanish-Speaking World (Heritage speakers of Spanish must be certified by the director of undergraduate studies and must enroll in SPAN 3021 Language and Culture for Heritage Speakers of Spanish)
- SPAN 3030 Cultures and Communication in the Spanish-Speaking World II
SPAN 3030 Cultures and Communication in the Spanish-Speaking World II is a prerequisite or corequisite for all 3000-level literature and culture courses in Spanish.
Two "Debating Cultures" Courses (6 units)
- Courses designated as SPAN 32xx
- Study abroad options:*
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| SPAN 3122 | Advanced Conversation in Spain | 3 |
| SPAN 3154 | A View From the Southern Cone: Perspectives on Art, Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 3341 | Spanish Literature II in Chile/Spain | 3 |
| | 3 |
| SPAN 3501 | Undergraduate Seminar in Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 |
Two "Researching Cultures" Courses (6 units)
- Courses designated as SPAN 36xx
- Study abroad options:*
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| SPAN 3110 | Hispanic Culture and Civilization I | 3 |
| SPAN 3130 | Chilean Contemporary Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 3181 | Spanish Culture and Civilization | 3 |
Two 4000-Level Seminars (6 units)
- Other 4000-level courses taught in Spanish, including the following linguistics courses:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Units |
| SPAN 4110 | Spanish Grammar and Syntax | 3 |
| SPAN 4170 | Spanish Phonetics, Phonology, and Dialectology | 3 |
- The prerequisite for 4000-level courses is the completion of at least one "Researching Cultures" (36XX) course.
- Study abroad:
- One 4000-level seminar must be taken on campus
- An approved 4000-level course from the Madrid or Chile program (refer to the Study Abroad Opportunities page of the Romance Languages and Literatures website)
Elective Courses
Students must select two elective courses (6 units) from the following list:
- SPAN 2020 Intermediate Spanish II will not count as an elective if the student was placed directly into SPAN 3020 Cultures and Communication in the Spanish-Speaking World/SPAN 3021 Language and Culture for Heritage Speakers of Spanish.
- Only one elective course taught in English may be taken, when available, for the major.
- Study abroad options for electives:
- SPAN 3122 Advanced Conversation in Spain
- SPAN 3170 Advanced Spanish Language in Chile/Spain
- Elective credit from semester programs in Santiago or Madrid
- Elective credit from Petitioned, Organization for Tropical Studies, School for International Training, or Comparative Literature programs (refer to the Study Abroad Opportunities page of the Romance Languages and Literatures website)
- Spanish courses completed (and approved) as part of study abroad programs other than those offered by Washington University may be used for Spanish elective credit only.
- All study abroad credit requires authorization from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Other Requirements
- After declaring a major in Workday, students are required to fill out a questionnaire about their previous preparation and objectives in studying Spanish and to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies' team.
- Seniors may fill out an optional survey about the major.
- Second major seniors may elect to do their capstone experience in a 4000-level course; primary majors must do so. The capstone may be fulfilled through the completion of a 4000-level class with a B+ or better or via Honors. (Please consult the guidelines on the Romance Languages and Literatures website.)
- All qualified majors in the School of Arts & Sciences may elect to meet the requirements for Honors. To be eligible to earn Honors in Spanish, Spanish must be the student's primary major.
- Transfer students with an advanced level of Spanish and native/heritage speakers need to be certified by the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to declaring the major.