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Degree Overview: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Spanish

Majors Overview February 8, 2015

Students in bachelor’s degree programs in Spanish will be provided with an understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures and fluency in the Spanish language. Universities and colleges around the country offer these programs.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree Programs in Spanish

Students enrolled in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree programs in Spanish can expect to become fluent in speaking, listening to, writing, and reading the language. Some extent of immersion study is often involved in programs, wherein using Spanish is expected during participation in classes and during interaction with their peers.

Apart from being taught the language, students are also provided with a broad understanding of Spanish cultures. This background may involve the study of political conditions, arts, food, and history, not only of Spain, but also of Mexico and other parts of Central and South America. A study-abroad program in a Spanish-speaking country is usually included as a component part of the program.

Education Requirements

While admission criteria require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma, they are not required to have learned the Spanish language during their high school tenure. However, prior training in Spanish could prove useful to prospective applicants for admission to these bachelor’s programs.

Coursework

Coursework within a bachelor’s degree program in Spanish combines culture and language studies with oral and written testing, with a significant part in the latter component. Coursework may commonly include:

•Spanish history
•Conversational Spanish
•Latin American history
•Intermediate Spanish language
•Beginning Spanish language
•Latin American culture
•Spanish culture
•Advanced Spanish grammar and writing
•Spanish literature

Career Choices

Spanish graduates can seek entry-level careers in numerous fields that call for fluency in the language; these careers may include government and teaching positions. Multi- or bilingual individuals with expertise in Spanish may choose from career options such as:

•English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher
•International business consultant
•Spanish language teacher
•Spanish interpreter or translator

Job and Wage Outlook

A 46% job growth has been predicted for interpreters and translators over the 2012 – 2022 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In 2012, these professionals banked an average annual wage of $45,430.

Continuing Education Choices

A graduate of a master’s degree program in Spanish can expect to advance his or her knowledge of the language and culture. This is a general degree option among those seeking careers with various employers, such as international business, non-profits, government, and education.

Usually, students interested in university or college teaching careers pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Spanish; books or articles on Spanish political issues or culture are often written by graduates of Spanish doctoral programs.

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