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Spanish

Spanish

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Type

Major, Minor, K-12 Licensure

Department

Communication Arts, Language & Literature (CALL) Department

Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world. With a fluency in Spanish, you’ll have a life-long competitive advantage for a variety of careers in healthcare, education, government and business.

Program Overview

Spanish program

Transform your passion for language into a powerful professional asset.

In the Spanish program at Western Colorado University, you’ll study the language, literature, linguistics, history and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish is an excellent complement to most majors and will serve as a competitive edge when you’re applying to jobs or graduate school. In the program, you’ll not only experience full linguistic immersion, but you’ll have the opportunity to practice your Spanish skills as a volunteer at Gunnison County’s Multicultural Resources and Project Hope. You can also gain a global perspective by studying abroad in Spanish speaking countries. Western is proud to be ranked among LendEDU’s Top 50 Colleges for Study Abroad Programs.

A global perspective

Spanish students learn the language, literature and culture of Spanish-speaking countries, which opens the door to careers in a myriad of professional fields around the world.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

A minimum of 36 credits is required, including the 15-credit Spanish Core

Course List
Code Title Credits
Spanish Core
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish I3
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II3
SPAN 270Spanish Conversation and Composition3
SPAN 350Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics3
SPAN 385Introduction to Hispanic Literature3
Total Credits15

A maximum of nine credits earned from independent study and/or foreign travel may be applied to the major. Students who desire foreign language credit for foreign study and/ or exchange programs must have prior approval from the Department of Communication Arts, Languages, and Literature. Spanish credit for foreign study will be granted only to students who participate in formal study abroad programs sponsored by institutions accredited in the United States.

And the following:

Course List
Code Title Credits
SPAN 341Latin American Civilization and Culture3
SPAN 370Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition3
SPAN 494Capstone Experience3
Two of the following Literature Classes:6
SPAN 462
Hispanic Literature
SPAN 464
Hispanic Literature Through Film
SPAN 466
U.S. Latino Literature
SPAN 468
Hispanic Literature, Contemporary Authors
Two of the following Linguistics Classes:6
SPAN 366
Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language
SPAN 480
Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation
SPAN 481
Syntax and Morphology of Spanish
SPAN 482
Spanish in the U.S.
Total Credits21
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
Gen Ed GE Math 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Area I 3
OR
Elective
Elective or minor course
SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I 3
 Credits15
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences 3
SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II 3
 Credits12
Year Two
Fall
Elective Elective or minor course 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 6
SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish I 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective Elective or minor course 6
Gen Ed Natural Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits12
Year Three
Fall
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 3
SPAN 270 Spanish Conversation and Composition 3
SPAN 341 Latin American Civilization and Culture 3
SPAN 350 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics 3
SPAN 385 Introduction to Hispanic Literature 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 3
SPAN 370 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition 3
One of the following linguistics classes: 3
SPAN 366
Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language
SPAN 480
Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation
SPAN 481
Syntax and Morphology of Spanish
SPAN 482
Spanish in the U.S.
One of the following literature classes: 3
SPAN 462
Hispanic Literature
SPAN 464
Hispanic Literature Through Film
SPAN 466
U.S. Latino Literature
SPAN 468
Hispanic Literature, Contemporary Authors
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 6
One of the following linguistics classes: 3
SPAN 366
Methods of Teaching a Foreign Language
SPAN 480
Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation
SPAN 481
Syntax and Morphology of Spanish
SPAN 482
Spanish in the U.S.
One of the following literature classes: 3
SPAN 462
Hispanic Literature
SPAN 464
Hispanic Literature Through Film
SPAN 466
U.S. Latino Literature
SPAN 468
Hispanic Literature, Contemporary Authors
 Credits15
Spring
Elective Elective 3
Elective Elective or minor course (upper division) 9
SPAN 494 Capstone Experience 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits114

Spotlight

Spanish

Andrew Butterfield

Alumni

“Small classes, skiing, fishing and a friendly community make the Gunnison Valley a perfect place to live, get an education and enjoy the outdoors.”

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Spanish

Make your education a life changing experience.

A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.

  • Multicultural Center: Immerse with students from many cultures on campus and participate in community service and organizing cultural events.
  • Volunteering: Students serve at Gunnison County’s Multicultural Resources and Project Hope to provide support for local Spanish-speaking individuals searching for additional resources to succeed in life.

Beyond the language

In addition to learning the language, Spanish students learn about the civilization, culture, history and everyday life in Spanish-speaking countries, including Spanish development from prehistoric times to the present.

News & Research

A student does homework on a laptop in a library

Students get renewed access to Mango Languages learning platform

Read More about Students get renewed access to Mango Languages learning platform
Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
Speaker presenting on screen at Latin American Topics event

The 5th Annual Conference of Latin-American and Hispanic Topics

Read More about The 5th Annual Conference of Latin-American and Hispanic Topics
Students in Classroom

New Humanities and Diversity Minor Teaches Vital Soft Skills

Read More about New Humanities and Diversity Minor Teaches Vital Soft Skills
online courses

Western Colorado University moves summer courses online

Read More about Western Colorado University moves summer courses online
Western to host third Hispanic & Latin America Conference

Western to host third Hispanic & Latin America Conference

Read More about Western to host third Hispanic & Latin America Conference
Western celebrates Day of the Dead

Western celebrates Day of the Dead

Read More about Western celebrates Day of the Dead
Western to host 2nd Conference on Hispanic and Latin American Studies

Western to host 2nd Conference on Hispanic and Latin American Studies

Read More about Western to host 2nd Conference on Hispanic and Latin American Studies

Additional Resources

Fifth Annual Conference on Hispanic and Latin American Topics

Overview Western Colorado University’s CALL Department and Spanish program are excited to host the fifth annual Conference on Hispanic and Latin American Topics. Students and […]

Learn More

Minificciones (Spanish creative writing tiny pieces)

Minificciones (Spanish creative writing tiny pieces) Este espacio está dedicado a la publicación de pequeñas obras de ficción escritas por los alumnos. Los textos son […]

Learn More

Department Chairperson

Jack Lucido, MFA

Professor of Communication Arts, Director of Film Studies, Chair of CALL Department

Administrative Assistant

Cindy Petito

Administrative Assistant III

Contact Information

970.943.2025

cpetito@western.edu

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

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