DRAFT 2026-2027 Academic Bulletin 
    
    May 07, 2026  
DRAFT 2026-2027 Academic Bulletin

Spanish Major


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Faculty: Hernandez, Herrera, Riess

The Spanish major is a program in the Languages, Literature, and Culture Area of Study.

Spanish Major Learning Outcomes

Students who have successfully completed the coursework for our Spanish major can:

  • PLO1: Demonstrate understanding of the main content and structure of a wide variety of written, graphic and spoken texts with attention to linguistic and cultural nuances;
  • PLO2: Communicate orally in both interpersonal conversations and public settings across modalities, with attention to audience, situaiton, and cultural and societal differences.;
  • PLO3:  Identify key places, products, practices, and perspectives that make up the Spanish-speaking world including the Latine population in the US, situate them in cultural context, and offer interpretations and
    opinions pertaining to them.
  • PLO4:  Connect the study and use of target language beyond the school setting to multilingual and multicultural communities at home and around the world for personal enrichment and professional advancement.

Students who have successfully completed a Senior Project in Spanish can:

  • PLO1: compose a discussion in written Spanish about a topic of their choosing pertaining to a Spanish-speaking culture, incorporating findings from research in both Spanish and English with their own ideas into a clear and cohesive argument;
  • PLO2: discuss, spontaneously and at length, the topic of their written project.

The Spanish Major

The Spanish major, consisting of 42 credits, leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. At graduation, Spanish majors must have a GPA of at least 2.0 in the major. The calculation is based on the grades of Spanish courses taken at Allegheny on a letter-grade basis. Only the most recent grade is considered for curses that have been repeated. Only SPAN 600  may be taken on a Credit/No credit basis.  

Courses taken in an approved program abroad may count for the major and minor. Courses at the 100-level may not be taken after study at the 200-level. Students who place at or above the 220 level will need to design an alternate selection of courses to complete their program. Please see Spanish faculty for advising.

Double majors who choose the language as the second major may complete only 40 semester credit hours. The senior thesis for a double major student must include an analytical component in Spanish that is relevant to a cultural, literary, or linguistic aspect of Hispanic studies; the Spanish component may or may not coincide with the thesis topic of the other major.

Bilingual students who have learned Spanish at home are encouraged to speak with a Spanish advisor regarding placement and course of study.  

Requirements:


The major in Spanish leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts and requires a minimum of 42 semester credit hours, including:

Electives:


Students may complete four additional credits with courses at or above the level into which they placed, or with Special Topics, Student Teaching or Teaching at College practicums.

Senior Seminar:


To be taken in the senior year

Note:


Double majors who choose the language as the second major and write one Senior Project may complete only 40 semester credit hours’ they are required to complete SPAN 600 and will register for DOUBL 600. The senior thesis for a double major student must include an analytical component in Spanish that is relevant to a cultural, literary, or linguistic aspect of Hispanic studies; the Spanish component may or may not coincide with the thesis topic of the other major. Heritage or native speakers of Spanish and students who place at or above the 220 level will need to design an alternate selection of courses to complete their program. Please See Spanish faculty for advising..

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