Spanish, Bachelor of Arts (778)
Program Coordinator
Melissa A. Stewart, melissa.stewart@wku.edu
There are so many reasons to learn Spanish that we could hardly list them all here. Spanish is spoken by some 400 million people. According to About.com, it is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. It is the official language on four continents, and the number of Spanish speakers in the United States is growing. Speakers of Spanish are needed in a wide variety of fields such as business, education, health care, journalism and social work. Spanish makes a great "second major" in combination with just about any other discipline that interests you. Our Spanish program provides you many opportunities to interact with Spanish speakers both at home and abroad, and to apply your skills in service opportunities.
Concentrations
- Spanish Language and Cultures (SPLC)
- Communication (COMM)
- International Business (INBU)
- Health Sciences & Health Careers (HSHC)
- Legal Professionals (LEPR)
- Teacher Education (TCHR)
Program Requirements (36-78 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The Spanish major (reference # 778) leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and requires a minimum of 36 credit hours, depending on chosen concentration. A minor or second major is required, unless the student declares the teacher certification concentration. Some of the required coursework may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit. Study abroad is strongly recommended. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this major.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| SPAN 102 | Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) | 3 |
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 370 | Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| SPAN 371 | Spanish Composition and Grammar | 3 |
| SPAN 372 | Latin American Civilization and Culture | 3 |
| or SPAN 373 | Spanish Civilization and Culture | |
| SPAN 374 | Literature and Culture of Spain | 3 |
| or SPAN 376 | Literature and Culture of Latin America | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Select one of the following concentrations:
Spanish Language and Cultures Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish Language and Cultures concentration: | ||
| Select 5 elective upper level Spanish courses, with at least one 400 level course | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Spanish Communication Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish Communication concentration: | ||
| SPAN 345 | Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 381 | Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings | |
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 471 | Advanced Spanish Composition | |
| Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: | 3 | |
| Internship in Spanish | ||
or SPAN 331 | Spanish for Professional Communication | |
or SPAN 455 | Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies | |
or SPAN 480 | Translation and Interpreting | |
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad | ||
| Students must take all 3 courses in one of the following options: | 9 | |
| Workplace Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication | ||
or COMM 345 | Advanced Presentational Speaking | |
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
or COMM 371 | Communication in Multinational Organizations | |
| Advertising/User Experience | ||
| Digital Media | ||
| Introduction to User Experience Design | ||
| User Interface Design | ||
| Strategic Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Relations | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Spanish for International Business Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for International Business concentration: | ||
| SPAN 345 | Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 381 | Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings | |
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 471 | Advanced Spanish Composition | |
| MGT 210 | Organization and Management | 3 |
| MGT 303 | International Business | 3 |
| Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: | 3 | |
| Internship in Spanish | ||
| Spanish for Professional Communication | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Translation and Interpreting | ||
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad | ||
| Choose one of the following International Business electives: | 3 | |
| International Entrepreneurship | ||
| International Management | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Spanish for Health Sciences and Health Care Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the required core courses, students must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for Health Sciences and Health Care concentration: | ||
| SPAN 345 | Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 381 | Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings | |
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 471 | Advanced Spanish Composition | |
| Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: | 3 | |
| Internship in Spanish | ||
| Spanish for Professional Communication | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Translation and Interpreting | ||
| Choose nine hours from the following courses: | 9 | |
| General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | ||
| Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab | ||
| Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology and Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Fundamentals of General Chemistry and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to College Chemistry | ||
| College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Lifespan Developmental Psychology | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Human Nutrition | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Spanish for Legal Professionals Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for Legal Professionals concentration: | ||
| SPAN 345 | Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 381 | Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings | |
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| or SPAN 471 | Advanced Spanish Composition | |
| PLS 200 | Legal Ethics | 3 |
| PLS 225 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: | 3 | |
| Internship in Spanish | ||
| Spanish for Professional Communication | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies | ||
| Translation and Interpreting | ||
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad | ||
| Choose one of the following Paralegal Studies electives: | 3 | |
| Family Law | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Major in Spanish with Teacher Certification (no minor or second major required)
Students interested in teacher certification in Chinese or Spanish should meet with the Modern Languages Academic Advisor as early in their academic career as possible for information on current program requirements. World Language teachers in Kentucky may be eligible for interest forgiveness on student loans.
