Our Spanish Major | Our Spanish Minor | Declare a Spanish Major or Minor | Study Abroad with Spanish | The Spanish Heritage Speaker Program | What Can I Do with a Spanish Major? | Spanish Major and Minor FAQ
Why Study Spanish?
What Our Students Say (Outstanding Experiences):
What Spanish Degrees do You Offer?
Major in Spanish
We offer three different types of Spanish majors and a Spanish minor. One leads to teaching licensure, while the other two do not.
Major in Spanish (no Licensure): Traditional or Business Concentration
If you’re most interested in learning about the Spanish language and cultures, films, and literatures of places that speak Spanish, the Traditional track in our major is right for you. If you’re hoping to use Spanish in business settings, or work for a company abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, our Business track in the Spanish major is right for you.
BA, Major in Spanish K-12 Education (with Teaching Licensure)
Dr. Suzanne Johnston, Director of Modern Language Education
This major concentration is for you if you either know you want to teach Spanish or are at least thinking about it. Though Spanish majors can pursue almost any career path they choose, being a teacher is truly one of the most rewarding careers imaginable. Teachers do not simply teach; they inspire. The process by which you can be licensed to teach Spanish in grades K-12 in the state of Arkansas is rigorous but worthwhile.
Should you have any questions or want to talk through this major in more depth, contact the Director of Modern Languages Education, Dr. Suzanne Johnston or stop by her office in Irby 405.
This concentration requires 37 credit hours. It also requires a 28-hour minor in Teaching and Learning. Candidates for teaching licensure may earn no lower than a C in any Spanish or professional education course. Candidates for teaching licensure must apply for admission to the teacher education program; you can see what that entails here.
Minor in Spanish
Our Spanish minor also complements any major, or even works well as a second minor! It’s 18 hours (6 courses) starting at the 2310 level and will ensure you have working proficiency and a good introduction to the cultures of places that speak Spanish. A lot of Spanish Minors attend our most popular study abroad program in Costa Rica. After that program, you’re 2/3 of the way done with a Spanish minor!
See the Spanish Minor Checksheet →
Declaring A Major or Minor
Not yet a Spanish major or minor, but want to declare one? Email Mrs. Deanne Murphey (dmurphey@uca.edu). She will help ensure the major or minor gets added and help you get connected to the right academic advisor to ensure you make degree progress!
Declare a Spanish Major or Minor Now!
Learn Spanish Abroad!
Spanish students in Costa Rica 2016
Spanish students in Costa Rica 2019
The food in Spain
Spanish students in Spain 2018
The Office of Education Abroad and Faculty Advisors in the School of Language and Literature help our language students work together to help you find the best study abroad program for your needs and interests. At UCA, you don’t need to have any language proficiency to study abroad for a summer or full semester, but studying in a place whose language you’re learning helps you gain proficiency faster and explore the culture more deeply.
You can study abroad for a summer for an intensive language-immersion program or for a semester.
- Summer in Costa Rica (summer)
- Léon, Spain (summer or semester)
- Mexico (semester)
- Ecuador (semester)
Our Spanish Heritage Speaker Program
If you grew up speaking Spanish at home, you might qualify for a program that gives you free UCA credit for your existing Spanish proficiency. Hear how this program benefitted Ms. Maria Negrete Padron.
Ready to see if you qualify? Take our Spanish placement test to get started.
What Can I Do with a Spanish Major?
Anything and everything!
A Spanish major not only prepares you to speak, read, write, and understand spoken Spanish from a plurality of Spanish-speaking countries, but it also teaches you important cultural skills valued in the 21st-century workplace. You will learn to: draw from cross-cultural sources and ideas, notice patterns and infer meaning, navigate ambiguity, distill complex information, propose persuasive ideas, and tailor messages to people of different backgrounds.
But what does that really mean?
Our alums work in communication, technology, business, public service, social work, education, law, and health fields. Featured careers include teachers of all kinds, entrepreneurs, business owners, diplomats, psychologists, audiologists, NGO founders; those who open coffee shops and those who go on to get a PhD.
Whatever your interests, Spanish opens career doors.