Requirements
A Spanish Major or Spanish Education Major at St. Olaf has multiple components:
– Successful completion of a minimum of 8 (9 for Spanish K-12 Teacher Licensure) courses beginning with Spanish 250 or Spanish 251 with a grade above C- in 6 courses
– An extended period of study abroad (one semester) is highly recommended. (Occasionally a student may opt to spend a whole year abroad.) The linguistic practice and first-hand cultural knowledge you will gain abroad enhances on-campus learning. You may count up to two courses taken abroad for your Spanish Major or up to three courses for your Spanish Education Major, depending on your choice of program. Early planning for study abroad programs is recommended. The Spanish faculty are here to help you consider all of the possibilities.
– Carrying out a program of experiential activities designed to complement in-class learning and expand your ability to use Spanish in a variety of non-academic situations.
All components contribute to a well-rounded major. Although successful completion of course work is the basis for “certification” of the major for graduation, completion of course work is just the start. We encourage students to make a personal commitment to enhance in-class learning with out-of-class experiences and to embrace the Spanish language and the many cultures that make up the Spanish-speaking world as a part of their life, not just a field of study. If you wish to use your Spanish skills and cultural knowledge in a professional field, this prepares you to interact with a wide-range of Spanish-speakers in the U.S. and abroad and to compete successfully in the job market
Your complementary experiential activities are what will make you stand out in comparison to other majors, from St. Olaf and other institutions, when opportunities for awards, scholarships, admission to graduate school, and/or jobs present themselves. Completion of courses with good grades is standard; going beyond that standard is your commitment to excellence.
Requirements for a Graduation Major:
Spanish 250 or 251, 275, 276; either 313 or 314, one additional 300-level course, plus three electives above the 250 level (of these five courses, at least one must focus on Spain and one on Latin America). A maximum of two courses above the 250/251 level may be counted from off-campus study. Independent study or research may not be counted in lieu of any of the courses referred to above.
Requirements for a Spanish Major with K-12 Teaching Licensure:
Spanish 250 or 251, 275, 276; either 313 or 314, one additional 300-level course, plus four electives above the 250/251 level (of these six courses, at least one must focus on Spain and one on Latin America); English 250, Education 321, Educations 352, and all other requirements of the K-12 teaching licensure program in Spanish (see EDUCATION). A maximum of three courses above the 250/251 level may be counted from off-campus study. Independent study or research may not be counted in lieu of any of the courses referred to above. (Consult World Language Licensure Adviser.)
Requirements for a K-8 Specialty in Spanish Teaching:
Spanish 250 or 251, 275, and 276, English 250, and Education 353 and all other requirements of the K-12 teaching licensure program in Spanish. Licensure for K-8 Spanish teaching can be awarded only by an endorsement onto a full K-6, K-12, 5-12, or 9-12 license in another content area.
Course Descriptions
Planning Sheet
Click here for PDF version: Spanish Major Planning Guide
