Spanish: Major or Minor
Student describes paintings in SPA 409/539, "The Age of Lorca."
Why Study Spanish?
Students enrolled in the Spanish undergraduate program learn about language, literature, and culture of Spain and Spanish-speaking world regions such as Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States. The program develops students’ research and analytical skills, enhances their capacity for aesthetic appreciation, strengthens their powers of observation and self-expression, and prepares them for cross-cultural, global interaction.
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Degree Requirements
The Spanish undergraduate tracks cover a wide range of disciplines and historical periods while providing linguistic proficiency and cultural fluency. Students gain breadth and depth of knowledge in Spanish and Latin American Studies as they earn credits necessary for fulfilling a major, a joint major or a minor.
Academic Advisement (SPA 200+)
Spanish concentration requirements and options
The Spanish major, joint major, and minor all have the same lower-division requirements:
- 6 credits of lower-division coursework: any two 200-level courses (e.g. SPA 207, SPA 208, SPA 210, or SPA 215, taken in any order or concurrently, followed by one of these three paths:
The major (BA) - 36 credits (regular or double majors; for double degrees, see below):
- 30 credits of upper-division coursework: 10 courses, of which 4 must meet breadth requirement.**
The Joint Major (BA) - 27 credits (coordinated with a joint major in a related BA program):
- 21 credits of upper-division coursework: 7 courses, of which 3 must meet breadth requirement.**
tHE Minor - 18 CREDITS (may be combined with all BA programs and most others such as BS, BArch):
- 12 credits of upper-division coursework: 4 courses, of which 2 must meet breadth requirement.**
** Spanish majors must complete four breadth requirements, joint majors must complete any three of the four, and minors any two. The breadth requirements are:
- Earlier literature (e.g., SPA 301, 304, 305, 317, 405)
- Linguistic focus (e.g., SPA 313, 314, 325, 382, 413)
- Non-European literature and culture (e.g., SPA 304, 311, 312, 320, 350)
- Non-literary cultural production (e.g., SPA 323, 324, 327, 328, 408, 435)
NB: In all courses taken for a Spanish concentration, letter grades are required (not S/U).
DOUBLE DEGREE
Students pursuing a BS degree in Engineering, Management, or Biology, for example, or a professional degree such as the BArch in Architecture or BFA in Fine Arts, may simultaneously pursue a second major in Spanish. Since Spanish leads to a BA degree, students who choose this option are technically earning a double degree, not a double major. The double degree option requires a minimum of 150 total credit hours, and the precise number for the proposed combination must be carefully confirmed in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Residency Requirement
The department requires that at least 50% of credits necessary for a major, joint major or minor degree in Spanish be completed on a local UB campus. The remaining 50% may be fulfilled through any combination of study abroad coursework, transfer courses, placement exams or other pre-approved credit-earning opportunities.
Prerequisites, Application and Acceptance
Acceptance into the major, joint major, or minor requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and satisfactory completion of prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
If not fulfilled at UB or articulated to UB equivalents, courses presented for satisfaction of prerequisites must be evaluated by an RLL faculty advisor or the DUS.
Students who are heritage or first speakers of Spanish must meet with an RLL faculty advisor before enrolling in any Spanish courses to determine an appropriate level of study.
The chart below suggests how previous instruction will count towards prerequisites:
if no prior instruction | if ~ 2 years of Spanish | if ~ 3-4 years of Spanish | if ~ 4-6 or more years |
SPA 111 (3 credits) | SPA 102 (5 credits) | SPA 151 (3 credits) | No prerequisites; go directly to 200 level |
SPA 102 (5 credits) | SPA 151 (3 credits) | SPA 152 (3 credits) | |
SPA 151 (3 credits) | SPA 152 (3 credits) |
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SPA 152 (3 credits) |
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Acceptance also requires submission of an application accompanied by a current Academic Advisement Report (AAR) from HUB, normally after completion of prerequisites. Students may be admitted when prerequisites are in progress, especially those whose financial aid requires timely acceptance to a major. The application can be submitted via the RLL website or on paper in person at the RLL office during business hours.
Completing Required Credits
There are several ways for students to fulfill required credits for the major, joint major or minor:
Departmental Coursework (as detailed above)
- Course levels should be completed in sequence: Foundational 200-level courses must be successfully completed before advanced courses at the 300- and 400-levels, (unless an RLL faculty advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies advises otherwise). It is also possible to take one lower 300-level course simultaneously with the last 200-level course.
- Occasionally (and by prior written permission from the Director of Undergraduate Studies), students may obtain exceptions, such as substitution of advanced courses for foundational courses, or credit for an internship or a course taken in another department toward one elective advanced course.
Study Abroad
- Majors and minors should have their program choice approved in advance by an RLL advisor.
- For further information, visit the Office of Study Abroad or see Study Abroad with RLL.
AP or Similar Credit
- Advanced standing and university credit may be awarded to students who complete college-level work in high school. UB awards credit based on AP exam scores, IB exam scores for certificates and diplomas, GCE exam scores and CLEP exam scores. Visit University Admissions for more information.
Transfer Coursework
- Some course articulations are available on the TAURUS website. Spanish faculty advisors will review syllabi upon request.
Other Opportunities
- Including internships, guided creative or research activity, or independent study, all of which require approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
For all study abroad, transfer courses and/or AP or similar credit, the department’s residency requirement (see above) always applies.
