Spanish, B.A.
Saint Louis University students who major in Spanish at SLU gain a necessary asset in an increasingly globalized, complex world. Mastering Spanish as the demand for bilingual workers in the U.S. continues to rise gives graduates a competitive edge in education, health care, business, international relationships, government, cultural studies, social work and law enforcement. It also broadens one's horizons by increasing cultural awareness and global contacts.
Program Highlights
- The Spanish major at Saint Louis University prepares students for careers requiring Spanish proficiency or for graduate work in Spanish.
- With the help of a team of dedicated, experienced faculty members, instructors and mentors, Spanish majors focus on refining their language skills in Spanish, exploring the Hispanic cultural legacy through literature, linguistics and culture, gaining familiarity with Spanish within professional contexts (such as health care), and increasing their cultural and social sensitivity. Students are encouraged to study abroad; one option is Saint Louis University-Madrid.
- In the United States, Spanish has been present for more than five centuries, and it is currently the second most used language, spoken at home by about 43.4 million people and eight million students. By 2060, the U.S. is predicted to be the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, right after Mexico.
- Worldwide, Spanish is the second most spoken native language, after Mandarin Chinese, the third most used language on the internet, one of the six official languages of the United Nations -- along with Arabic, French, English, Mandarin and Russian -- and one of the official languages of the European Union. Spanish is spoken worldwide by almost 500 million native speakers on four continents and in twenty-one countries and 23 million students. By 2030, Spanish speakers will make up 7.5% of the world's population.
- Based on the growth of the Hispanic population and the increase of Spanish speakers worldwide, bilingual English-Spanish ability and cross-cultural understanding are valued assets within all fields but especially so within business, health care, government, education, cultural as well as international studies, social work and law enforcement. In addition, it is reported the need for foreign-language teachers will increase by 20% over the next 10 years in the U.S.
Curriculum Overview
Spanish majors at Saint Louis University achieve oral and written proficiency in the language while taking courses in literature, culture, linguistics and Spanish for the professions. A diverse curriculum that focuses on literary, cultural and linguistic analyses provides students with an informed understanding and a critical perspective of main issues in Hispanic societies. Thus, when graduating, a Spanish major at SLU may have taken some of the following courses:
- Refining Spanish Expression: Grammar & Composition
- Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
- Spanish in the USA
- Spanish for the Health Professions
- English-Spanish in Translation
- Latin American Film
In addition to coursework in the classroom, Spanish majors at SLU are encouraged to participate in service projects and social activities that help develop cultural awareness and social conscience. Thus, students are invited to be part of the SLU Spanish Club, to volunteer in service learning opportunities and to participate in social activities such as movie nights, cultural talks, service workshops, etc.
The program encourages all students majoring in Spanish to spend one year at SLU-Madrid. Besides many skill-expanding courses in Spanish language, culture and literature, students at SLU-Madrid may select from offerings in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Many courses are taught in English as well. This experience abroad has proven to be an invaluable asset in competing for career opportunities.
Careers
A major in Spanish, complemented by a second major, uniquely qualifies students to compete and advance in many careers. Spanish graduates can develop career paths successfully in:
- Education
- Medicine and health sciences
- Business
- Law
- Government
- Politics
- Social work
- Non-governmental organizations
- Foreign service
- Scientific research
- Translation and interpreting
Admission Requirements
Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to articulate complex ideas and have meaningful interactions in Spanish, both orally and in writing.
- Graduates will be able to interpret texts and artifacts produced in Spanish.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of the Spanish language, cultures and Hispanic populations.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of Spanish as a major world language with a relevant cultural legacy.
- Graduates will be able to engage with Spanish-speaking cultures. They will be able to explain similarities and differences between cultures.
