Spanish Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Spanish advising
Students should consult with an advisor in the Department of Global Cultures and Languages regarding their individual plan of study. Students planning to pursue graduate studies in Spanish need to be aware of special requirements.
Spanish policy of transfer of study abroad credits
The following policy applies to all Spanish credits taken abroad. Students may transfer the following credits per term from study abroad experiences:
Winter term:
4 weeks: 4-5 credits
Summer term:
4 weeks: 4-5 credits
6 weeks: 6-8 credits
8 weeks: 8-10 credits
10 weeks: 8-10 credits
Fall/Spring semester term:
12-16 weeks: 12 credits (Exceptions may be allowed for partner programs.)
In the case of one year study abroad, there is a maximum of 16 credits which students majoring in Spanish can take abroad and apply to the major (nine credits applicable for minors). Credits taken in excess of that can be transferred to UWL as university elective credit.
Global Cultures and Languages study abroad credit policy
The chair of the Department of Global Cultures and Languages or designee(s) approves equivalencies for university study in other universities, domestic and foreign. Generally speaking, each major language offered in the department rules on which courses taken elsewhere are applicable and how they apply.
Students who choose to study abroad are required to take at least one three-credit course in the world language at UWL after returning from the country of study.
(All colleges excluding teacher certification programs)
30-34 credits1
Beginning language proficiency
All students with Spanish language on their transcripts and/or prior experience in Spanish will take the Universities of Wisconsin Placement exam and are required to enroll at their level of placement. Students with no evidence of prior study of Spanish are required to begin Spanish at SPA 103.
Curriculum
Students must complete two linguistics courses (SPA 331-350; SPA 380-399) and two cultural studies courses (SPA 300-320; SPA 351-370) by the time they complete the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Experiences in cultural contexts 1 | ||
| SPA 202 | Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II | 4 |
| or SPA 221 | Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions | |
| Communities: diversity and social responsibility | ||
| Select two writing proficiency courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Latin American Texts: Reading Between the Lines | ||
| Spanish Culture Through Art | ||
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers | ||
| Spanish for Professional Communication | ||
| Spanish Beyond the Classroom: Navigating the Personal and Professional World | ||
| Writing to Effect Change: Global and Responsible Citizenship | ||
| Select two oral proficiency courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Faces of Spain: Conversation and Culture | ||
| Communities of Resistance in the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Cinema and Social Justice in the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Spanish for Mental Health Professionals | ||
| Spanish Speakers in the U.S.: Language, Community, (In)justice | ||
| Identities and perspectives 2 | ||
| Select 12 credits of the following: | 12 | |
| Latin American Voices of Revolution | ||
| Perspectives on Contemporary Spain: Culture and Society | ||
| Artistic Expression and Society in the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Latinx in the U.S.: Culture and Society | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Cultures | ||
| Spanish for the Health Professions | ||
| Business Spanish | ||
| Intercultural Medical Experience Abroad/Away | ||
| Spanish Language in Contexts | ||
| The Sounds of Spanish | ||
| Spanish Storytelling | ||
| Human conditions in globalized societies 3 | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Studies in Hispanic Literature | ||
| Studies in Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| National/International Intern Program | ||
| Prerequisite courses (dependent upon placement scores) 4 | ||
| Spanish in a Global Society I and Spanish in a Global Society II | ||
or SPA 103 | Spanish in a Global Society I & II | |
| Spanish Language and Cultures in Action I | ||
| Total Credits | 34 | |
- 1
Students who begin their Spanish major by placing into a SPA course at the 300-level will complete the major with 30 credits instead of 34.
- 2
Students may enroll in the "Identities and Perspectives" courses after they have completed nine of the "Communities: Diversity and Social Responsibility" credits required.
- 3
Students may enroll in the "Human Conditions in Globalized Societies" courses after they have completed six of the "Identities and Perspectives" credits required.
- 4
Credits do not count toward the major.
All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Arts core requirements
The CASSH core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the requirements of general education. Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.
The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:
- Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
- Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
- Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
- At least one course in the degree must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
- All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
- Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.
Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).
Bachelor of Arts students declare one of the following tracks online via the CASSH website:
A. Language track
- Native speakers of English complete:
Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student.Course List Code Title Credits Select one of the following: Intermediate Arabic II Chinese Language and Culture in Action II French Language and Cultures in Action II Intermediate Languages II German Language and Cultures in Action II Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced Intermediate Japanese II Russian Language and Cultures in Action II Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II or SPA 221Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions - Two additional courses outside of the student's major in two of the following: humanities, social sciences or fine arts.
B. Humanities track
- One global language course 102 or higher; and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: communication studies, English, history, philosophy and race, gender, and sexuality studies (see the Advisement Report (AR) for a listing of the approved courses); and
- One additional course in social sciences or fine arts.
C. Fine arts track
- One global language course 102 or higher; and
- Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: art, music, theatre; and
- One additional course in social sciences or humanities.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or individualized option by satisfying one of the following:
- Complete a minor (or two certificates with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level or a second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
- Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
-
Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:
-
100 level or higher courses outside the major (general education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements); or
-
300/400 level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.
-
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SPA 202 or 2211 | 4 | CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 |
| ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2 | SPA Major: Communities-Oral Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 | SPA Major: Communities-Writing Course | 3 |
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | Gen Ed Natural Lab Science | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | University Elective2 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math | 4 | Minor Course | 3 |
| SPA Major: Communities-Oral Course (not already used) | 3 | CASSH Core Course | 3 |
| SPA Major: Communities-Writing Course (not already used) | 3 | SPA Major: Identities & Perspectives Course3 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2 | Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | SPA Major: Identities & Perspectives Course3 | 3 |
| SPA Major: Identities & Perspectives Course3 | 3 | Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| SPA Major: Identities & Perspectives Course3 | 3 | Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| University Elective | 2 | University Elective | 3 |
| SPA Major: Human Conditions in Globalized Societies Course4 | 3 | SPA Major: Human Conditions in Globalized Societies Course4 | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | CASSH Core Diversity Course | 3 |
| CASSH Core Course | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
If a student is placed into a 300-level Spanish course, they must earn retro credit for SPA 202 or SPA 221 in order to satisfy Gen Ed and the CASSH B.A. Core language requirements.
- 2
Must be taken from the General Education: Math/Language/Logical Systems category if retro credit for SPA 202 or SPA 221 was not earned.
- 3
Students may enroll in the "Identities and Perspectives" courses once they have completed nine of the "Communities: Diversity and Social Responsibility" credits required.
- 4
Students may enroll in the "Human Conditions in Globalized Societies" courses once they have completed six of the "Identities and Perspectives" credits required.