Spanish
Program Details
With an estimated 500 million speakers across the globe, Spanish is one of the most influential languages in the world. As a student in the Spanish major, you’ll become fluent in the Spanish language while taking courses in Spanish history, business, political science, geography, demography, philosophy, literature, music, art and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to earn credits while studying abroad in Spanish-speaking countries. Short-term and semester-long study abroad programs offered to students in the Spanish major include Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica and Peru.
The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish easily accommodates the addition of a second major or minor. Students in the Spanish major have the option to work with Xavier's School of Education to plan an individualized curriculum that meets the requirements for language teacher licensure.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 99 percent of our students, including those in the Spanish major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Spanish major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- SPANISH 201 ............ 3cr.
- PHILOSOPHY 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy ............ 3cr.
- ENGLISH 101: English Composition ............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective ............ 3cr.
- First Year Seminar ............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: GOA Co-curriculum Program I ............ 0cr.
Spring
- SPANISH 202 ............ 3cr.
- THEOLOGY 111: Theological Foundations ............ 3cr.
- Mathematical Perspective ............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspective ............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspective ............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: GOA Co-curriculum Program II ............ 0cr.
Fall
- SPANISH 300 ............ 3cr.
- Philosophical Perspective ............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective ............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective ............ 3cr.
- Writing Intensive Elective ............ 3cr.
Spring
- Spanish Elective - SPAN 302-310............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspective ............ 3cr.
- ENGLISH 205: Literature and Moral Imagination ............ 3cr.
- General Elective ............ 3cr.
- Oral Communications Elective ............ 3cr.
Fall
- Spanish Electives (2) - SPAN 311-349............ 6cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Elective ............ 3cr.
- Social Science Elective ............ 3cr.
- General Elective ............ 3cr.
Spring
- Spanish Electives (2) - SPAN 350-498............ 6cr.
- E/RS Elective ............ 3cr.
- General Elective ............ 3cr.
- Diversity Elective ............ 3cr.
Fall
- Spanish Electives (2) - SPAN 350-498............ 6cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Spanish Elective - SPAN 400-498 ............ 3cr.
- SPAN 499 - Senior Research Project............ 1cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that’s both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the Spanish major at Xavier:
Phonetics and Dialectology (SPAN 328) - Study of the phonetic system of the Spanish language, including transcription and identification of dialectical features.
Intro to Spanish Literary Analysis and Critisism (SPAN 370) - SPAN370 is an advanced course for students who have taken either SPAN300 or 301 and a minimum of an additional two advanced courses between SPAN302 and 349. The course offers the student an introduction to literary analysis, examining different literary theories to study a text. In class we will review Feminist theory, Marxist theory, Latin American critical theory and Indigenist theory, among others, in our approach to a discrete text/selection of texts. Basic terms of literary analysis will also be studied as well as current concepts relevant to current cultural theory. SPAN370 may also count toward the Latin American Studies minor.
Advanced Spanish (SPAN 300) - A language development course which emphasizes equally listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural aspects with an extensive grammar review.
Spanish Civilization (SPAN 350) - Representative culture and history of Spain.
Career Outcomes
99% of Xavier students, including those in the Spanish major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Careers for Spanish majors: foreign services officer, foreign correspondent, journalist, immigration officer, international relations consultatnt, interpreter, police officer, social worker, teacher, translator, travel agent, writer
More: Xavier's Career Development Office assists students in their search for employment by offering individual career counseling sessions, conducting workshop series on interviewing and resume writing techniques and maintaining an educational, vocational and employer information resource center. More than 100 nationally known companies visit the campus annually to interview graduating seniors for positions in business and industry.
Student Clubs
The following clubs are popular choices for students in the Spanish major.
Citizens of the World
Students in this club organize events that showcase the different cultures at Xavier. Students get to know each other and experience new cultures, languages, and customs.
Hispanic Organization and LatinX Awareness (HOLA)
The purpose of Hispanic Organization and LatinX Awareness (HOLA) is to build and maintain awareness of Latinx and Hispanic culture, language, traditions, history, and religion in the Xavier community.
Spanish Club
This club is for students interested in learning about or sharing their knowledge and appreciation for the Spanish language and Spanish-speaking cultures. Activities include movies and field trips.
All For One
Study Abroad Opportunities
Xavier offers 30+ international programs in countries like Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica and Peru. Faculty advisers work with students in the Spanish major to assure that courses taken overseas will fulfill requirements in the major and as well as in the University core curriculum.
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity
Cincinnati, Ohio is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and the #15 Best Place to Start a Career (WalletHub). Students in the Spanish major take advantage of for-credit internships and employment opportunities at multiple Fortune 500 companies, private companies, nonprofit organizations and other businesses.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the Spanish major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed and make a difference in the world. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Spanish Major at Xavier University
The programs for majors in German, French, and Spanish offered by the Department of Modern Languages provide an opportunity for the development of proficiency in the spoken and written language, as well as a study of the literature and civilization in areas where the language is spoken. Students are encouraged to combine a modern language major with a second major or a related minor. Undergraduates who wish to be licensed as teachers of French, German, or Spanish are advised to consult with the department education coordinator and with the School of Education regarding specific requirements for language teacher licensure.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."