Hispanic Studies
Description
Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world and the second language of the United States. In our society, knowing Spanish is not just an asset; it is increasingly a necessity. The Hispanic Studies concentration enables students to develop advanced Spanish skills while acquiring a solid background in the complex history, literature, cultures, and intellectual traditions of Spain, Latin America, and the Latino-U.S. The department offers a variety of courses on topics related to literary history and theory; multicultural contact; linguistics and the history of the language; visual culture, film, and performance studies. Interdisciplinarity is a hallmark of the department, and students in this concentration are encouraged to broaden their perspectives by taking relevant courses in other departments. Most choose to strengthen their academic preparation by participating in a study abroad program in Spain or Latin America and by engaging with Hispanic communities in the United States.
Student Goals
Students in this concentration will:
- Develop a broad understanding of Hispanic literatures and cultures
- Acquire advanced level language skills in Spanish
- Develop sophisticated approaches to the study of Spanish texts and cultural production in the Hispanic world
- Produce a body of essays, creative projects, and research papers in Spanish
- Engage in a culminating senior project focusing on a topic related to the capstone course
Requirements
Click here for a list of the Hispanic Studies concentration requirements. For more information about this concentration, please visit the department's website.
Honors and Capstones
View Honors websiteStudents can have a capstone experience by completing an Honors Thesis. Students whose work in the concentration has been of superior quality (all A's) may apply to the Honors Program at the beginning of the seventh semester. In addition to completing concentration requirements, honors candidates write a thesis in their senior year under the direction of a faculty member. If they are accepted into the program, students will complete their thesis during their eighth semester. Honors will be conferred if the thesis director deems the thesis worthy of distinction. Please consult the program’s website for a complete description of admission procedures and requirements.
Tracks
- Language, Literature, and Culture
Liberal Learning
This concentration allows you to address the following Liberal Learning goals:
- Enhance your aesthetic sensibility
- Expand your reading skills
- Collaborate fully
- Understand differences among cultures
- Embrace Diversity
- Engage with your community
- Develop a facility with symbolic languages
- Learn what it means to study the past
- Evaluate human behavior
- Work on your speaking and writing