The Spanish major is designed to contribute to your cultural and intellectual formation. You may prepare for teaching on the elementary or secondary level or for careers in social services, medical fields, law, criminology, as interpreters, translators, or representatives in business or government.
Explore Academics Undergraduate Studies Majors and Minors Spanish
Spanish Program
Program Tracks Available
Major, Minor
Admission Deadline
Early Decision: November 15
Early Action: November 15
Early Action II: December 15
Regular Decision: February 15
D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures
Learning goals:
To develop good oral/aural communication skills in the target language
To write effectively in the target language
To think critically about literary and cultural texts using discipline-appropriate methods of analysis
To better understand the cultures of our target languages
The Spanish major is an integral part of traditional education in the liberal arts. Spanish is designed to contribute to the cultural and intellectual formation of students, as well as to prepare them for teaching on the elementary or secondary level, and for work in social services, medical fields, law, criminology, and as interpreters, translators, or representatives in business or government, or for continued work on the graduate level.
Spanish majors are taught by exemplary faculty who will encourage you to achieve proficiency and fluency in the spoken and written language; become knowledgeable about Hispanic cultures, and to read with critical appreciation and enjoyment representative works of the principal authors of Spain and Latin America.
Faculty mentors will guide you select courses that will inspire you to explore the language, literature, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish majors are strongly advised to spend a semester or an academic year in a Spanish speaking country.
Interdisciplinary Major in Latin American and Latino Studies:
The major in Latin American and Latino Studies is designed to respond to the increasing interest in the societies of the region and to the need to understand the complexity of their history, political and economic systems, social structures, and literary and artistic expression. The history of the Latin American nations and the development of their distinctive identities, the struggle for independence, and the establishment of modern democracies offer a challenging range of areas to explore. The presence of Latin America within the United States in the Latino communities gives another dimension to the study.
Learn to enhance your ability to function effectively in an increasingly important commercial language locally, throughout the United States, and abroad. While developing geographic literacy and cultural understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, you will develop skills to conduct successful business in Spanish. The Spanish major also encourages a stronger understanding and appreciation of Spanish art, and culture from Cervantes' Don Quixote to Cien años de Soledad by Gabriel García Márquez. You will broaden your perspective through an immersion experience in Europe, Latin America, or in an area with Latino populations within the United States. Through these travels, you will learn more about significant issues facing Spanish-speaking countries and populations.
Juan Carlos Grijalva, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish, Department Chair, Modern & Classical Languages
508-767-7368 jgrijalv@assumption.edu Founders Hall - Room 218
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The Major in Spanish is an integral part of traditional education in the liberal arts. The Spanish Major is designed to contribute to the cultural and intellectual formation of students, as well as to prepare them for teaching on the elementary or secondary level, and for work in social services, medical fields, law, criminology, and as interpreters, translators, or representatives in business or government, or for continued work on the graduate level. Spanish majors are expected to achieve proficiency and fluency in the spoken and written language, to become knowledgeable about Hispanic cultures, and to read with critical appreciation and enjoyment representative works of the principal authors of Spain and Latin America. The selection of courses in this major will be made in consultation with the advisor with a view to a complete formation in the language, literature, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish majors are strongly advised to spend a semester or an academic year in a Spanish-speaking country.
Required Courses (10)
A total of 10 major-level courses (those numbered 202 or higher) is required for a major. Students are expected to include language skills, literature, and culture study in their program. The following are the minimum around which an individual program of study should be developed. These must include at least
A minimum of three courses numbered 210–299
A minimum of three courses at the 300–level Students who are considering a major in Spanish are advised to fulfill the Introduction to Literature requirement by taking SPA 204.
All courses for the major must be in Spanish.
Academic Catalog & Advising Guide
Major in Spanish Course Descriptions
Students minoring in Spanish must take a total of six one-semester courses (18 credits), which can include SPA 104. The program must be planned with a departmental advisor. All courses for the minor must be in Spanish.
Note on Study Abroad Credit
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures accepts for credit from an approved study abroad program two courses (6 credits) per semester towards a minor. The same policies regarding the language in which the course is taught apply for courses abroad. Students must have courses approved by the chair of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures. Any exceptions to this policy will be reviewed and decided by the chair, in consultation with departmental faculty as the chair deems appropriate.
Minor in Spanish Course Descriptions
Major in Latin American and Latino Studies
The Major in Latin American and Latino Studies consists of 10 courses which include a minimum of three 300–400 level courses and a maximum of three in any single discipline selected from C and D. They are divided into five areas:
LAS 200 Introduction to Latin American Studies
Language: One course at level SPA 203 Spanish V: Conversational Spanish and Grammar Review, or above.
Two courses, one course in each discipline, from the following: HIS 250 Colonial Latin American History HIS 251 Modern Latin American History SPA 231 Survey of Latin American Literature 172
Five courses selected from:
CLT 256 Latino Voices
GEO 222 Regional Geography of South America
HIS 250 Colonial Latin American History
HIS 251 Modern Latin American History
HIS 389 Special Topics in History (when topic is on Latin America)
HIS 401 History Pro-Seminar (when topic is on Latin America)
HIS 402 History Seminar (when topic is on Latin America)
LAS 390 Internship
LAS 395 Special Topics
LAS 399 Independent Study
MGT 301 Business and Society
MGT 311 Diversity in the Work Force
MUS 125 World Music
SOC 216 Racial and Ethnic Relations
SPA 200 Special Topics (when topic is on Latin America)
SPA 204 Introduction to Literature-Spanish
SPA 220 Spanish Composition
SPA 225 Business Spanish: Management
SPA 226 Business Spanish: Marketing
SPA 231 Survey of Latin American Literature
SPA 380 Latin American Chronicles
SPA 384 Magical Realism and the Literature of the Fantastic
SPA 400 Special Topics, when appropriate
SOC 236 Social Justice in a Global Community
Students may choose an elective from the following courses if the course has a substantive component on Latin America, and with the approval of the director
ANT 131 Cultural Anthropology
ECO 252 Economic Development
ECO 353 International Trade
ECO 354 International Finance
GEO 251 Economic Geography
LAS 400 Latin American Studies Seminar
Note: Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this major, several courses fulfill Core requirements, thus allowing for a minor or double major. Students are encouraged to consider these options.
Major in Latin American and Latino Studies Course Descriptions
ASK ME ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Arlene Guerrero-Watanabe, Ph.D. Department Chair, Modern & Classical Languages Associate Professor of Spanish
Juan Carlos Grijalva, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish Department Chair, Modern & Classical Languages
Dona Kercher, Ph.D. Professor of Spanish & Film Director of Latin American Studies
Maryanne Leone, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish
Esteban Loustaunau, Ph.D. Professor of Spanish Director of the SOPHIA Program Director of the Center for Purpose and Vocation
Nick Pezzote Adjunct Instructor
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