Skip to Main Content

Spanish

The department offers a rich undergraduate program that allows for the study of the literature, language, and cultures of the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds from a broad range of perspectives. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language globally, opening up opportunities for communication and cultural exchange with over 460 million Spanish speakers. This proficiency facilitates travel, business interactions, and the ability to engage with diverse communities within the United States. Spanish literature, music, and cinema have made significant contributions to global culture, and understanding the language allows students to fully immerse themselves in these rich artistic traditions. Moreover, in an increasingly globalized job market, bilingualism in Spanish can be a valuable asset, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, education, translation, and international relations. Overall, learning Spanish enriches personal growth, expands career prospects, and fosters a deeper understanding of the diverse Spanish-speaking world.

What can I do with a Spanish degree?

A modern language degree will provide you with a fantastic platform from which to enter a range of interesting sectors:

  • Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations (PR)
  • Banking, Finance, Accountancy
  • Charity, Not-for-profit, NGO
  • Culture, Music, Performing Arts
  • Hospitality, Tourism
  • Law
  • Management Consulting, Business Administration
  • Media
  • Medicine
  • Public Sector, Government or Military Defense
  • Recruitment, Human Resources
  • Retail, Sales
  • Teaching, Education
  • Transport, Logistics

Your Spanish degree might give you some excellent transferable skills, such as:

  • Attention to Details
  • Oral and Written Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Negotiation
  • Research
  • Teamwork
  • Time Management

Our Major

By majoring in Spanish, you will develop these skills:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Proficiency in Spanish (all skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening)
  • Problem solving and thinking analytically and creatively
  • Conducting research and constructing arguments
  • Intercultural competence and global awareness

According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities 2013 employer survey1, the top three skills employers most value in college graduates are:

  1. Critical thinking and analytical reasoning
  2. Complex problem solving and analysis
  3. Written and oral communication

Through courses for the Spanish Major and for the Miami Plan, students who graduate with a degree in Spanish have shown exceptional skills in these areas and are competitively positioned to enter the work force.

Declaring a Major

In an increasingly globalized world, a major in Spanish provides a competitive edge for students in a wide variety of areas of concentration. You must plan your program with your advisor in the department. No courses for the Spanish major may be taken credit/no-credit. This major consists of Spanish courses above the 300 level. 

To begin the process of declaring a major in Spanish, please do one of these two options:

  1. Email the Spanish Advising Office. In the body of the message, please state your intent to become a minor and one of the advisors in the department will contact you shortly thereafter.
  2. Visit the Spanish Advising Office in person during their open hours. You will talk to someone face-to-face and they will personally assist you in declaring your minor.
Learn More

Our Minor

The Spanish minor is designed to offer students whose major is in another field the ability to build upon their language, cultural, and interdisciplinary skills in Spanish. In an increasingly globalized world, a minor in Spanish provides a competitive edge for students in a wide variety of areas of concentration.

When selecting a minor it is important to consider where your future interests lie. For instance, if you think you might like to pursue a career managing a non-profit, working for a non-governmental organization, or working in business, you might consider a business minor. A background in analytics or statistics could support your work doing research for a government agency or foundation.

If you see yourself working in diplomacy or development, consider a co-major in Latin American Studies or International Studies. If you are interested in technology, coupling your Spanish minor with a major or minor that includes coding could make you particularly marketable. If law school or medical school is in your future, consider a pre-law or pre-med major. To talk more about your future interests and how to make yourself most marketable to employers, visit the Career Services website or make an appointment with your Career Adviser.

Declaring a Minor

The Spanish minor is designed to offer students whose major is in another field the ability to build upon their language, cultural, and interdisciplinary skills in Spanish.  In an increasingly globalized world, a minor in Spanish provides a competitive edge for students in a wide variety of areas of concentration. You must plan your program with your advisor in the department. No courses for the Spanish major or minor may be taken credit/no-credit. This minor consists of Spanish courses above the 202 level. 

To begin the process of declaring a minor in Spanish, please do one of these two options:

  1. Email the Spanish Advising Office. In the body of the message, please state your intent to become a minor and one of the advisors in the department will contact you shortly thereafter.
  2. Visit the Spanish Advising Office in person during their open hours. You will talk to someone face-to-face and they will personally assist you in declaring your minor.
Learn More

Our BA-MA Program

The graduate program in Spanish at Miami University offers students the opportunity to earn the Master's Degree through advanced study of Spanish and Spanish American culture and Spanish linguistics. Faculty's interests and areas of research comprise Spain, Spanish-America, and a Trans-Atlantic perspective from a variety of literary, cinematic, and cultural studies standpoints. Graduate students are therefore able to concentrate on specific areas of study according to their interests.

The goal of the Combined BA-MA Degree Program is to provide undergraduates with the opportunity to earn a MA at the same time they earn a BA. This program combines a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese with a Master of Arts degree in Spanish, condensing what would normally be five or six years of study into four or five years. This program is designed especially for advanced students who wish to take advantage of the opportunity to begin their graduate career early.

Learn More
Man dressed in Gladiator clothing with a Falcon on their shoulder

Contact the Department

Irvin Hall South Entrance