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.
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
Sample courses within the Spanish curriculum:
- Advanced Spanish I (SPAN 300) - Language development course which emphasizes listening, speaking, reading, writing and cultural aspects with an extensive grammar review.
- Spanish Conversation (SPAN 302) - Designed for the development of speaking and listening skills through active participation by students. Discussions and activities are based on contemporary issues.
- Contemporary Issues in the Spanish Speaking World (SPAN 309) - This course offers students the opportunity to examine and analyze contemporary issues in Peru society along with the broad themes of Peruvian history and cultural heritage that continue to influence the lives of Peruvians. Through the incorporation of a variety of authentic texts, students investigate, discuss and compose position papers on social justice issues. An online collaborative component engages students in interaction with Peruvian students enrolled at the Jesuit University of Antonio Ruiz de Montoya in Lima, Peru. The course will feature virtual collaborative tasks and activities related to social issues of global dimension, a research project and presentation.
- Spanish for Elementary Teachers (SPAN 329) - Emphasis placed on continued development of oral proficiency and a strong vocabulary base essential of thematic units. Program models, theories of first and second language acquisition, appropriate activities and the principles of thematic planning will be investigated. Field experiences involving on-campus teaching of unit designs are an integral part of the course.
- Contemporary Latin American Cinema (SPAN 345) - This course explores contemporary cinema from diverse parts of Latin America, from the 1990s to the present. It examines how films are part of, represent and respond to Latin American historical, political and cultural contexts. The course will focus on prevailing trends and dominant themes in contemporary Latin American cinema. Students will analyze how contemporary Latin American filmmakers engage with societies where economic precarity and inequality are the norm and how they respond aesthetically to the globalization of film spectatorship.
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). Explore Xavier's Career Outcomes Dashboard to view career outcomes by major.
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
- Citizens of the World- Members meet and organize events that showcase the many different cultures represented at Xavier. It's also a great way for international students and American students to 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
Gain International Perspectives While Studying Abroad
What better way to study a language than to travel to the places where it’s the native tongue? As a student in the Spanish major, you'll gain an international perspective on the Spanish language through multiple study abroad opportunities in Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, Peru and more.
Get Certified to Teach High School Spanish
At Xavier, you can major in Spanish while working toward specific requirements for language teacher certification. Our department collaborates closely with the School of Education to provide a program tailored to prepare you for a teaching career.
Experience a Transformative Education
Jesuit universities emphasize personal growth, ethics and global perspectives. With a focus on social justice, you'll participate in service-learning and build a supportive community, enhancing your understanding of the Spanish language and culture in an ethical environment.
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."