BA in Spanish
33 units
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and Los Angeles is one of the world’s largest Spanish-speaking cities. There is a growing need for people with linguistic and cultural skills to work in increasingly globalized communities. Indeed, a recent study stated that bilingual speakers earn 10-15 percent more than those who speak only English. The Spanish program is designed to fill this need. It works well as a double-major, with low unit requirements and high compatibility with many career paths. It equips business professionals, healthcare professionals, community workers, journalists—anyone interested in other cultures—to thrive in the diversity of our planet.
The Spanish major at Azusa Pacific University offers opportunities to serve in local Spanish-speaking communities through internships and hands-on coursework, or to study away through various international programs. All courses offered in the department are offered within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and are designed to contribute to a Christian liberal arts education.
Mission Statement
The Spanish program guides student development in Spanish conversation, develops reading and compositional skills, introduces major Spanish-language literary works, heightens cultural sensitivity, and encourages creative and reflective thinking with respect to the history and civilization of Hispanic countries, all to better serve God through service to others.
Off-campus Study
As part of the Spanish language learning experience, Spanish majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study away for one term. Students may choose to participate in study away programs offered by the Department of Sociology, TESOL, and Modern Languages or other available programs. In all cases, students must consult with a department advisor for their classes prior to enrollment and departure. Credit earned through these programs applies to the degree.
Career Opportunities
In addition to teaching, countless public contact fields may require some proficiency in Spanish. Disaster specialists, translators/interpreters, import/export managers, diplomats, customs inspectors, immigration inspectors, social/medical services, speech pathologists, law enforcement, international finance and banking, international student advisors, pastors/ministers, and the rapidly expanding world of international business—these fields and many others increasingly seek candidates who possess Spanish language ability and cultural sensitivity as valuable career skills. For students who have studied foreign languages in high school and desire to advance, a Spanish major or minor enables them to acquire the language and culture skills appropriate to a variety of public service and business applications.
Requirements
Spanish majors are strongly encouraged to complete one study term abroad and to complete SPAN 201/SPAN 202 or its equivalent prior to departure. Majors and minors in the Department of English and Modern Languages must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all university coursework.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 24 | |
| (23 units beyond SPAN 101, SPAN 102, or equivalent) 1 | ||
| Intermediate Spanish I F | ||
| Intermediate Spanish II S | ||
| Literary Masters 2, F | ||
| Writing 3: Survey of the Literature of the Spanish-Speaking World 3, S | ||
| Spanish Capstone Seminar 4, S | ||
| Writing 2: Writing for the Humanities in Spanish 5, S | ||
| History and Civilization of the Spanish-speaking World F | ||
| Conversational Skills | 3 | |
| Select one from the following: | ||
| Intermediate Conversation and Writing Abroad (abroad in a Spanish-speaking country) | ||
| Spanish Conversation and Community 6, F | ||
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers F | ||
| Advanced Language-Study Practicum (abroad in a Spanish-speaking country) | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Select two from the following list. A course taken to meet the above courses may not also count for elective credit. | ||
| Spanish Courses | ||
| Cultural History/Travel Study (If taken with a pre-approved study away program) 6 | ||
| Advanced Language-Study Practicum (abroad in a Spanish-speaking country) | ||
| Politics and Society in Latin America 7, OS | ||
| Public Speaking in Spanish 8, OF | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics EF | ||
| Spanish Language Pedagogy | ||
| Internship | ||
| Special Topics in Spanish (may be repeated for credit) ES | ||
| Readings | ||
| Global Learning Term coursework (completed anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world) | ||
| Family Organization | ||
| Global Internship | ||
| Community Life | ||
| Writing 3: Global Study Project 3 | ||
| Total Units | 33 | |
- 1
See the General Education Requirements page. Students who are native speakers of Spanish or have 3-4 years of high school Spanish should take the Spanish Placement or CLEP exam to waive elementary Spanish, then consult with an adviser before entering intermediate or upper-division work.
- 2
Meets the General Education Humanities: Literature requirement.
- 3
Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.
- 4
Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.
- 5
Meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement.
- 6
Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.
- 7
Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.
- 8
Meets the General Education Oral Communication requirement.
| F | Offered in Fall only |
| S | Offered in Spring only |
| F/S | Offered in both Fall and Spring terms |
| EF | Offered in Fall in even years |
| ES | Offered in Spring in even years |
| OF | Offered in Fall in odd years |
| OS | Offered in Spring in odd years |
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:- Demonstrate strong abilities in language skills (reading, writing), attaining at least the ACTFL Advanced-Low level.
- Demonstrate strong abilities in language skills (speaking, listening), attaining at least the ACTFL Advanced-Low level.
- Knowledge: Distinguish and describe the countries of the Spanish-speaking world, and describe their history and cultural achievements.
- Literature: Critically analyze literary texts and construct thoughtful, textually-supported interpretations.
- Intercultural Competence: Interact with people of Spanish-speaking communities with understanding and cultural sensitivity.