Spanish Major

The Spanish program studies the language, linguistics, literature, culture, and civilization of Spain, Spanish America, and the Spanish-speaking areas of the U.S. Through the UC Denver Spanish program, students at all levels may study abroad in Spain, Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries. Please see a faculty member in Spanish for more information about opportunities to include study abroad as part of your major.

Admission and Grade Requirements

To be admitted to major status in Spanish, students must have an overall GPA of C+ (2.3). The minimum grade acceptable in any Spanish course applied to the major is a C (2.0). The GPA in all Spanish courses applied to the UC Denver Spanish major must be a 2.5. No course taken on a pass/fail basis may be credited toward a major in Spanish. Upon declaring a major in Spanish, each student will be assigned to a faculty advisor, with whom the student should consult at least once per semester thereafter. The student may be called upon to meet with the full-time faculty in Spanish jointly, as well, for assessment and advising. It is especially important that Spanish Language majors have their transcripts reviewed by a departmental advisor before enrolling in their final 30 credit hours at UC Denver. Failure to do so may result in a delay of graduation. Students presenting four years of high school Spanish (Level IV) for admission must see a Spanish advisor before enrolling in courses for the major. Students with Advanced Placement credits from high school should see a Spanish advisor about course equivalencies. The Department of Modern Languages does not accept CLEP credits.

Requirements for the Spanish Major

Students majoring in Spanish for the BA degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of upper division courses (courses numbered 3000 or higher) in Spanish, at least 12 of which must be at the 4000 level.  In addition, they must complete 6 semester hours in courses in related fields outside the curriculum in Spanish.

Course work in related fields may come from the following:

• Latin American Studies (from fields such as History, Geography, Political Science and Art History)
• Hispanic American Studies
• Linguistics (in the fields of Anthropology or English)
• Comparative Literature
• Upper division courses in another foreign language

The minimum grade that can be credited toward the major requirement in related fields is C (2.0)

Outcomes Assessment

Before enrolling in their final semester, seniors demonstrate advanced oral and written proficiency in Spanish language through an Oral Proficiency Interview and a Written Outcomes Assessment Exam. Students must see a departmental advisor to schedule proficiency tests in their language.

Certification to Teach at the secondary level

Students planning to seek certification for teaching Spanish at the secondary level must take SPAN 4690 (Methods of Teaching Modern Languages).  This course does not apply to the 30 hours required for the major.  Also, before enrolling in student teaching in the School of Education, students must demonstrate oral and written proficiency as indicated above in “Outcomes Assessment”.

Residency Requirement

A minimum of 18 semester hours of course work leading to a UC Denver major in Spanish must be taken from UC Denver Spanish faculty located at the downtown Denver campus.  Courses taken at other institutions while a student is enrolled at UC Denver may be applied to the major only with departmental approval before enrollment in those courses.

Required Courses:                                                                            Credit Hours:

1. A minimum of 9 semester hours in literature.

SPAN 3252   Introduction to the Study of Literature in Spanish               3

At least one course on the literature of Spain                                          3

At least one course on the literature of Spanish America                         3

2. A minimum of 9 semester hours in language skills and theory.

SPAN 3060     Hispanic Phonetics: Theory and Practice                            3

At least 6 additional semester hours in language skills and theory.

3. At least 2 courses on the culture and civilization of Spain or

Spanish America, chosen from the following:

SPAN 3070        Bilingual Communities                                                   3

SPAN 3212        Spanish American Culture and Civilization                    3

SPAN 3221        Culture and Civilization of Spain I                                 3

SPAN 3222        Culture and Civilization of Spain II                                3

4. 12 semester hours at the 4000 level