Spanish Major & Minor

The Spanish program builds students' written and spoken language skills while also exploring cultural manifestations produced throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Program Type Undergraduate Major, Undergraduate Minor
Degrees Offered B.A.
Mode of Study On Campus
Department Languages, Literatures & Cultures
School May School of Arts & Sciences
Student studying in Seville, Spain
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Program Overview 

In our courses, students are empowered to speak, read, and write in Spanish; to achieve cultural literacy so they may successfully engage within diverse communities and cultures in professional, personal and service capacities; to analyze literature, film, music and other art forms as representations of human experience; and, through all these activities, to develop critical thinking skills that will last them a lifetime.  

Study Abroad Requirement for Spanish Majors 

All Spanish majors are required to spend a semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country approved as part of a program of study or in one of the international internships sponsored by Stonehill College, and minors are encouraged to do the same.  

Students may transfer back three pre-approved courses taken abroad to the major. Additional language courses may be pre-approved as general electives. 

Recent Accolades

Organizations involved in assessing U.S. colleges and universities continually cite Stonehill as being among the best in the nation when it comes to value, outcomes and a commitment to making the world a better place. See full list of accolades.

Sample Courses

Elementary Spanish I

SPA 131
For students with no previous study or 1-2 years of high school Spanish. During the first semester students develop the ability to: when speaking and writing, use short sentences, learned words and phrases, simple questions, and commands; when listening, understand some ideas and familiar details presented in a clear, uncomplicated speech; when reading, understand short texts enhanced by visuals. During the second semester students expand their ability from the first semester, and develop the ability to: when speaking and listening, use and understand learned expressions, sentences, and strings of sentences, questions, and commands; when writing, create simple paragraphs; when reading, understand important ideas and some details in highly contextualized authentic texts. During both semesters content includes: The Self (family, friends, home, rooms, health, school, schedules, leisure activities, campus life, likes and dislikes, shopping, clothes, prices, sizes and quantity, pets and animals) and Beyond Self (geography, topography, direction, buildings and monuments, weather and seasons, symbols, cultural and historical figures, places and events, colors, numbers, days, dates, months, time, food and customs, transportation, travel, and professions and work.)

Perspectives in Spanish Language and Culture I

SPA 331
For students with three or more years of Spanish. In this course students expand their previous ability in their foreign language, and develop the ability to: when speaking, use simple dialogue of paragraph length in a series of cohesive and coherent paragraphs; when listening, understand most authentic spoken language; when writing, create a series of coherent paragraphs; when reading, acquire knowledge and new information from comprehensive authentic text. Content embraces concepts of broader cultural significance, including institutions, such as the educational system, the government, and political and social issues in the target culture. Both concepts and abstract topics of human and personal interest including music, literature, the arts, and the sciences.

U.S. Hispanic Literature: Voices and Experiences on Migration and Immigration

SPA 349
In this course students will examine the topics on Hispanic migration and immigration in United States, and discussed the social justice issues and experiences of immigrants reflected in short stories, poems and novels.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Stonehill is ranked among the best in the nation for sending students on semester-long study abroad programs. Our programs focus on developing global citizens and helping students meet both academic and personal goals. A student’s international experience is attractive to potential employers who seek applicants with global perspective and an understanding other cultures.

Approved study abroad programs for Spanish majors include:

  • API in Barcelona
  • API in Madrid 
  • API in Seville
  • Granada Institute of International Studies
  • University of Alicante
  • University of Barcelona
  • Universidad de Deusto
  • University of Granada
  • University of Madrid
  • Universidad de Salamanca

Argentina

  • School for International Training
  • Universidad de Belgrano
  • Universidad de Congresso
  • Universidad Torcuato Di Tella

Brazil

  • CIEE in Rio de Janeiro
  • CIEE in São Paulo
  • Universidade Católica do Salvador

Chile

  • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso
  • School for International Training
  • Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar
  • Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María

Costa Rica

  • Universidad Veritas

Cuba

  • Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas
  • Universidad de la Habana

Dominican Republic

  • CIEE in Santiago de los Caballeros (service learning option available)
  • CIEE in Santo Domingo

Ecuador

  • IES Galapagos Islands
  • School for International Training

Panama

  • School for International Training

Peru

  • Pontifícia Universidad Católica del Perú
  • School for International Training

Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department

The Spanish major is part of the Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department at Stonehill. 

The study of languages, literatures and cultures is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. The Department offers coursework in seven languages.

Places where Stonehill graduates have recently been employed include:

  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Catholic Charities
  • French Embassy
  • Fulbright Recipient (Ecuador)
  • Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office
  • Office of Refugees and Immigrants, City of Boston
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Ropes & Gray LLP
  • Teach for America
  • World Teach
  • Various school systems

Language experience is invaluable for those students seeking careers in:

  • Education
  • International Studies
  • Psychology
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Political Science
  • Communications
  • Sociology
  • Business

Places where Stonehill graduates have recently attended a full- or part-time graduate program include:

  • Aberystwyth University (Wales)
  • Boston University
  • Middlebury College
  • Northeastern University
  • Universidad Complutense (Madrid)
  • University of Connecticut
  • Universidad de Granada (Spain)

Research Opportunities

Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is an opportunity for students who have completed their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable, full-time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher.

EXAMPLES OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURES & CULTURES RESEARCH

  • Bridget Ryan ’23 worked with Teresa Villa-Ignacio, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies, on Sounding Translation, an Internet-accessible podcast that archives translators’ reflections on the experience of translating contemporary poetry.
  • Alina Shklyarenko ’17 worked with John Golden, associate professor of foreign languages, on “Translating Alexander Blok’s ‘Vozmezdie.’” They have submitted for publication their work on previously untranslated sections of this important poem by the Russian symbolist.
  • Michael Travers ’15 worked with Juan Carlos Martin, associate professor of Foreign Languages, on “Virtual Learning: Beyond the Classroom.” 
  • Spanish major Angela Moskawa ’14 workedwith Juan Carlos Martin, associate professor of Foreign Languages, on “Identity Crisis: Portrayals of the Posthuman in Spanish Narrative and Film.” This project strives to study the concept of post-humanity in Spanish narrative and film, focusing primarily on literary pieces and cinematic works written and produced during the past two decades.
  • Laura Dzgoeva ’14 worked with John Golden, associate professor of foreign languages, on “Translating Alexander Blok.” Blok was a major Russian Symbolist poet; they translated several of his poems into English and have submitted some of their work for publication.

Outside Partnerships & Special Programs

Stonehill College has developed academic affiliations with colleges and universities that enable our students to augment the degree they earn at Stonehill with graduate and undergraduate degrees that further enhance their opportunities.

Save Money: Earn Two Degrees in as Little as Four Years

The Skyhawk Accelerated Dual Degree allows Stonehill students to earn a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Stonehill College in as little as four years. Eligible students receive early and expedited admission to their graduate program of interest and can begin working toward a master's degree in education or business. Stonehill students also receive 20% off for remaining graduate tuition through the Skyhawk Rate.

National Honor Society Affiliations

Sigma Delta Pi

CAMPUS CHAPTER: LAMBDA RHO

Sigma Delta Pi is the National Honor Society for Spanish. It honors those who seek and attain excellence in the study of the Spanish language and the literature and culture of Spanish-speaking peoples.

Lambda Epsilon Sigma

Stonehill’s campus-wide honor society, Lambda Epsilon Sigma, recognizes students from all areas of study. Students who have demonstrated a well-rounded thirst for knowledge are invited to apply.

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