Spanish
What courses should I take in my first year to see if this is the right major for me?
If you are a native or heritage Spanish speaker, or have enough experience with Spanish to get permission from our department, we highly recommend that you take the First-Year Intensive class of SPAN 139. This is a First Year Intensive Seminar that allows you to dive into the culture and the diverse lines of research, teaching and community service associated with the major.
If you are hoping to pursue the Spanish major but are not in the SPAN 139 class, we highly recommend that you take the Spanish level class you are placed in based upon your years of experience (ranging from SPAN 105-SPAN 132). You can also take CMLT 130 starting in your first year as this is also a required class but is not dependent on previous Spanish experience.
Are there any courses I am required or strongly encouraged to take in my first semester if I know I want to declare this major? Do any AP credits count for these requirements?
You are encouraged to take the class that best matches your previous Spanish experience to get a jump start on your Spanish major. Please talk to your academic advisor when registering for classes to determine which class is the best fit for you.
You can get credit for SPAN 131 if you got a 4 or 5 on the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam.
What is the latest semester that I can start this major and still graduate in four years?
It depends upon your level of experience with Spanish. As the major requires nine – eleven courses to be completed, you could complete the major in two years if you have the pre-requisite experience. However, if you have less previous Spanish experience, we do recommend that you start this major in your sophomore year at the latest. This will also be helpful as our major students are required to either Study Abroad or complete an internship, both of which need additional time to set up.
I am interested in many different subjects. What other majors, minors, or concentrations go well with this major?
This is a very flexible major that goes well with many diverse majors: Biology, Psychology, Geography, Computer Science, etc.
What else do you want incoming first year students to know about this major?
We work not only to teach the language, but to expand intercultural communication. We welcome heritage speakers who would like to work on content courses and at a higher level. Also, if students are not heritage speakers but would like to develop stronger skills, we also have a curriculum for them.
If I want to declare this as a major, who should I talk to and where do I go?
You can contact the Department Chair of the Language, Literature, and Culture Department, Professor Eduard Arriaga-Arango. You can also learn more by visiting our website here.
Summer Point of Contact:
Professor Eduard Arriaga-Arango (Department Chair) – earriaga@clarku.edu
Winifred Spillers (Administrative Assistant) – wspillers@clarku.edu
Professor Dolores Juan Moreno (Spanish Program Coordinator) – djuanmoreno@clarku.edu
