BA in Spanish
Broadly focused on the liberal arts, the major in Spanish encompasses courses in language, literature, linguistics, culture, the arts, and related fields. It features in-depth engagement with the language, literatures, and cultures of Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Spanish linguistics courses examine the structure of the language, its historical development, and variations in usage. Because Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States, the study of US Spanish and Latin American literature and culture are integral parts of the program. Electives within the major enable students to tailor it to their individual interests and career goals in consultation with a faculty advisor. All students are strongly encouraged to incorporate study abroad in Spain or Spanish America in their course of study. The major develops the skills and knowledge needed for a wide spectrum of careers in education, business, academics, the arts, journalism, and communications.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a BA in Spanish will demonstrate:
Advanced knowledge of major themes in Hispanic literature and culture in their historical contexts and familiarity with major literary genres.
Knowledge of events, periods, and people who have shaped the history of the Spanish-speaking world.
Advanced proficiency and accuracy in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding the Spanish language as used in different areas of the Spanish-speaking world, including the US, Spanish America, and Spain.
Knowledge of structural and other aspects of Spanish, and accurate and fluent use of advanced Spanish (tested by a variety of means) in a range of academic and everyday situations.
Ability to evaluate arguments about literary and cultural texts and topics.
Ability to live, study, and work in Spanish-speaking environments in the US and abroad (for example, through BU's Study Abroad programs).
Skills needed for advanced study and for careers in a variety of fields: effective and accurate oral and written communication; close reading and analysis; writing and research skills appropriate for entry-level professional use and/or graduate study, including the ability to formulate a well-organized, clear, and persuasive argument; familiarity with traditional cultural norms and expectations of the Spanish-speaking world.
Requirements
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University's general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Spanish will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation, as well as some requirements in Communication, Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses.
Eleven 4-unit courses (all completed with a grade of C or higher) are required for the major, as detailed below.
Students entering with advanced standing in Spanish studies must complete a minimum of six courses for their Spanish major at Boston University. Students participating in the Boston University Madrid Study Abroad program must complete a minimum of five major courses on the Boston campus. Two of these five (a 300-level language course and CAS LS 350) are to be completed before going abroad. Three courses must be taken at the 400–500 level on students' return from Madrid.
Required Courses
21 January 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
725 Commonwealth Avenue,
BOSTON,
Massachusetts,
02215, United States
Apply as a first-year student if you are currently in your last year of high school, have completed high school, are a GED recipient, or have completed a high school equivalency exam. If you are currently in high school and are part of a dual enrollment program, you should also apply as a first-year student.
English Proficiency Testing Results:
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a composite score of at least 90-100 and minimum scores of 20 in each section.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A total/overall score of 7 or higher
Duolingo English Test (DET): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a total score of at least 125-135.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.