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Spanish, BA Major

The undergraduate program in Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Pittsburgh prepares students with varying career goals to succeed in an increasingly multilingual and multicultural world by developing a critical understanding of the languages and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Iberian Peninsula, Lusophone Africa, and U.S. Latino communities. The language program promotes proficiency in all communicative skills as it enhances student’s cultural competency. The major ensures that students graduate with advanced oral and written Spanish, intercultural competence, some proficiency in Portuguese, and a broad understanding of the histories, cultures, literatures, and arts of the Spanish and Portuguese speaking worlds. Students may choose to enroll in the Spanish minor or the Hispanic Language and Culture minor, which require fewer credits and enhance career options, communication skills, and cultural understanding. Students may gain real-world experience through community-based internships and examine specific topics by completing independent studies. The department also offers a Portuguese Language and Luso-Brazilian Culture minor, thereby opening channels of communication with Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most populated country. Study abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country is always encouraged. Eligible students may major with an honors distinction, and those who plan to teach may obtain a certification through the School of Education. For non-Spanish speakers we offer engaging courses taught in English. Students are welcome to participate in many co-curricular campus activities, such as the Spanish Club, the Brazil Nuts Student Association, El Centro (The Spanish Hub at Pitt), the Undergraduate Research Colloquium, conversation tables, and film series.

If you are interested in our Spanish Major, you may email HLL Director of Undergraduate Studies Karen Goldman (kgoldman@pitt.edu) for more information.

Requirements

For the most current course requirements, please refer to the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Studies Department's program requirements sheet for the Spanish major. Please contact an SPORT advisor regarding requirements for students with enrollment dates prior to recent course registration policy revisions (the revision date is noted on the program sheet).

Prerequisites

Before declaring the major, students must complete four Spanish language courses in order to gain the indispensable skills to effectively read, write and discuss in a second language. Students with any previous knowledge of Spanish must take a placement test. Please note that a grade of B- or higher starting in SPAN 0104 or the equivalent is required to declare the major. The Spanish major requires students to complete 30 credits of coursework as detailed below.

Required Courses

The Spanish major requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credits, distributed as indicated below. Before declaring the major students must demonstrate a high-intermediate level of Spanish, by completing SPAN 0104 or the equivalent with a B- or higher or by placing into a higher level. Guidelines for proficiency placement tests and obtaining permission to enroll in Spanish classes can be found here. Students who begin the major in higher level classes will have more mid- and upper-level classes. All majors must complete one Portuguese language class. At least half of the credits toward the major must be completed on campus.

Required Courses for the Spanish major (10 classes or 30 credits) for students starting with SPAN 104

Basic Level (4 courses - 12 credits)

  • SPAN 0104 - INTERMEDIATE SPANISH 4
  • SPAN 0120 - CONVERSATION
  • SPAN 0125 - GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION or
  • SPAN 0126 - SPANISH ADVANCED GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS
  • PORT 0101 - ELEMENTARY PORTUGUESE 1 or
  • PORT 1010 - PORTUGUESE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS 1 

Mid Level (4 courses - 12 credits)

All of the following courses are required. SPAN 1055 meets the writing requirement.

  • SPAN 1055 - INTRODUCTION HISPANIC LITERATURE 1 or
  • SPAN 1056- READING, WRITING, & HEALTH IN SPANISH
  • SPAN 1250 - HISPANIC CIVILIZATIONS
  • SPAN 1260 - OVERVIEW OF SPANISH LITERATURE or
  • SPAN 1280 - OVERVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN LIT
  • SPAN 1300-level course 

Upper Level (2 classes - 6 credits)

Courses in the 1400 level and above:

  • SPAN 14XX or above
  • SPAN 14XX or above
     

Required Courses for the Spanish major (10 classes or 30 credits) for students starting with SPAN 120, 125, 126

Basic level courses (3 classes - 9 credits)

  • SPAN 0120 - CONVERSATION
  • SPAN 0125 - GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION or
  • SPAN 0126 - SPANISH ADVANCED GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION FOR HERITAGE SPEAKERS
  • PORT 0101 - ELEMENTARY PORTUGUESE 1 or
  • PORT 1010 - PORTUGUESE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS 1

Mid-level courses (4 classes-12 credits)

  • SPAN 1055 - INTRODUCTION HISPANIC LITERATURE 1 or
  • SPAN 1056- READING, WRITING, & HEALTH IN SPANISH
  • SPAN 1250 - HISPANIC CIVILIZATIONS
  • SPAN 1260 - OVERVIEW OF SPANISH LITERATURE or
  • SPAN 1280 - OVERVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN LIT
  • SPAN 1300-level

Upper-level courses (3 classes-9 credits)

Courses in the 1400 level and above:

  • SPAN 14XX or above
  • SPAN 14XX or above

Required Courses for the Spanish major for students (10 classes or 30 credits) starting with SPAN 1055 or above

Basic level courses (1 class - 3 credits)

  • PORT 0101- ELEMENTARY PORTUGUESE or
  • PORT 1010- PORTUGUESE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS 1 

Mid-level courses (4-5 classes-12-15 credits)

  • SPAN 1055- INTRODUCTION HISPANIC LITERATURE 1 or
  • SPAN 1056- READING, WRITING, & HEALTH IN SPANISH
  • SPAN 1250 - HISPANIC CIVILIZATIONS
  • SPAN 1260 - OVERVIEW OF SPANISH LITERATURE or
  • SPAN 1280 - OVERVIEW OF LATIN AMERICAN LIT
  • SPAN 1300-level

Upper-level courses (4-5 classes-12-15 credits)

Courses in the 1400 level and above:

  • SPAN 14XX or above
  • SPAN 14XX or above 

Additional Information and Requirements

  •  Spanish majors and Spanish or Hispanic Languages and Cultures minors may complete a 3-credit community-based internship, an independent study or an honors thesis as part of the requirements for their major or minor.
  • W requirement: Spanish majors must complete one writing-intensive (W) course in the major. The following courses satisfy this requirement.
    • SPAN 1055 - INTRODUCTION HISPANIC LITERATURE 1
    • SPAN 1056- READING, WRITING, & HEALTH IN SPANISH
       
  • Grade requirements: Students must maintain an average GPA of 2.0 or above in all department courses. No courses with a grade of C- or lower will count toward the major.
  • Satisfactory/No-Credit option: Majors may take one required course on an S/NC basis.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish majors can take up to one course offered by the department that is taught in English. In order to have it count toward minor requirements, written assignments must be submitted in Spanish.
  • Study Abroad: At least one term of study abroad is recommended.
  • Credits in residence: To complete the Spanish major, students are required to take at least half of the credits required for the major while in residence in the Dietrich School.
  • Placement into language courses: For the Spanish placement test, please contact the Spanish Language Coordinator, Dolores Lima, dlima@pitt.edu. For the Portuguese placement test, please contact the Portuguese Language Coordinator, Adam Demaray, a.demaray@pitt.edu.
  • Credit by examination: Students may receive credit by examination for some Spanish language courses. Similar credits may be earned in Portuguese.