Spanish, Bachelor of Arts

The Spanish Major is designed to be flexible, creative, and meet a host of different goals, allowing students to develop the advanced linguistic skills and forms of cultural competence so frequently sought in today’s globally competitive and interconnected world. Students will choose between two concentrations. Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation - equips students with the necessary knowledge, tools and abilities to become competent interpreters and translators. Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures - is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study of the varied cultural and literary histories of the Spanish speaking world. Graduates will be prepared for a number of jobs in government, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector, as well as entry into graduate and professional schools.

Learning Outcomes. Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced level competency in all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in accordance with criteria  developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) while developing skills in critical and analytical thinking as well as sharpening research skills through discussion and analysis of different kind of texts, films, documents, and linguistic data.
• Develop professional standards to give presentations in Spanish on a variety of cultural topics including literature, popular culture and films, or interpret speech and translate documents from one language to another, according to their interests.
• Demonstrate intercultural competency through their contact and engagement with the cultures, literatures, history and politics of the diverse places where Spanish is spoken: the Americas- North, Central, and South―the Caribbean, and Europe.
• Gain knowledge of the legal systems of the Spanish–speaking world.
• Graduate with extraordinary international opportunities, whether they elect to undertake further specialized study in Hispanic literatures and cultures, or decide instead to translate and interpret from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Their knowledge of Hispanic cultures will enhance their career opportunities in publishing and journalism, public service, international law and business, social services, diplomacy.
• Expand their career possibilities in many professional fields.

Coordinators and Advisors. Concentration A. (Translation & Interpretation): Professor Aida Martinez-Gomez, (212.621.3755, amartinez-gomez@jjay.cuny.edu); Concentration B. (Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Culture): Professor Maria Julia Rossi, (212.237.8716, mrossi@jjay.cuny.edu), Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Credits required. 36 credits (or more depending on placement)

Prerequisites. The Spanish major requires successful completion of the beginning Spanish sequence (SPA 101-SPA 102 OR SPA 111-SPA 112) or placement test results indicating an equivalent level of Spanish language comprehension. The placement exam is available in the Modern Language Lab in room 7.65.00 NB. These courses satisfy the requirements of the General Education program in the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues; and in the College Option: Communications areas.

Total Credit Hours: 36

***Notes:

• A semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking university, approved by the student's major advisor and department chair, may substitute for up to fifteen (15) credit hours toward the major.
• All courses used for the major must be taught primarily in the Spanish language except for the POR 201 and FRE 201 electives.