Spanish Minor

Spanish is spoken by many people: more than 38 million in the US, 155,000 in Minnesota, and more than 400 million worldwide. With a rich and diverse history, it is also a language essential to the contemporary world in areas such as education, business, health care, international relations, and law. The Spanish discipline offers courses that emphasize the richness and diversity of Latin American, US Latino, and Iberian cultures, and prepares students with a range of linguistic and critical skills applicable to a wide variety of potential careers or further advanced study in a range of fields.

The Spanish curriculum offers coursework in the cultures, languages, literatures, and films of Latin America, the Latino USA, and Spain. The courses are designed to help students develop critical insight into the philosophies and values of other cultures, proficiency in a second language, and sensitivity toward literature and film that reflect the experiences of the Spanish-speaking world. The curriculum accommodates liberal arts students interested in a cross-cultural perspective, language study, K-12 teaching, working for nonprofit organizations and social services, or preparation for graduate study in Spanish and related fields.

Over the course of the Spanish major, students will learn to:
- Recognize and develop strategies to support and improve their Spanish language proficiencies in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, which in turn enhances and improves general language skills;
- Refine their cross-cultural and intercultural awareness;
- Expand their critical thinking, analytical competencies and problem-solving skills;
- Discover and critically evaluate the traditions, philosophies, values, artistic expressions, and histories of the cultures of Latin America, the Latino USA, and Spain;
- Design and conduct in-depth, sustained, analytical research in Spanish.

In light of today's increasingly interdependent world, the UMM Spanish faculty endorses study abroad, in combination with a Spanish major or minor, as the most effective means by which to:
- Improve language abilities
- Broaden academic horizons
- Globalize one's world view
- Expand career opportunities
- Advance cross-cultural and problem-solving skills
- Gain confidence in oneself personally and professionally

It is strongly recommended that students majoring or minoring in Spanish meet with a Spanish faculty member to plan for a timely and successful completion of their program, even if their primary academic advisor is in another discipline.