In addition to the 21 hours of core courses, students pursuing Spanish with Teacher Certification need the following classes for a total of 78 hours:
Required for Certification in Spanish
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 470 | Advanced Oral Spanish | 3 |
| Four SPAN courses at the 300 or 400 level | 12 | |
| EDU 250 | Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education | 3 |
| EDU 260 | Classroom Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Educational Psychology: Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 350 | Student Diversity and Differentiation | 3 |
| EDU 360 | Behavior and Classroom Management in Education | 3 |
| LTCY 497 | Literacy Competencies for Middle and High School Classroom Teachers | 0 |
| MLNG 410 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| or ENG 469 | 2nd Language Acquisition Theory | |
| MLNG 474 | Teaching Foreign Language | 3 |
| or ENG 470 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | |
| SEC 350 | Clinical Practices in Secondary Teaching I | 4 |
| SEC 450 | Clinical Practices in Secondary Teaching II | 1 |
| SEC 475 | Teaching Language Arts | 3 |
| EDU 489 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| SEC 490 | Student Teaching | 10 |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
All students seeking teacher certification must take the official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) given by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
Finish in Four Plans
On This Page
Additional Information for Students pursuing a Spanish major
2nd Major or Minor Required for all Spanish Tracks, with the exception of Teacher Certification.
Placement: Students should begin the curriculum at the right level based on previous knowledge. If students begin in 101, bi-term classes are recommended for the first and second year. Read about placement and verified credit at: www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/placement.
Study Abroad: A full semester abroad - or at a minimum 1-2 shorter term study abroad experiences - are strongly recommended. Consult with an advisor and plan ahead.
Spanish Languages and Cultures
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 116 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| HIST 101 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3-4 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 372 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| SPAN Elective (300-level) | 3 | SPAN Elective (300-level) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 | SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 |
| SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
Communication
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 116 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3-4 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| COMM 200 | 3 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab | 3-4 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 372 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| SPAN Elective (300-level) | 3 | COMM 349, UX 220, or COMM 346 | 3 |
| SPAN 381 or SPAN 345 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| COMM 330, ART 243, or PR 255 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 470 or SPAN 471 | 3 | SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 |
| COMM 365, UX 330, or COMM 364 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 123-125 | |||
- Note:
Students will choose one concentration and must take the 3 courses listed for that concentration. The first option listed is Workplace Communication, the second option is Advertising/User Experience, and the third is Strategic Communication.
International Business
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ECON 203 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 116 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| ECON 202 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| MGT 210 | 3 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab | 3-4 |
| General Elective | 3 | MGT 303 | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 372 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| SPAN 381 or SPAN 345 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| ENT 425, MGT 316, or ECON 380 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 470 or SPAN 471 | 3 | SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-122 | |||
Health Sciences and Health Care
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 116 | 3 | BIOL 113 & BIOL 114 | 4 |
| PSY 100, PSYS 100, PSY 220, or PSYS 220 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| CHEM 107 & CHEM 108 or CHEM 109 | 4 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 , CHEM 116, or CHEM 120/121 | 3-4 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 372 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| SPAN 381 or SPAN 345 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| HMD 211 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 470 or SPAN 471 | 3 | SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 |
| PSY 440 or PSYS 440 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 122-123 | |||
- Note:
Students must complete any 9 hours of the science classes listed in the above pathway.
Legal Professionals
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | PLS 225 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 116 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| PLS 200 | 3 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | PLS 296 or PLS 291 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 372 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| SPAN 381 or SPAN 345 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 470 or SPAN 471 | 3 | SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-122 | |||
With Teacher Certification
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 102 | 3 | SPAN 201 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | EDU 250 | 3 |
| MATH 109 (or higher) | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-term) | 3 | SPAN 370 | 3 |
| PSY 310 | 3 | SPAN 371 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| EDU 260 | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SPAN 376 or SPAN 373 | 3 | SEC 350 | 4 |
| SPAN 381 or SPAN 331 | 3 | MLNG 474 or ENG 470 | 3 |
| ENG 469 | 3 | SPAN 374 or SPAN 372 | 3 |
| EDU 350 | 3 | SPAN 345 | 3 |
| EDU 360 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SEC 450 | 1 | EDU 489 | 3 |
| SEC 475 | 3 | SEC 490 | 10 |
| SPAN 470 (or SPAN Elective) | 3 | ||
| LTCY 497 | 0 | ||
| SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 | ||
| SPAN Elective (300/400 level) | 3 | ||
| 13 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||