Program Tracks

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with three program tracks.

Spanish Language and Literatures Track

This track emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:

  • The fundamental outlines of the history of Spanish literature and of Spanish American literature.
  • The major creative writers in both Spanish and Spanish American literature.
  • Basic critical methodologies in the study of poetry, drama, narrative fiction, nonfiction and cinema.
  • The cultural and historical contexts in which particular traditions develop.

The program focuses on critical thinking and communication skills (written and oral) and their application in today's real-world global setting. Our internationally recognized professors and instructors integrate their research with their teaching in a fruitful manner. The degree supports an active secondary teaching certification program, which prepares future Spanish instructors for the growing demand for secondary Spanish teachers. Catalan language courses are also offered to broaden students' linguistic spectrum. Advanced students, particularly honor's program students, are invited to begin their MA work in our program by taking graduate seminars during their senior year.

Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Culture Track

This track focuses on the literature and culture of Spanish-speaking and Lusophone countries, guiding students through readings on the history of Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Latin America. Along with major authors and literary movements of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds, students read a variety of complex texts across academic disciplines.

The linguistic and cultural mastery of Spanish and Portuguese is key in opening endless possibilities to the European Union (Portugal and Spain), as well as Brazil and the whole of Latin America. Through this bilingual combination, students will gain the tools needed to conduct business in the Western Hemisphere in today's competitive global market.

Spanish for the Professions Track

This interdisciplinary track offers exciting career possibilities, both in government and private industry, at home and abroad. Languages and cultural understanding are essential in business, engineering, commerce, civil service, law, library science, media, science, economics, health and social sciences.

The degree emphasizes knowledge and awareness of the cultural environment in which professions are practiced in the Spanish-speaking world. Students develop an advanced level of language proficiency and trans-cultural competence in addition to taking courses in a professional field of their choice.

Education Abroad

The department strongly recommends that all majors include a period of study in a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country in the course of their undergraduate education. Please visit Education Abroad for more information.

Although the 4-year graduation guarantee does not apply to those who study abroad, it is still entirely possible to go abroad for a semester or a year and graduate in 4 years. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese sponsors Summer Global Seminars in Argentina, Portugal and Spain.

Concurrent Degree Program

BA/MSIB in Spanish

This program is designed for students who wish to combine their BA in Spanish for the Professions with a one-year MS in international business (MSIB) from the University of Colorado Denver. Students seeking this option should complete the Leeds Business Minor.

Students apply for the MSIB program during their third year by declaring their intention to the Spanish for the Professions faculty director, submitting the standard MSIB application forms, and completing admissions requirements, which include the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test). Students are notified of acceptance to the program before the start of their fourth year. Students must have at least a 3.00 GPA to be considered for admission.

Requirements

General Requirements

The following requirements apply to all program tracks.

The College of Arts and Sciences does not allow more than 45 credit hours in any one discipline to be counted toward the 120 credit hours required for a BA degree. This rule does not mean that a student may not take more than 45 credit hours in Spanish, but rather that one must have at least 75 credit hours in courses other than Spanish. PORT 2120 will be accepted as partially fulfilling upper-division courses in other foreign languages.

To fulfill the requirements for any major track, students must complete at least 12 upper-division credits at CU Boulder. For the Spanish Language and Literature track and the Spanish and Portuguese Language and Culture track, 9 of the 12 credits must be from the major works/trends courses listed (SPAN 4150 or SPAN 4160, and SPAN 4170 or SPAN 4180) and SPAN 3100. For the Spanish for the Professions track, students must take at least two of the 3000-level profession courses and SPAN 4070 and SPAN 3100 on the Boulder campus.

No more than 3 independent study credit hours may count toward the major. No grade lower than a C- will be counted in the major requirements. The ancillary GPA (made up of the combined grades from area courses) must be at least 2.00.

Please note that students seeking Colorado State Teaching Certification should complete the Spanish Language and Literature Track. Students seeking teaching certification in Spanish must take certain classes. For full requirements, please contact the advisor for the Secondary Spanish Teaching Certificate program in the department.

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses. All Spanish majors are encouraged to consult with the Spanish and Portuguese Department professional advisor before they register each semester.

Transfer credit must be approved by the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. Study Abroad courses must be approved; contact the Spanish and Portuguese Department Professional Advisor to begin the process.

Program Track Requirements

Spanish Language and Literatures Track

Required Courses
SPAN 3000Advanced Spanish Language Skills5
SPAN 3100Literary and Cultural Analysis in Spanish3
SPAN 3010Advanced Rhetoric and Composition3
or SPAN 3120 Advanced Spanish Grammar
Hispanic Linguistics Requirement3
Spanish Phonology and Phonetics
Linguistic Analysis of Spanish
Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
4000-level Spanish Language and Literature courses9
Spanish Literature and Culture
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain Up to 1700
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain: 1700-Present
Latin American Literature and Culture
Major Works/Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America Up to the 19th Century
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America: 1900-Present
Additional 4000-level Spanish Literature course
Choose one of the following courses not used to fulfill a requirement above:
Hispanic Women Writers
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain Up to 1700
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain: 1700-Present
Major Works/Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America Up to the 19th Century
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America: 1900-Present
Special Topics in Spanish and/or Spanish American Literature
Cervantes
Upper-Division Spanish Electives9
9 credit hours of upper-division SPAN electives. 3 credit hours must be 4000-level. Can include courses not used to fulfill an above requirement.
Total Credit Hours32

Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Culture Track

Note that prerequisites for the program include sufficient Spanish knowledge to be admitted to 3000-level courses and sufficient knowledge of Portuguese to be admitted to 2000-level courses.

