Spanish Studies Major

Program
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts

Chairperson: Veronika Ryjik, Ph.D.
Office Location: 303D Saint Augustine Center
Telephone: (610) 519-7794
Website

About

With nearly 600 million speakers across five continents, Spanish is more than a tool for personal and cultural enrichment—it is an essential asset in today’s global economy. As one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, it unlocks countless professional and personal opportunities across different fields and regions. The Spanish major will help you develop linguistic proficiency and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Our curriculum fosters intellectual curiosity and critical thinking by exploring historical movements, sociopolitical systems, linguistic diversity, and cultural production across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We emphasize real-world application through study abroad experiences in Spain and Latin America, where students engage directly with the cultures they are learning about. We also offer service-learning opportunities that bridge classroom knowledge with community engagement, allowing students to participate in local initiatives that support Spanish-speaking communities. These experiences develop cross-cultural competence and social responsibility while applying language skills in practical settings.

PRIMARY MAJOR (122 credits)

Required Major Courses (30 credits)

The Spanish major provides students with a rigorous academic foundation that combines language proficiency with cultural literacy. Students complete 30 credits of coursework designed to enhance their oral and written communication in Spanish, as well as their ability to interpret diverse cultural and linguistic phenomena. Our small-size classes provide students with personalized attention and guidance from their professors, creating an engaging interactive environment that enhances the learning experience and language proficiency. By offering interdisciplinary courses and opportunities to combine the Spanish major with fields such as business, healthcare, and the social sciences, we prepare our students to excel in a variety of careers that value multilingual and multicultural expertise.

Program Notes:

  • Students are required to take ten Spanish courses (30 credits) above the Intermediate level (1122), including the mandatory courses listed below.
    • SPA 1130 or 1131, and 1132 are prerequisites for many of the courses required for the major (for those students who do not place above them) and, if taken, will count towards the Major.
  • One approved course taught in English with SPA attribute may be accepted for the major.
  • Students may obtain up to 6 credits through the Villanova summer program in Cádiz (Spain) or the Spanish Language and Indigenous Sustainability program in Mérida (Yucatán, Mexico).
Course
Title
Credits
3
3
21
Sub-Total Credits
30

Core Curriculum Requirements (44 credits)

Course
Title
Credits
3
8
3
3
6
3
3
Sub-Total Credits
44

Free Elective Requirement (48 credits)

Students with a Spanish Studies primary major have forty-eight (48) required free elective credits. 

Degree Credit Summary

  • Major Credits: 30 credits
  • Core Credits: 44 credits
  • Free Electives Credits: 48 credits
  • Total Required Credits: 122 Credits

Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area. 

SECONDARY MAJOR

Students who declare Spanish Studies as a secondary major must complete the Required Major Courses to achieve this major. Students are able to count any eligible course taken in their primary major, the core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives toward these requirements.