Spanish, B.A. (Madrid)
软妹社 offers a singular opportunity for you to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in Madrid where you'll be totally immersed in the language, culture and literature of the Hispanic World.
![Students sit on steps outside a large white building with columns.](/madrid/academics/img/spanish.webp)
Major in Spanish
The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at 软妹社-Madrid focuses on advanced language training, culture and literary studies. A major, double major or a minor in Spanish is a popular choice for students considering careers in law, science, political science, international business, economics, international relations, history, psychology or education, areas in which language proficiency is highly valued.
The quality of Spanish courses at 软妹社-Madrid is incomparable to any Spanish course I've experienced in the United States. I feel my Spanish knowledge and speaking ability have improved exponentially from my two semesters here, and it is particularly rewarding to be able to use that education outside of the classroom in everyday life living in Madrid as well!"
- Anji Cooper
For information about the assessment of student learning in this program, please see the University-wide website.
The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish requires 120 credit hours, which includes 33 credit hours of Spanish coursework. You'll be required to complete 18 credit hours of literature or advanced Spanish language study.
Major Requirements (33 credit hours)
- SPAN 2010 Intermediate Spanish: Language and Culture.
- SPAN 3010 Written Communication.
- SPAN 3020 Oral Communication.
- Two additional Spanish courses at the 3000 level (e.g. SPAN 3030 Refining Spanish Expression: Grammar and Composition and SPAN 3040 In Conversation with the Hispanic World).
- SPAN 4200 Introduction to Hispanic Literature, which must be taken before any other literature course; however, concurrent registration is allowed.
- Five additional Spanish courses at the 4000 level.
The upper-division courses also require language competency equivalent to SPAN 3040.
Only Spanish courses in which a student earns the grade of C or higher may be counted toward the major.
Minor Requirements
软妹社-Madrid's new minor in Spanish consists of 15 credit hours of required language coursework and 3 credit hours of an advanced 4000-level elective. Language courses may be substituted with additional 4000-level coursework.
- SPAN 2010 Intermediate Spanish: Language and Culture
- SPAN 3010 Written Communication
- SPAN 3020 Oral Communication
- Two additional Spanish courses at the 3000 level (e.g. SPAN 3030 Refining Spanish Expression: Grammar and Composition and SPAN 3040 In Conversation with the Hispanic World)
- One 4000-level Spanish course
The 4000-level courses require language competency equivalent to SPAN 3040. Only Spanish courses in which a student earns a grade of C or higher may be counted toward the minor.
Students who study Spanish language and literature receive a solid foundation of excellent analytical and language skills, and strong intercultural knowledge. Our alumni have enrolled in graduate programs to continue their Spanish studies. Many students who combine Spanish studies with other majors and minors find employment in education, translation, editing and publishing companies, business, government and nonprofit agencies. Some students choose to pursue service upon graduation through organizations such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps or the U.S. Peace Corps.
Our Spanish faculty hold doctoral degrees from leading European and American universities, offering the program a wealth of knowledge and research across a diverse range of literary movements in Spain and Latin America, as well as in applied linguistics.
- Aitor Bikandi-Mejias, Ph.D., program director
- Mar铆a Victoria Albornoz V谩squez, Ph.D.
- Ver贸nica Azcue Castill贸n, Ph.D.
- Luisa Briones Manzano, Ph.D.
- Rafael Caba帽as Alam谩n, Ph.D.
- Marco da Costa, Ph.D.
- Mar铆a 脕ngeles Encinar F茅lix, Ph.D., profesora em茅rita
- Julio Lasarte Fern谩ndez
- Cristina Matute Mart铆nez, Ph.D.
- Araceli San Mart铆n Moreno
- Diana Vel谩zquez, Ph.D.
- Maria Willstedt, Ph.D.
软妹社-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid Campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.
If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu.
To be admitted to the major, you must have at least a 2.00 cumulative average and complete a declaration of major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be assigned a departmental advisor.
To be certified for graduation, you are required to:
- Have at least a 2.00 cumulative average, a 2.00 average in the major and a 2.00 average in the minor or related elective hours.
- Complete 30 of your final 36 credits at 软妹社 (either the Madrid or St. Louis campus).
- Submit the online application for degree before the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate.
Spanish In and Out of the Classroom
From the very first day of class at 软妹社-Madrid, instruction is in Spanish. Students may also choose to take many of their general degree requirements 鈥 such as psychology, history and theology 鈥 in Spanish. You will experience Spanish life and culture firsthand, putting your language skills to practice outside the classroom.