Program at a glance
How much does it cost?聽
Learn more about how to afford a degree from the 夜色视频.
How can I learn more?
and sign-up to connect with a recruiter.
How do I apply?
Open to all undergraduate students. Learn how to apply to the 夜色视频.
What will I learn in a Spanish degree program?
The Spanish major offered through the Department of World Languages and Literatures within the College of Liberal Arts is an invaluable option to further undergraduate education with rich cultural experiences. The B.A. in Spanish provides students with a number of Spanish language skills including linguistic understanding, critical thinking skills, reading, writing and listening proficiency. It also gives students the opportunity to advance their Spanish language skills in composition, culture and literature, as well as advanced grammar, conversation and Spanish film knowledge.
Students who plan to enter a career using their Spanish language skills may choose to specialize in Spanish through the professions. Students will develop bilingual and bicultural competentency through several course offerings. Students will also gain extensive practice in real-life settings that address the specialized needs of professionals – medical/nursing, legal, business – and prepare students for successful careers in which Spanish-English bilingualism is a key asset.
Why study Spanish at the 夜色视频?
A language degree opens up numerous career opportunities in a variety of fields where language skills and culture are valued. In addition to broadening your life experiences and your view of the world, studying another language has been shown to improve your general communication skills, your cognitive abilities and your critical thinking. Spanish study on your transcript gives you an edge in any career choice. Among other things, a bachelor's degree in Spanish offers a gateway to countries that trade with the United States. To compete in a global marketplace and to engage an increasingly diverse U.S. population, major industries, multinational corporations and many branches of government seek employees who speak more than just English. Even small local businesses, without global reach, know that applicants with foreign language skills are better qualified than those without them.
Photo caption: Ms. Grimmer (OSLCE) and Ms. Leonard (WLL), Service Learning in Spanish, SPAN 400, course project.
Areas of emphasis in the Spanish program
In this specialization, you will focus on theoretical and applied linguistics and learn the science of language. Why study Hispanic linguistics?
- To learn how Spanish works: its structure and sounds
- To develop analytical skills and apply them to real world issues
- To explore different dialects and understand how they change over time
- To learn about the role of Spanish in the U.S. society
- To investigate issues of Spanish-English bilingualism in Northern Nevada and across the nation
A B.A. in Hispanic linguistics prepares you for language teaching, health care professions, translation and interpretation, speech and hearing sciences, international relations, and graduate studies in several areas, including; computer sciences, computational linguistics, bilingual education and several subfields in linguistics.
Students looking to enhance their cultural understanding of the second most widely spoken language in the United States should consider the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Literature and Culture Specialization at the 夜色视频.
This B.A. track is designed for students who wish to further their communication skills and cultural knowledge to perform language services in professional settings where Spanish is used. This track hones Spanish communication skills and cultural knowledge so that you may serve the needs of the U.S.-Latino community in professional settings (i.e., education, social work, health care, criminology, journalism, service agencies, etc.) through translation and interpretation. The combination of professionally focused courses and practical experience in this program will enhance students' professional preparation for employment in positions that require advanced proficiency in Spanish and an in-depth understanding of U.S.-Latino culture.
The Spanish Bachelor of Arts with concentration in media aims to serve students who plan to enter a career using their Spanish language skills. It offers students who plan to enter the field of media with a foundational background in Spanish language, linguistics and culture. It offers courses that focus on the linguistic structures of English and Spanish, including U.S. Spanish, and on the development of a bilingual and bicultural competence. Several courses offer students extensive practice in real-life settings that address the specialized needs of professionals – journalism – and prepare students for successful careers in which Spanish-English bilingualism is a key asset.
Students who complete this dual major program will earn two majors: the Bachelor of Arts with majors in journalism (bilingual media) and Spanish (media studies). This program provides students with a foundational background in Spanish linguistics, literature and culture, and the skills and knowledge necessary to practice bilingual journalism or strategic communications. Students who successfully complete the program are prepared to pursue careers as bilingual professionals in news, public relations or advertising, graduate school, or a career using media skills and/or Spanish language.
Students who complete this dual degree program will earn two degrees: the Bachelor of Arts in Education/Secondary Education and the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. This program provides students with a foundational background in Spanish linguistics, literature and culture, and includes all coursework required to apply for a license to teach Spanish in Nevada. Students who successfully complete the program are prepared to pursue secondary school teaching, graduate school, or an immediate career using Spanish.
The Department of World Languages and Literatures at the 夜色视频 also offers four Spanish minors with specializations in translation/professions, linguistics, literatures and media studies. Students who graduate with a minor in Spanish have a diverse array of opportunities in many different fields, especially those with an international focus, including further specialized studies in literature, linguistics and culture, or careers in other fields such as translation, interpretation, education, public service, business, law, environmental policies, social services, medicine, or the arts.
- International Business B.S.: The international business major provides an interdisciplinary program of study which combines international and foreign language studies with a business degree. This major prepares students to be effective in international business transactions. With this degree you can choose the Spanish track or Latin American track.
- Latin American Studies, Minor: Offered through the international affairs program in political science. The minor includes the study of Spanish beyond the minimum college requirement and integrates courses delving into the region, taught through six cooperating departments and programs.
- Latinx Studies, Minor: Offered through the Department of Gender, Race, Identity. It is focused on the peoples, cultures, knowledges and communities of Latin American descent in the United States. The minor emphasizes the diverse cultural and historical contributions of those communities and examines the variety of Latinx cultures that exist both in the United States and transnationally.
Take the next step
Careers with a degree in Spanish
A Spanish major will open up more career options and make you more competitive on the job market. The Department of World Languages and Literatures helps prepare students for internships in organizations such as these:
- U.S. State Department
- Government agencies (e.g., National Security Agency)
- Embassy (U.S. & foreign)
- Museums (e.g., Smithsonian Institutions)
- Educational Programs (e.g., Summerbridge)
- Consulting firms (e.g., Social Technologies)
- Media (e.g., ABC Nightline, Dateline NBC)
In addition to going into teaching after graduation, the following areas are looking for leaders with a foreign language proficiency:
- Translation/interpretation
- Language analysis
- Linguistics
- Diplomacy
- Civil service
- Foreign service
- Immigration/naturalization
- Customs
- Intelligence
- Security and protection
- Law enforcement
- Journalism/broadcasting
- Public NGOs (Amnesty International, District Attorney, World Bank, Google, Yahoo)
- Language service providers
You can afford the 夜色视频
76% of students receive financial aid
Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.
54% of all students graduate with no debt
That's right. More than half of our students leave the 夜色视频 with no student debt.
Related programs
Life's a journey. Honors makes it meaningful.
At the 夜色视频 Honors College, our students maximize their unique gifts and passions through a series of personalized experiences that deepen their capacity for transformative societal impact.
Visit the Honors College