The Spanish Program
Spanish is the most studied foreign language in the United States, and Hispanic culture, from the beginnings of the Spanish Empire to the creation of the Latin American republics up to modern times, has influenced Western civilization with its historical and cultural legacy. Even today, some of the world's fastest-growing economies can be found in Latin America. The Spanish Program at CSUN offers several options for those interested in pursuing studies in this world language.
The program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with two specializations: a Literature option and a Language and Culture option. Both options are designed to provide an advanced and thorough knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, and are geared towards students who wish to prepare for a career in secodary, college, or university teaching, or who intend to pursue other careers where a strong background in Spanish is essential. In addition to the major, the program also offers a minor in Spanish for students who are specializing in other languages or academic subjects, but who want to enrich their college and world experience with the study of a major language.
In addition to the undergraduate degrees, the Spanish program also offers a Master of Arts in Spanish. The major goals are to:
- Prepare students to participate in a wide variety of careers (e.g. legal, medical, diplomatic, business, teaching, administrative, translation) that require native or near-native abilities in oral and written skills.
- Provide students with techniques, methods, strategies, and skills to carry out independent research that would support career choices.
- Establish a solid foundation for life-long learning and community service in the Hispanic communities.
- Design, organize, and successfully deliver advanced-level seminars that demonstrate superior level oral proficiency as well as teaching methodologies.
Why Study Spanish?
- To acquire the ability to communicate both in spoken and written Spanish.
- To appreciate the richness of cultures and a language with contributions that helped shape Western civilization and thought. Currently, Spanish literature has been the subject of 11 Nobel Prizes.
- Spanish is the second most natively spoken language in the world.
- It is an official/national language in 21 countries around the world and an official language in 15 international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization.
- It is the second most spoken language in the United States, which has the world's second largest Spanish-speaking population, and where it is formally recognized at the state level in various states.
- It is an increasingly influential language on the world stage, as Latin America is host to some of the world's emerging and fastest-growing economies.
- Due to its increasing presence in the United States and its role in the global economy, it is an indispensable asset in career development and can help you find a job in fields such as education, law enforcement, defense, foreign affairs, and the judiciary, among others.