Majors & Minors
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Hispanic Studies
The BA with a major in Spanish and Hispanic Studies consists of 33 credit hours.
Degree Requirements
(Beginning Fall 2023)
| The BA with a major in Spanish & Hispanic Studies consists of 33 credit hours including an initial 6 semester hours in Intermediate Spanish courses and an additional 27 semester hours, in consultation with a faculty adviser in the Department of Spanish & Hispanic Studies, in one of the following three tracks: Track One: Spanish: Track two: Spanish for the Professions; Track Three: Latin American Studies. |
Both of the following1 (2):
- SPAN 20103 Intermediate Spanish 1 (or SPAN 20113 Intensive Intermediate Spanish 1)
- SPAN 20203 Intermediate Spanish 2 (or SPAN 20213 Intensive Intermediate Spanish 2)
1 No credit given to native speakers for 20000-level Spanish; heritage speakers may only receive credit with permission of the department chair. A native speaker is considered to be someone who completed his or her primary and secondary education in a Spanish-speaking country. A heritage speaker is someone who was primarily educated in U.S. schools but who speaks Spanish in the home and with friends and co-workers. Native speakers and heritage speakers not eligible to take these courses must take additional upper-level Spanish electives instead unless these credits are awarded as transfer credit or Advanced Placement Credit.
Spanish explores the cultural and literary production of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America while developing students’ linguistics knowledge and cultivating their critical perspectives as responsible global citizens.
Check out the link for the following Checklist:
Two of the following (2):
- SPAN 30503 Advanced Spanish: Personal to Public
- SPAN 30603 Advanced Spanish: From Local to Global
- SPAN 31073 Spanish for: Heritage Speakers
One of the following (1):
- SPAN 32003 Culture of Spain
- SPAN 32103 Culture of Latin America
- SPAN 32203 Popular Cultures of Spanish-Speaking Countries
- SPAN 33103 Culture of Brazil
Also Required (1):
- SPAN 30803 Introduction to Literature
Four (4) Upper-level Spanish electives (12 credit hours), one of which must be a 40000-level literature course or a 40000-level Cultural Studies Course
- PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers may be taken to fulfill one of the electives.
- SPAN 43103 Senior Honors Thesis may be used as an elective, but honors students must still take a 40000-level literature course or a 40000-level Cultural Studies course.
- One SPAN-designed course taught in English and taken on the TCU Campus may be applied towards the major requirements.
Also Required (1):
- SPAN 43203 Senior Seminar
Spanish for the Professions integrates students’ professional knowledge with their target language skills to foster their intercultural communication and leadership abilities as responsible global citizens.
Check out the link for the following Checklists:
Spanish Major Business Track Checklist
Spanish Major Health Track Checklist
Two of the following (2):
- SPAN 30503 Advanced Spanish: Personal to Public
- SPAN 30603 Advanced Spanish: Local to Global
- SPAN 31703 Spanish for: Heritage Speakers
Also Required (1):
- SPAN 30803 Introduction to Literature
One of the following (1):
- SPAN 32003 Culture of Spain
- SPAN 32103 Culture of Latin America
- SPAN 32203 Popular Cultures of Spanish-Speaking Countries
- SPAN 33103 Culture of Brazil
One of the following (1):
- SPAN 31503 Spanish for Health Professions I
- SPAN 31603 Spanish for Business Professions I
One of the following (1):
- SPAN 42503 Spanish for the Health Professions 2
- SPAN 42603 Spanish for the Health Professions 2
Two (2) Upper-level Spanish Electives (6 credit hours), one of which must be 40000-level literature course of a 40000-level Cultural Studies course
- PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers may be taken to fulfill one of the electives.
- SPAN 43103 Senior Honors Thesis may be used as an elective, but honors students must still take a 40000-level literature course or a 40000-level Cultural Studies Course.
- On SPAN-designated course taught in English and taken on the TCU Campus may be applied towards the major requirements.
Also Required:
- SPAN 43203 Senior Seminar
Latin American Studies is a language-based, multidisciplinary program that examines the societies of the region through diverse thematic and methodological approaches. Students will gain a broad understanding of Latin America, while pursuing the study of foreign language.
Also Required (2):
- PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
- PORT 30503 Advanced Brazilian Portuguese
One of the following (1):
- SPAN 30503 Advanced Spanish: Personal to Public
- SPAN 30603 Advanced Spanish: From Local to Global
- SPAN 31703 Spanish for: Heritage Speakers
Two of the following (2):
- SPAN 32003 Culture of Spain
- SPAN 32103 Culture of Latin America
- SPAN 32203 Popular Cultures of Spanish Speaking Countries
- SPAN 33103 Culture of Brazil
- SPAN 30803 Introduction to Literature
- SPAN 32403 Cinema of Latin America
One (1)Upper-level elective (3 credit hours) in Spanish (SPAN)
Three (3) upper-level electives (9 credit hours) from courses taught outside the Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies the course list below.
