Did you know that by 2050 the United States could have more Spanish speakers than any other country?
Spanish continues to gain ground as a widely spoken, national and international language, making the ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken Spanish an invaluable intellectual, social, cultural, and professional resource. Spanish is the official or co-official language of 21 countries, and with more than 400 million speakers worldwide (projected increase to about 530 million by 2050), it is the third most widely spoken language on the planet after Mandarin and English.
What can you do with a Spanish major?
The following are just a few of the many career paths for which proficiency in spoken and written Spanish can be a valuable asset:
- Bilingual and second language education
- Medical, legal, and business professions
- Journalism
- Travel industry
- Translation
- Interpretation
- Non-governmental/nonprofit work
- Library science
- Foreign service
How to Get in
Students may declare at any time in consultation with the Spanish undergraduate advisor.
Students declared in the Spanish major are not eligible to declare the Certificate in Spanish Studies for Business Students.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
| Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
| Language | Complete the third unit of a language other than English. |
| LS Breadth | Complete: • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and • 12 credits of Social Science; and • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science. |
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | Complete at least 108 credits. |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level. |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | Complete at least 120 credits. |
| UW-Madison Experience | Complete both: • 30 credits in residence, overall, and • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit. |
| Quality of Work | • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UW–Madison |
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Culture (complete one): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Latinx Cultures | ||
| Introductory Literature | 3 | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Literatures | ||
| Introductory Linguistics: | 3 | |
| Lying, Swearing, and Breaking the Rules: An Introduction to the Linguistic Study of Spanish | ||
| Advanced Language Practice: | 3 | |
| Advanced Language Practice | ||
| Survey Literature (complete one): | 3 | |
| Survey of Early Hispanic Literature | ||
| Survey of Modern Spanish Literature | ||
| Survey of Spanish American Literature | ||
| Linguistics (complete one): | 3 | |
| Spanish Phonetics | ||
| The Structure of Modern Spanish | ||
| Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics | ||
| Advanced Spanish Phonetics | ||
| Introduction to the Romance Languages | ||
| Spanish in the United States | ||
| Topics in Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Study Abroad in Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Culture (complete one): | 3 | |
| Spanish Civilization | ||
| Spanish American Civilization | ||
| Survey of Latino and Latina Popular Culture | ||
| Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Culture | ||
| Topics in Latinx Culture | ||
| Hispanic Screen Studies | ||
| Study Abroad in Hispanic Cultures | ||
| Latin American Rock Cultures | ||
| Border and Race Studies in Latin America | ||
| Topics in Latin American Performance/Visual Studies | ||
| Race, Religion and Ethnicity in the Age of Empire | ||
| Targeted Language Skills (complete one): | 3 | |
| Spanish for Nursing | ||
| Spanish for Pharmacy | ||
| Topics in Spanish Language Practice | ||
| Advanced Language Practice with Emphasis on Expository Writing | ||
| Advanced Conversation | ||
| Spanish for Business | ||
| Spanish Business Area Studies | ||
| Study Abroad in Spanish Language Practice | ||
| Student Option | 3 | |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
3 additional SPANISH credits numbered 300 or above | ||
| Topics in Spanish American Literature in Translation | ||
| Intensive Portuguese | ||
| Spanish Electives: | 9 | |
9 additional SPANISH credits numbered 400 or above | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Faculty Engagement
At least 6 credits of SPANISH numbered 400 or above must be taken while physically on the UW-Madison campus.
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in SPANISH and all major courses
- 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major, taken in residence1
- 15 credits in SPANISH, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the Spanish undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA for all SPANISH courses numbered 300 and higher
- Complete the following coursework, taken for Honors, with individual grades of B or better:
- 6 credits, SPANISH 327 to SPANISH 680
- 3 credits, SPANISH 300 to SPANISH 680
- A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in SPANISH 681 and SPANISH 682 for at least 6 credits.2
Footnotes
- 1
Courses numbered above SPANISH 311 Advanced Language Practice are considered upper-level in the major.
- 2
In certain circumstances (particularly when the student is an Honors candidate in two or more departments), 6 credits in literature, linguistics, or cultural studies in courses numbered 500-680 may be substituted for the Honors Thesis, upon recommendation by the Spanish undergraduate advisor.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop communication skills in Spanish and integrate these skills to exchange and assess ideas effectively and with level-appropriate accuracy in written and spoken Spanish.
- Demonstrate understanding of linguistic, pragmatic, sociolinguistic, and stylistic features of written and spoken Spanish, understand how they influence meaning, and apply these features in level-appropriate ways in writing and speech.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures across historical epochs, including awareness of the social, cultural, and linguistic diversity that characterizes the Spanish-speaking world.
- Demonstrate familiarity with and apply basic methods of literary and/or linguistic analysis, which for literary analysis includes interpretation of written texts and other forms of artistic/cultural creation, both in and of themselves and in the context of the particular social, cultural, and historical milieus in which they were created.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPANISH 203 | 4 | SPANISH 204 | 4 |
| Communication A | 3 | Quantatative Reasoning A or Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI/MATH/STAT (if BS) | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Electives | 5 | Electives | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPANISH 226 | 3 | SPANISH 223 | 3 |
| SPANISH 225 | 3 | SPANISH 224 | 3 |
| Communication B (Do not take in same semester as SPANISH 311.) | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPANISH 311 (Do not take in same semester as Communication B.) | 3 | Spanish Survey Literature course | 3 |
| Spanish Targeted Language Skills course | 3 | Advanced Spanish Culture course | 3 |
| Quantatative Reasoning B or Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI/MATH/STAT (if BS) | 3 | Biological Science Breadth | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Electives | 6 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Advanced Spanish Linguistics course | 3 | 400 level Spanish Elective | 3 |
| 400 level Spanish Elective | 3 | 400 level Spanish Elective | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
Karen Francis, Undergraduate Advisor
karen.francis@wisc.edu
608-265-3183
1012 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Spanish & Portuguese Undergraduate Advising
Careers
International Directions Advisor
1322 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
https://languages.wisc.edu/beyond/careers
L&S Career Resources
Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities. SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.
In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.
Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- Enroll in a Career Course - a great idea for first- and second-year students:
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit)
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Comm B General Education Requirement)
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- INTER-LS 260 Internship in the Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Activate your Handshake account to apply for jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers recruiting UW-Madison students
- Learn about the impact SuccessWorks has on students' lives
People
Professors Alcalá-Galán, Beilin, Bilbija, Close, De Ferrari, Egea, Goldgel-Carballo, Hernández, Hutchinson, Medina, Podestá, Rao, Sanchez, Sapega, Tejedo-Herrero
Associate Professors Ancos-García, Armstrong, Cerezo Paredes, Pellegrini, Stafford
Lecturer Mercado
Teaching Faculty Álvarez Oquendo, Fondow, Pujol, Rodríguez-Guridi
Editor Ríos Rodríguez
Department Administrator Deavers
Administrative Assistant Weeks
Financial Specialist Deavers
Graduate Program Manager Zimmer
Undergraduate Advisor Francis