Why study Spanish?

Students of Spanish study the language, culture, and literature of Spain, most of Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking United States. Spanish majors develop linguistic skills and enrich themselves through the study of a variety of cultures.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen applicants, please visit the Admission Requirements page for more information.

Students in Spanish usually possess strong verbal skills, some facility with languages and a desire to travel and interact with other cultures.

Students with a BA in Spanish often seek teaching careers, either in secondary education or in colleges and universities following completion of graduate studies in the field. Spanish is also a strong liberal arts major that allows students to develop critical thinking, reading and writing skills in addition to knowledge of a foreign language and culture. Our increasingly multilingual society makes this combination of skills highly valued in a wide range of positions in the public and private sectors.

Career possibilities include:

  • teacher
  • interpreter
  • translator
  • researcher
  • international law
  • social services

Students working toward an undergraduate degree at UC can earn a minor in Spanish, while non-degree students (e.g., graduate students, non-matriculated students) can earn an equivalent certificate (not to be confused with the business certificate).

To graduate with a minor in Spanish, students must complete a total of at least 21 credit hours in Spanish at 2000-level and above:

  1. Pre-requisite Courses (not applicable toward 21-hour minor requirement)
    •  Complete or place out of the basic language sequence:
      • SPAN 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014 (Extended Basic Spanish), 12 credits; OR
      • SPAN 1001, 1002 (Basic Spanish), 10 credits
    • Basic Courses I. Complete or place out of the Composition and Conversation sequence:
      • SPAN 2015, 2016 (Spanish Composition and Conversation), 6 credits
  2.  Basic Courses II. All Spanish minors must take the following required courses first (6 credits):
    • SPAN 3001 (Spanish Grammar and Composition), 3 credits
    • SPAN 3002 (Speaking in Spanish), 3 credits
  3. Core Courses (6 credits)
    • SPAN 4001 (Advanced Grammar), pre-req: SPAN 3002, 3 credits
    • From the following list, students must choose a minimum of one course. Courses taken above the minimum number will count toward the elective requirements.
      • SPAN 3081 (Las Tres Culturas), 3 credits
      • SPAN 3082 (Latin America Today), 3 credits
      • SPAN 3083 (Spain Today), 3 credits
      • SPAN 3084 (Hispanic Culture in the US), 3 credits
      • A film course - either SPAN 3031 (Spanish Film) or SPAN 3032 (Latin American Film), 3 credits
  4. Electives (9 credits)
    • Students may take any SPAN courses at the 3000/4000 level (including 2015-2016 for those starting at the 2000 level and earning a B or higher). Students may also take 3000-level Spanish Service Learning courses when available.

Credits required for the minor can also be obtained through study abroad or transfer.

Students can delcare the minor via the online form

Students in the UC College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

The Department of Romance Languages offers students the possibility of interacting with excellent faculty in small, seminar-style courses. We do all we can to help students study abroad; in particular, we transfer credits from most study-abroad programs.

Study Abroad
The Department of Romance Languages strongly encourages students to study abroad. We sponsor a number of programs of varying durations in different countries -- from Mexico and Spain to France, Italy and Brazil. Learn more about Study Abroad.

To graduate from the UC College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

  • Earn at least 120 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 120.
  • Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
  • Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 30 credits after matriculating into the university.
  • Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
  • Complete the College Core Requirements.
  • Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus student who was admissible directly from high school and has cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 in the most recent institution.

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

For any inquiries please contact us at artsci@ucmail.uc.edu

Admission to A&S is generally available for University of Cincinnati students enrolled in other colleges if they were admissible directly from high school, have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 in their most recent UC college.

Application Deadlines

While midyear admission is possible, fall semester is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that semester. Applicants to the UC College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Juan A. Godoy Peñas, Ph.D.
5267 Clifton Court Hall
ML 0377
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0377
(513) 556-1843
godoyjo@ucmail.uc.edu

Find related programs in the following interest areas:

Program Code: 15BAC-SPAN-BA