The major consists of 12 courses at the 1000 - 3000 levels. To declare a major students should meet with the Undergraduate Chair, who will approve a course of study. Application to a major must be made by the second semester of the sophomore year prior to advance registration for the first semester of the junior year. For a course to count for the major or minor, a student must earn a minimum grade of C.
 

Required Courses 

(Must be taken in the Spanish & Portuguese Department at Penn) 

1. Spanish 1000: “Advanced Spanish” OR Spanish 1200: "Advanced Spanish II: Grammar & Composition” 

• Students who complete SPAN 1000 with a grade of A or A- have the option of skipping SPAN 1200 and enrolling directly into SPAN 1800 or SPAN 1900. Note: If a student skips SPAN 1200, they must still take twelve (12) courses to complete the major.

2. Spanish 1800: “Texts and Contexts of Hispanic Civilization” OR Spanish 1900: “Introduction to Literary Analysis” '

Elective Courses

Ten (10) additional courses are required for the completion of the major; seven (7) must be taken at the 1000 - 3000 levels. Of the seven 3000-level courses, three (3) must be completed in the department at Penn. The remaining three (3) credits may be taken at the 1000 - 3000 levels. All programs of study must be approved by the Undergraduate Chair.

Research Requirement

All Hispanic Studies majors will be required to complete a research paper of 12-15 pages in Spanish with bibliography and notes in a 3000-level Spanish course of a student's choosing. Students may complete the research requirement anytime during and after the spring semester of their junior year. A copy of the paper must be submitted to both the Undergraduate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator before the major certification is approved for graduation. Majors may also complete the research requirement by writing a Senior Honors Thesis during the spring of their senior year (SPAN 4000). Please contact the Undergraduate Chair for further information.

Credit Abroad for the Major

Students may receive credit for up to six (6) Spanish courses taken in an approved study abroad program. Majors are expected to complete Spanish 1000 or Spanish 1200 and Spanish 1800 or Spanish 1900 in the department at Penn before beginning their program abroad. Please note that at least three (3) of the Spanish 3000-level courses must be taken in the department at Penn.

Declaring the Minor

Prospective majors must schedule a meeting with Dr. Toni Espòsito, Undergraduate Chair, to review the requirements and possibilities within the Hispanic Studies major.

Students must also fill out the Declare/Update Field of Study form which is located on the PATH Forms page. The Undergraduate Chair will review your official request and the Office of the Registrar will process it within two weeks.