Next Steps

Spanish, B.A.

Through this major, you will study the Spanish language and its related literature, history, theology, politics, music and art. Your understanding of the world will expand as you become immersed in a language that is spoken by 475 million people worldwide, including 50 million people in the United States.

Whitworth's Spanish major will connect you to numerous opportunities to further your learning outside of the classroom – on campus, in the local community and abroad. Upon graduation, you will be a clear communicator who is well-equipped to work in intercultural settings with diverse communities, both in the workplace and beyond.

Why major in Spanish at Whitworth?

Build relationships with professors and peers. Small class sizes and interactive assignments create a sense of community. Professors often speak Spanish with their students in the campus coffee shop while discussing life, faith or vocation.
Choose from amazing study-abroad opportunities. Studying abroad will help you grow exponentially in your language proficiency, gain self-confidence and intercultural competence, and refine your personal and career goals.
Develop transferable skills that will benefit you in any career. The Spanish major will help you become a strong and adaptive communicator and thinker who can identify problems, find creative solutions and make culturally informed decisions.
Connect your faith or worldview to your studies. Throughout your coursework, you will study diverse perspectives on faith and learn how to speak in Spanish about your own views.
Collaborate with faculty and develop leadership capabilities as a teaching assistant, language tutor or research project assistant.
Learn language acquisition skills that can be applied to other areas. Students studying Spanish often find that their English improves as well, and students who continue on to medical or law school report feeling better prepared to learn specialized terminology.
Become who you're meant to be.

Our Spanish grads make a difference (and get jobs)

Graduates can use their communication and intercultural skills in any profession, but they are often especially attracted to fields in which they can serve as points of contact between communities. These fields include education, social work, medicine, business, public policy, ministry and missions, government, nonprofit work and law.

Recent job placements include:

Caleb Rosen, bilingual instructional assistant, Salem-Keizer School District, Salem, Ore.
Tom Lembeck, logistics specialist, Etailz Inc., Spokane
Lauren Davies, bilingual wish manager, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, Spokane
Gillian Cleary, Spanish instructor, Montana State University
Karen Fierro, community equity advocate, Rainbow Center, Tacoma, Wash.
Lindsay Delaney, bilingual youth services librarian, Tigard Public Library, Ore.

Our recent Spanish grads further their studies in top graduate programs at institutions including:

Vanderbilt University
University of Oregon
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Cambridge
Baylor University
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
University of Colorado Boulder

Opportunities outside the classroom

Through the Spanish Mesa program, practice your Spanish during round-table conversations over lunch, often with native speakers.
Participate in the department’s fun annual events including international dance instruction and a soccer tournament.
Engage in service-learning in the Spokane community by working with organizations like World Relief or by tutoring local youth.
Help provide on-campus ministry in Spanish.
Collaborate with faculty on research and present your findings at conferences.
Join student organizations such as the International Club, HOLA (the Hispanic-American club), and the Spokane Dream Project.

Pack your bags!

You will have exciting opportunities to study abroad, either through faculty-led programs or international exchange programs. World languages & cultures faculty lead Jan Term and semester-long programs each year. Advanced oral Spanish programs are offered every Jan Term in countries such as Spain, Guatemala and Chile. Along with taking Spanish conversation courses, you will participate in homestays, go on cultural excursions and visit historical sites.

A unique semester-long opportunity available to Spanish majors is the Central America Study & Service Program, or CASP. This program takes students and their professors to Guatemala for intensive language study and to Nicaragua for an internship. You will live and learn alongside the people of Central America and gain a better understanding of the social, political, economic and religious realities of the region. Many alumni say their CASP experience was the most transformative part of their Whitworth education.

Tracks

Spanish majors choose from two tracks: language and literature or Spanish education. The education track meets Washington state endorsement requirements for teaching Spanish.