WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN SPANISH?

On its own, or in combination with complementary double majors or minors, a degree in Spanish can provide a firm foundation for success and advancement in any number of different careers or in graduate and professional schools.

Careers

Beyond the traditional fields of teaching, interpreting and translating, individuals who are proficient in Spanish find that their language skills give them an edge in competing for jobs in many other areas, from journalism to business and from tourism to advertising.

Professional Schools

Recent graduates of the program currently attend professional schools, such the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and Washington College of Law at American University.

Graduate Schools

Other recent alumni are enrolled in graduate programs at:

• New York University
• Indiana University (master’s program in Hispanic literatures)
• American University (master’s program, Latin American studies and translation)
• The Graduate School of the College of Charleston (master’s program in education)

The Spanish Program develops:

• Global awareness, an appreciation of cultural diversity and an in-depth knowledge of other cultures.
• An understanding of the connected nature of knowledge and the many ways in which different disciplines intersect.
• Intellectual curiosity and a life-long love of learning.
  

College of Charleston Advantages

Hailed as a model program, the College of Charleston’s Hispanic Studies program combines a richly diverse curriculum with an equally rich and diverse array of study-abroad programs and other active learning experiences.

• Ours is the largest undergraduate Spanish program in South Carolina and one of the most comprehensive programs in the Southeast.

• Departmental faculty members represent 11 different countries in the Spanish-speaking world and a wide range of academic interests, from business to political science.
  
• Departmental offerings include more than 50 courses in Spanish, a robust Portuguese program, a minor in linguistics and the country’s only master’s program in bilingual legal interpreting.

• Spanish combines well with many other academic programs (political science, business and communication, to name only a few) as a double major or a minor, thereby expanding your career prospects.

• The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education awarded the department a Commendation of Excellence – the highest rating ever received by an undergraduate Spanish program in the state – noting that the program “stands as a model, not only for programs in South Carolina, but indeed throughout the nation.”

Active Learning Experiences

Your experience is enriched by a variety of study-abroad options as well as by many on-campus events, activities, and programs that celebrate all aspects of Hispanic culture.

• Mexico. A 20- to 25-day, faculty-led program that includes travel to at least five different cities.
• Trujillo, Spain. Both semester-long and summer programs. Students live with host families.
• Santiago, Chile. A semester-long, faculty-led program. Student take courses at the Universidad Diego Portales and live with host families.
• Brazil. A summer program that examines modern Brazilian culture.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants in this semester-long program live with Argentinean students.

La Casa Hispánica. Students live in a Spanish language immersion environment and host three departmental activities each semester. Service learning. Recent volunteer activities include:

• Weekly bilingual story time on Johns Island, during which students read to Hispanic children in both Spanish and English.
• Providing student interpreters for parent/teacher conferences at local elementary schools.

Independent studies. Examples of independent study topics include: Adolescent Literature, The Modern Latin American Short Story, España en el Corazon, and El uso de los símbolos en las obras de Federico García Lorca.

Student research. Students have the opportunity to engage in independent research, either through the College’s undergraduate research initiative or through the bachelor’s essay.

Other Special Opportunities

We regularly bring distinguished guest lecturers to campus such as Brazilian ambassador and writer João Alino discussing Brazil.

Ibero-American Film Festival. An annual series featuring films from countries such as Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Mexico.

Spanish Club. Among other activities, the Club sponsors Noche Latina, a celebration of Hispanic culture, food and music, and the annual Hispanic Fair.

Membership in Sigma Delta Pi (La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica) is open to high-achieving students of Spanish.

Portuguese Club: Activities sponsored by the club include on-going Capoeira and Samba lessons, guest lectures, music performances and poetry nights.

Learning Resources

Language Resource Center. The center contains the main language lab/computer lab with a Sony 9000LC console, 26 student carrels, 11 Mac and three Dell computers. There is equipment students need in order to practice language skills in pairs or groups, while recording their work. The center also maintains a vast collection of foreign language films and computer programs.

“My experience as a Spanish major has been amazing. I entered college not intending to have anything to do with the language beyond completing the minimum requirements. But after two semesters of Spanish, I developed a strong love of the language. I participated in the Trujillo study-abroad program and since then I cannot imagine my life without Spanish in it in some way. I have learned so much about myself and my goals and have made amazing friends – both here and abroad. I believe that this program will affect me for the rest of my life. And I love it!”

Aubrey Straub ’08