6 Unique Spanish Language Programs at Universities in the United States
The United States has long been known for being a monolingual country whose inhabitants only speak one language, yet in the country, there are more than 43 million native Spanish speakers and about 12-15 million who have learned or are learning Spanish.
It’s become clear in the last few decades that people in the United States are more open to learning a second language—most of whom go for Spanish.
To accommodate this need, different universities throughout the country are offering attractive language immersion courses.
(For additional guidance, this highest-rated college admissions consulting aims to solve your doubts, help guide tough decisions, and inform you about courses and programs that interest you.)
If you’re ready to study Spanish at university, you want to know which courses are the best and the most effective. To help you in your search, we’ve rounded up a list of the best Spanish language courses offered by different colleges in the USA.
1. Spanish at Harvard University
Harvard is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the Boston area. It’s one of the world’s best universities, and, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and real-life reviews, its Spanish as a Second Language degree is a top choice. The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures holds courses in Spanish as a specific program.
Harvard University also offers courses for beginners. Its outcomes are engagement in active communication and everyday practical language skills.
History of language and intercultural disciplines are promoted during the course. The learner is taught to identify grammatical structures and semantic features through a thorough analysis of vocabulary.
2. Spanish at Central New Mexico Community College
The campus of modern languages at the Central New Mexico Community College offers a Spanish Concentration course. To fulfill the course you have to get 60 credits. This associate degree offers language speaking, understanding, analyzing, and writing skills.
The course is immersive with a natural environment to learn and live the language, taught by native speakers. The course promotes the acquisition of an Associate of Arts in Modern Languages degree. Together with the degree, students also get a certificate of Spanish language level.
However, to enter these courses the college also has some requirements you should consider, such as a compulsory high school diploma. The college has also established some minimum scores of IELTS or TOEFL certificates for both native and international students.
3. Spanish at The University of North Carolina Wilmington
The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers the following programs and courses in Spanish:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program in Spanish
The student can count up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses to achieve credits for the B.A. The same credits can be used for the M.A. However, this program is only for the students who have completed a minimum of credits in their Spanish major degree.
Spanish Education Specialization, M.Ed
Master of education with a specialization in Spanish. This course prepares specialists to teach Spanish as a second language in kindergartens and at schools. 33 credits will be divided into professional, Spanish, and elective cores.
M.A.T.
This course is designed for the Spanish Language degree holders who are interested in the specialization of the Master of Arts in Teaching. This is an attractive course with possible outcomes of occupying high positions at private or public schools. Here, decision-making skills are highly promoted. The course has 33 credit hours divided between professional and instructional cores.
Spanish, B.A. with Teacher Licensure
Students must complete 39 hours of Spanish major. The diversification of the program creates challenges for the students to overcome and make the learning process fun. To enter the course a high education diploma is compulsory. The University of North Carolina Wilmington establishes some minimum scores for language proficiency certificates.
4. Spanish at Oregon State University
Oregon State University offers an online Spanish language course focused on reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills development. The course is designed by the OSU Ecampus, a high-ranking online education portal.
OSU’s College of Liberal Arts is one of the best online liberal arts colleges, providing students with supportive tools to enhance the effectiveness of their studies, such as a free library service, coaching, and individual tutoring.
5. Spanish at The University of Illinois At Chicago
The University of Illinois At Chicago offers 4 Spanish programs:
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish-Economics
In this program, students learn Spanish, a language that is native to 350 million people. Having a major in the Spanish language also offers wide opportunities to immerse yourself in the global economy. The university offers both majors: teaching Spanish as a second or foreign language and Spanish with a focus on the Spanish economy.
The program offers collaboration with the faculties of Latin American and Latino Studies and has links with cultural institutions such as Instituto Cervantes of Chicago to have more immersion.
Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of Spanish
This state-approved program is offered by the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies and leads to a license in teaching Spanish with a potential yearly salary of $31,000 in the teaching sector.
Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Spanish
This is similar to the previous program but targeted to students interested in specializations other than teachings, such as business, law, or health-related fields. They learn analytical and critical thinking skills. There is a possibility to fulfill interdisciplinary work due to connections with the Latin American and Latino Studies programs.
These programs offer the students the opportunity to explore and combine traditional academic spheres with emerging disciplines and methodologies.
Master of Arts or Ph.D. in Teaching of Spanish
The program offers a master’s degree with the major of teaching Spanish. There is also a possibility to get a doctor’s degree in the same study. You can choose one of the two specializations:
- Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
- Hispanic Linguistics
6. Spanish at Florida International University
Florida International University offers 3 Spanish language programs: Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Ph.D. This university offers an online program where the students learn details of Spanish grammar, composition, and linguistics.
The program includes subjects such as Spanish American literature and Business Spanish, guiding students toward analytical thinking and critical research to widen job opportunities after the program.
High school diploma and language proficiency tests are compulsory for the program.
Plan for the Future, Learn Spanish at School
Hopefully, this summary of Spanish language programs and courses offered by colleges in the US helps you plan for your academic future!
With more and more companies demanding Spanish-speaking employees, Spanish language learning is becoming popular in the United States. Prepare yourself to enter the workforce by completing one of these excellent degree programs!
As you explore each one, consider the entry requirements, such as holding a high school degree or language proficiency certificate, or achieving a certain score on a test. Once all the requisites are brought together you are ready to apply and get your future on track!
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