Course List
| ANTH | 30333 | Mexican American Culture | 3 |
| ANTH | 30433 | Mexican-American Floklore: Traditions of La Raza | 3 |
| ANTH | 30673 | Anthropology and Religion | 3 |
| ANTH | 30703 | Archaeology of Mexico and Peru | 3 |
| ANTH | 30723 | Ethnology of Selected Areas | 3 |
| ARHI | 30143 | Inka and Their Predecessors: Ancient South American Art | 3 |
| ARHI | 30153 | The Aztec, Maya, Olmec | 3 |
| ARHI | 30163 | Maya Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ECON | 30433 | Development Studies | 3 |
| ECON | 30463 | Latin American Economics | 3 |
| ECON | 30703 | Contemporary Latinx Literature | 3 |
| ENGL | 30713 | Mexican American Culture | 3 |
| GEOG | 30503 | Topics in Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG | 30523 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| GEOG | 40010 | Field Studies in Geography | 1-6 |
| HIST | 30903 | Indigenous Movements in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST | 30913 | History of Central America | 3 |
| HIST | 30923 | The United Stated and Latin America | 3 |
| HIST | 30933 | Revolution in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST | 30943 | The Spanish Borderlands | 3 |
| HIST | 30953 | History of Argentina and Chile | 3 |
| HIST | 30963 | History of Brazil | 3 |
| HIST | 30973 | Biography in Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST | 30983 | Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas: The Indians of Middle and South America | 3 |
| HIST | 30993 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST | 40713 | Indians of the Greter Southwest | 3 |
| HIST | 40743 | History of Texas | 3 |
| HIST | 41903 | History of Cuba | 3 |
| HIST | 41913 | Afro-Latin America | 3 |
| NURS | 30063 | Global Perspectives in Health | 3 |
| POSC | 31543 | The Chicano/a Movement, Latino/a Politics, and Immigration Rights | 3 |
| POSC | 35003 | Topics in Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POSC | 35803 | Latin America: The Challenge of Democratic Consolidation | 3 |
| RELI | 30463 | Being Latina/o and Religious in the U.S. | 3 |
| RELI | 30493 | Latina/o Religion, Law and Identity | 3 |
| RELI | 30843 | Latina Feminist Religious Thought | 3 |
| RELI | 30673 | Anthropology and Religion | 3 |
The following courses may count toward the Latin American Studies track when the topic of the course focuses on Latin America. Please see your advisor to verify your course selection.
Native speakers and heritage speakers
No credit given to native speakers for 20000-level Spanish; heritage speakers may only receive credit with permission of the department chair. A native speaker is considered to be someone who completed his or her primary or secondary education in a Spanish- speaking country. A heritage speaker is someone who was primarily educated in U.S. schools but who speaks Spanish in the home and with friends and co-workers. Native speakers and heritage speakers not eligible to take these courses must take additional upper-level Spanish electives instead unless these credits are awarded as transfer credit or Advanced Placement Credit.
Native speakers will not receive credit for SPAN 30503, SPAN 30603, and SPAN 31703 unless special permission is granted by department chair. Heritage speakers are encouraged to take SPAN 31703. Non-heritage speakers should not take SPAN 31703.
Native speakers and heritage speakers not eligible to take these courses must take additional upper-level Spanish electives instead.
Policy on Grades
Courses taken Pass/No-Credit and courses in which the student earns below a "C-" will not count toward the major.
Spanish and Hispanic Studies Minor Programs
Degree Requirements
The Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies offers three minor programs: the Spanish and Hispanic Studies minor, the Spanish for Health Professions (SHP) minor, and the Spanish for Business Professions (SBP) minor. Students must choose one of the three, and none is available to those whose major is Spanish and Hispanic Studies. However, Latin American Studies (LAST) majors may choose one of these three minors.
No credit given to native speakers for 20000-level Spanish; heritage speakers may only receive credit with permission of the department chair. A native speaker is considered to be someone who completed his or her primary and secondary education in a Spanish-speaking country. A heritage speaker is someone who was primarily educated in U.S. schools but who speaks Spanish in the home and with friends and co-workers. Native speakers and heritage speakers not eligible to take these courses must take additional upper-level Spanish electives instead unless these credits are awarded as transfer credit or Advanced Placement Credit.
Native speakers will not receive credit for SPAN 30503, 30603, and 31703 unless special permission is granted by department chair.
Heritage speakers are encouraged to take SPAN 31703. Non-heritage speakers should not take SPAN 31703.
Policy on Grades
Courses taken Pass/No-Credit and courses in which the student earns below a "C-" will not count toward the minor.
The Spanish minor consists of 21 credits at the 20103 level or above.
Any course taught in Spanish at the 30000 or 40000 level may be taken as an elective.
No course taught in English may be taken to fulfill the minor requirements.
PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers may be taken to fulfill one of the electives.
The minor in Spanish for the Health Professions consists of 21 credits at the 20103 level and above. Two courses are required:
- SPAN 31503: Spanish for Health Professions I
- SPAN 42503: Spanish for the Health Professions II
Any course taught in Spanish at the 30000 or 40000 level may be taken as an elective.
No course taught in English may be taken to fulfill the minor requirement.
PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers may be taken to fulfill one of the electives.
The minor in Spanish for Business Professions (SBP) is designed to provide students the ability to communicate in Spanish in the area of business. The minor engages the student with the necessary mechanics of the language and propels him or her into two courses designed especially for students in the business professions. Options are available for off-campus service learning and study abroad. Students looking to pursue business careers with ties to Latin America also are encouraged to study Portuguese.
The SBP minor consists of 21 credits at the 20103 level and above. The following courses are required:
- SPAN 31603: Spanish for Business Professions I
- SPAN 42603: Spanish for Business Professions II
Any course taught in Spanish at the 30000 or 40000 level may be taken as an elective.
No course taught in English may be taken to fulfill the minor requirement.
PORT 20503 Portuguese for Spanish Speakers may be taken to fulfill one of the electives.