Students may start the program at the 2000 level or 3000 level depending on their language and cultural proficiency. No more than a total of two SPAN and/or LLC courses conducted in English will be counted towards the major in Spanish. All students complete 33 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Skills-Expanding Courses | ||
| SPAN 2010 | Connecting with the Hispanic World: Intermediate Spanish 1 | 3 |
| SPAN 3010 | Connecting with the Hispanic World: Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 3020 | Eloquent Communication in Spanish | 3 |
| 3000-Level Spanish Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Select no more than two 3000-level courses beyond SPAN 3020: | ||
| Refining Spanish Expression: Grammar & Composition | ||
| In Conversation with the Hispanic World | ||
| Spanish Pronunciation | ||
| Medical Spanish | ||
| Mental Health and Spanish | ||
| Race, Gender, Class and Social Justice in Latin America | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| 4000-Level Spanish Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Select the number of courses needed to complete 33 credits from the following: | ||
| Advanced Spanish Grammar | ||
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | ||
| History of the Spanish Language | ||
| Spanish in the United States of America | ||
| Spanish Sociolinguistics | ||
| Second Language Acquisition | ||
| Spanish for the Health Professions | ||
| Business & Professional Spanish | ||
| English-Spanish in Translation | ||
| Introduction to Translation English-Spanish | ||
| Creative Writing in Spanish | ||
| Introduction to Hispanic Literatures | ||
| Soccer and Society in the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Latin American Short Story | ||
| Latin American 'Modernism' | ||
| Contemporary Latin American Poetry | ||
SPAN 4280 | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Novel | ||
| Contemporary Latin-American Drama | ||
| The African Experience in Spanish America | ||
| Latin American Novels after 1970 | ||
| Latin American Testimony | ||
| Women's Literature in Latin America | ||
| Latin American Film | ||
| Contemporary Spanish Women Artists | ||
| Strangers in a Familiar Land: Displacements in Latin America | ||
| Contemporary Latino Literature | ||
| The Kingdom of Brevity: Spanish and Spanish-American Short-Short Stories | ||
| Don Quixote | ||
| Border Crossings in the Américas | ||
| Spanish Jewry in Spain and in the Diaspora | ||
| Narrative of the Spanish Civil War | ||
| Contemporary Spanish Short Story | ||
SPAN 4700 | ||
| 20th Century Spanish Novel | ||
| Twentieth Century Spanish Drama | ||
| Spanish Literature and Film | ||
| Spanish Women Poets | ||
| Spanish Culture & Civilization | ||
| The Short Story in Medieval Spain: Fear, Education and Humor | ||
| Spanish Medieval Masterpieces | ||
| Love in the Middle Ages | ||
| Don Quixote and the Books that Drove Him Mad | ||
| General Electives | 52-55 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Every major is assigned a Spanish mentor who provides guidance and support within the program. All students are encouraged to contact and/or meet with their Spanish mentor at least once a year. Mentors in the Spanish program help majors make the most out of their learning experience.
Non-Course Requirements
No more than a total of two SPAN and/or LLC courses conducted in English will be counted towards the major in Spanish.
Continuation Standards
All courses for the Spanish major must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. Students who do not achieve the "C" or better grade in a required course will be expected to repeat the course in an attempt to achieve the "C" or better grade. Students may repeat a required course one time. Failure to achieve the "C" or better grade after one repeat attempt will have the student dismissed from the Major in Spanish.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
- Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SPAN 2010 | Connecting with the Hispanic World: Intermediate Spanish 1 (Some students may begin at SPAN 1200 or at SPAN 3010 depending on their proficiency level.) | 3 |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
| CORE 1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPAN 3010 or CORE 3400 |
Connecting with the Hispanic World: Intermediate Spanish II (SPAN 3010 counts as Core 3400: Ways of thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture) or Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture |
3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 3200 | Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPAN 3020 or CORE 1200 |
Eloquent Communication in Spanish (SPAN 3020 counts as Core 1200 and should be taken in your first 60 credit hours at SLU. ) or Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication |
3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPAN 3XXX Elective | Students take two Spanish 3000-level courses beyond SPAN 3020 in any order; it is highly recommended they are taken concurrently. | 3 |
| Intensive Writing Attribute | SPAN 3030 satisfies Writing Intensive. | 3 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPAN 4200 or CORE 3400 |
Introduction to Hispanic Literatures (SPAN 4200 counts as Core 3400 Ways of thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture. SPAN 4200 is a pre-requisite for other literature courses.) or Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture |
3 |
| SPAN 4030 or CORE 3600 |
Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics (SPAN 4030 counts as Core 3600 Ways of thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences) or Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences |
3 |
| Equity and Global Identity: Global Interdependence | Ask your Spanish Mentor for courses that satisfy Global Interdependence. | 3 |
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression (SPAN 4175 or SPAN 4180 counts as CORE 2800) | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPAN 4000-level elective | Students choose to take courses in a variety of areas. Mentors in the Spanish program help students build a comprehensive course sequence from early on. | 6 |
| Equity and Global Identity: Identities in Context | SPAN 4020, SPAN 4590, or SPAN 4790 satisfies Identities in Context. | 3 |
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| General Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPAN 4000-level elective | 3 | |
| CORE 4000 | Collaborative Inquiry (SPAN 4150 satisfies Collaborative Inquiry.) | 2-3 |
| Reflection in Action | SPAN 4150 satisfies Reflection in Action. | 3 |
| Equity and Global Identity: Dignity, Ethics, and a Just Society | SPAN 4150 satisfies Dignity, Ethics, and a Just Society. | 3 |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPAN 4000-level elective | 3 | |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
Program Notes
This roadmap is an example of how a four-year plan could work for a typical student. Advanced Placement exam scores, 1818 advanced college credit and transfer credit may change the roadmap. Also, the sequence of courses may vary according to the student’s interests, goals, previous experience with the language and individual preferences.
This roadmap should not be used in place of regular academic advising and mentoring appointments. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor and program mentors each semester. Faculty mentors in the Spanish program help majors make the most out of their learning experiences.
Students have several options to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, including SLU-Madrid.
All requirements are subject to change.
Willing to experience Spanish life and culture firsthand? Want to practice your language skills outside the classroom? You can complete all or part of the Spanish major at Saint Louis University-Madrid. You may also choose to take many of your general degree requirements ― such as psychology, history and theology ― in Spanish.