Required Courses
PORT 2110Second-Year Portuguese 13
or PORT 2350 Portuguese for Romance Language Speakers
PORT 2120Second-Year Portuguese 2 (or SPAN/PORT upper-division) 13
PORT 3003Advanced Portuguese Language Skills3
or PORT 3220 Latin American Culture: Spanish America and Brazil
or PORT 3230 Transatlantic Relations in the Portuguese Speaking World
4000-level PORT course3
Required Spanish Language and Literature Courses
SPAN 3000Advanced Spanish Language Skills5
SPAN 3100Literary and Cultural Analysis in Spanish3
SPAN 3010Advanced Rhetoric and Composition3
or SPAN 3120 Advanced Spanish Grammar
Hispanic Linguistic Requirement3
Choose one of the following:
Spanish Phonology and Phonetics
Linguistic Analysis of Spanish
Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
Spanish Literature and Culture Course3
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain Up to 1700
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain: 1700-Present
Latin American Literature and Culture Course3
Major Works/Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America Up to the 19th Century
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America: 1900-Present
SPAN or PORT Elective3
Upper division (3000/4000 level) SPAN or PORT literature, culture and/or language.
Total Credit Hours35

Spanish for the Professions Track

The department offers an interdisciplinary major in Spanish for the Professions, which includes the completion of 12 credits in a professional field, in a second major or in a second degree. It offers students numerous career possibilities, both in government and private industry at home and abroad. Those choosing this major are not able to enter the CU Boulder graduate program in Spanish without fulfilling the requirements in the language and literature major.

Prerequisites for the program include sufficient Spanish to be admitted to 3000-level courses and any pertinent prerequisites for the 12 credits in the professional field. SPAN 4070 must be taken at CU Boulder. 

Professional Spanish Courses 19
Choose three of the following:
Professional Spanish for Business 1
Spanish for Careers in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development
Spanish 21st Century Media Professions
Spanish Health Professions
Required Courses
SPAN 4060Problems of Translation for Professions in Spanish 13
SPAN 4070Problems of Translation for Professions in Spanish 23
Spanish Language Courses
SPAN 3000Advanced Spanish Language Skills5
SPAN 3100Literary and Cultural Analysis in Spanish3
SPAN 3010Advanced Rhetoric and Composition3
or SPAN 3120 Advanced Spanish Grammar
Upper-Division SPAN Elective3
Any SPAN 4000-level course. SPAN 4930 is an option.
Non-SPAN Electives12
Students are required to take 12 credit hours outside of Spanish in a certificate program, minor, second major or degree related to their professional interests. Students must fulfill the prerequisites for the relevant program. The Business Minor, or the Public Health Certificate, or the Technology, Arts and Media Certificate are recommended. Courses meeting this requirement must be approved by the faculty director of the major.
Total Credit Hours41

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students can complete all 12 credits of the Arts & Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and potentially the Upper-division Written Communication component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
SPAN 1010 Beginning Spanish 1 (If needed, does not fulfill Spanish major course requirements) 5
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) 4
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
SPAN 1020 Beginning Spanish 2 (If needed, does not fulfill Spanish major course requirements) 5
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 4
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall Semester
SPAN 2110 Second-Year Spanish 1 (If needed, does not fulfill Spanish major course requirements) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
SPAN 2120 Second-Year Spanish 2 (If needed, does not fulfill Spanish major course requirements) 3
Related Fields course outside of Spanish (see degree audit for details and instructions) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall Semester
SPAN 3000 Advanced Spanish Language Skills 5
Related Fields course outside of Spanish (See Degree Audit for details and instructions) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring Semester
SPAN 3100 Literary and Cultural Analysis in Spanish 3
SPAN 3120 Advanced Spanish Grammar 3
SPAN 3010 Advanced Rhetoric and Composition (Also fulfills Gen. Ed. Skills course: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) - Upper-Division 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
SPAN 3050
Spanish Phonology and Phonetics
or Linguistic Analysis of Spanish
or Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
or Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
or Spanish in the United States
3
SPAN 4150
Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain Up to 1700
or Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Spain: 1700-Present
3
SPAN Literature course 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) - Upper-Division 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
SPAN 4170
Major Works/Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America Up to the 19th Century
or Major Works and Trends in Literature and Culture in Latin America: 1900-Present
3
SPAN 4000 level elective 3
SPAN Upper-Division elective 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
Upper-Division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours122