Spanish and Latin American Studies, BA

The Spanish major at Saint Mary’s College equips students with valuable skills in communication, critical thinking, research, and cultural analysis-tools essential for success in a wide range of careers and graduate programs. By developing fluency in Spanish and deep cultural competency, students will be prepared to navigate an increasingly globalized workforce. Their bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism will give them a distinct advantage after graduation, whether they pursue careers in education, healthcare, business, law, social justice, international relations, or the arts. Additionally, students can work toward earning the Certificate of Biliteracy, which provides formal recognition of their multilingual proficiency and offers tangible benefits in academic and professional settings.

Earning this certification allows recipients to showcase their multilingual skills in a professional, verifiable way-giving them an edge in job applications, college admissions, and beyond. Those who obtain the Global Seal of Biliteracy are encouraged to activate their profiles so they can:

Easily share their achievement on resumes, LinkedIn, personal websites, and applications.

Highlight their language journey and showcase their bilingual or multilingual abilities.

The program offers a dynamic, flexible, and intellectually engaging curriculum structured around three key areas: Hispanic Literary Studies, Hispanic Linguistic Studies, and Hispanic Cultural Studies.

Hispanic Literary Studies courses enhance students’ ability to analyze and interpret literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Through the study of major literary movements, genres, and authors, students explore critical themes such as history, politics, human rights, social activism, and gender roles. They engage with the voices of diverse writers, gaining a broader perspective on the complexities of the Spanish-speaking world.

Hispanic Linguistic Studies deepen students’ understanding of how language functions and evolves. These courses prepare students for careers in education, translation, interpretation, and language-related fields, while also serving as excellent preparation for graduate studies in linguistics. They are especially valuable for students interested in combining Spanish with disciplines such as Education, Health Sciences, Psychology, Business, or Justice, Community, and Leadership.

Hispanic Cultural Studies provide a multidisciplinary exploration of Spanish-speaking cultures through literature, film, music, art, and political movements. Students develop analytical skills that allow them to engage critically with contemporary issues in Latin America and the Latino presence in the U.S., preparing them for roles in advocacy, cultural institutions, media, and beyond.

By completing this major, students will graduate with not only linguistic proficiency but also a deep cultural awareness-an invaluable asset in today’s diverse and interconnected world.

Learning Outcomes for Spanish Major:

Students who complete this major will be able to:

• Demonstrate a career-ready proficiency in all language modalities (speaking, writing, listening, and reading) for a variety of purposes and a range of content and contexts.
• Develop an understanding of the linguistic nature of Spanish, including its primary fields (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics and dialectology, language acquisition, second language pedagogy, and historical linguistics).
• Demonstrate knowledge of Spanish and Latin American literary texts and traditions across time, including major literary and intellectual movements, genres, writers, and works; and discuss and analyze literary texts from a variety of sources.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures and communities across time and geography, and articulate an understanding of global perspectives, practices, and products of those cultures.

Split Major with Spanish

Split majors between Spanish and other disciplines are available by arrangement. A split major with Spanish requires the same courses as a Spanish minor plus 8 units of upper division electives in Spanish. For more information please contact the Chair of World Languages and Cultures.