The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Spanish requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 36 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. A maximum of 15 s.h. of approved transfer credit may be counted toward the major. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

All courses taken for the Spanish major must be numbered SPAN:2000 or above. Advanced Placement Program (AP) credit is considered to be equivalent to a Spanish course at the 2000 level. Students may count 3 s.h. in AP Spanish Language and Culture or Literature and Culture exams with a score of a 4 or higher as elective credit toward the major. Students with previous knowledge of Spanish language, should take the World Languages Placement Test (WLPT) to determine the best level for your first enrollment in a language course.

Listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, visit the UI General Catalog.

Study Abroad

The department participates in study abroad programs in Spain and Latin America; most of these programs offer both summer and semester or yearlong programs. The programs in Spain include the Board of Regents Hispanic Institute program in Valladolid (summer only); Cultures of Spain (Madrid, summer only), USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) programs in Alicante, Bilbao, Madrid, and San Sebastián; and CIEE programs in Alcalá de Henares, Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, and Seville.

The programs in Latin America include USAC programs in Chile (Santiago) and Costa Rica (Heredia, Puntarenas, and San Ramón); CIEE programs in Argentina (Buenos Aires), Chile (Santiago and Valparaíso), Dominican Republic (Santiago), and Peru (Lima). They also include the CIC Latin America Health, Nutrition, and Environmental Issues Program in Santiago, Dominican Republic. For information about other international study programs in Spanish, contact International Programs Study Abroad.

Participation in a number of different programs allows the department to offer study abroad opportunities that take into account a variety of student interests and needs. Credit earned in these or other study abroad programs may be applied toward the requirements for the Spanish major. The amount of credit that may be accepted varies according to the program.

Interested students should contact the department's study abroad advisor. Credit earned in study abroad programs other than those listed above counts as transfer credit and is subject to the 15 s.h. maximum allowed for the major.

Teacher Licensure

Students interested in teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education.

To qualify for licensure in secondary teaching, students in the TEP complete a degree in education as well as a related College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. See Teacher Education Program Application and Admission on the College of Education website for details on requirements and deadlines for applying to the College of Education and about TEP choices of majors leading to licensure.