Welcome

Welcome to the Spanish Section of the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Texas at Arlington! Our mission is to promote global competence through the study of the Spanish language and the diverse literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

Spanish is the second-most widely spoken language in the world with over 400 million native speakers who are spread across more than 20 countries on four continents. As one of the official languages of the United Nations and the European Union, Spanish is a global language at the forefront of transnational, transatlantic and transpacific diplomacy and commerce. It is tightly woven into the past, present and future of Texas and the United States and is thus directly relevant to our day-to-day life in Texas. Indeed, Spanish is expected to be the first language of at least 50% of the U.S. population within 50 years.

Our innovative curriculum is designed to maximize the success of both language learners and heritage speakers of Spanish who grew up with Spanish at home. Through experiential learning in language classes, as well as in more advanced courses in literature, culture, linguistics, interpreting, localization and translation, we train our students to be multilingual and intercultural. In addition to linguistic and cultural competence, students gain valuable skills in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.

Spanish graduates are prepared for job opportunities in a wide range of fields:

• The language services industry (localization and translation)
• Education
• Research
• Writing, publishing, and the media
• Health, legal, and social services
• Business
• Government
• International relations
• The cultural heritage sector: museums, libraries, and archives

Explore Spanish at UTA—¡Sí se puede!

Undergraduate Programs

BA in Spanish for Global Competence

All majors in Spanish for Global Competence are required to take:

• SPAN 1441 Beginning Spanish I
• SPAN 1442 Beginning Spanish II
• SPAN 2313 Intermediate Spanish I
• SPAN 2314 Intermediate Spanish II, or SPAN 2315 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers*
• SPAN 3314 Advanced Spanish Grammar, or SPAN 3305 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers*
• SPAN 3315 Spanish Composition
• SPAN 3319 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics
• 18 additional hours in Spanish at the 3000/4000 level, at least nine of which must be at the 4000 level. Note that Business Spanish (SPAN 4335), Spanish Translation (SPAN 4341, SPAN 4342), and Spanish Interpreting (SPAN 4343, SPAN 4344) CANNOT be taken to fulfill this requirement.

*Heritage speakers of Spanish
Students who grew up speaking Spanish at home are considered Heritage Speakers of Spanish; they are not permitted to take SPAN 2314 or 3314. They take SPAN 2315 and 3305 instead. If you are not sure whether you are a heritage speaker, please contact the MODL Undergraduate Advisor.

BA in Spanish Translation and Interpreting

All majors in Spanish Translation and Interpreting are required to take:

• SPAN 1441 Beginning Spanish I
• SPAN 1442 Beginning Spanish II
• SPAN 2313 Intermediate Spanish I
• SPAN 2314 Intermediate Spanish II, or SPAN 2315 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers*
• SPAN 3303 Spanish Conversation, or SPAN 3312 Latin American Culture and Civilization*
• SPAN 3314 Advanced Spanish Grammar, or SPAN 3305 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers*
• SPAN 3315 Spanish Composition
• SPAN 3340 Introduction To Translation
• SPAN 3341 Introduction To Interpreting
• SPAN 4341 Business and Legal Translation
• SPAN 4342 Translation in Healthcare Settings
• SPAN 4343 Interpreting in Medical Settings
• SPAN 4344 Interpreting in Legal Settings

*Heritage speakers of Spanish
Students who grew up speaking Spanish at home are considered Heritage Speakers of Spanish; they are not permitted to take SPAN 2314, 3303, or 3314. For the major in Spanish Translation and Interpreting, they take SPAN 2315, 3312, and 3305 instead. If you are not sure whether you are a heritage speaker, please contact the MODL Undergraduate Advisor.

BBA in International Business-Spanish

In cooperation with MODL, the College of Business Administration offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with a dual concentration in International Business and Spanish.
SEE DESCRIPTIONS HERE

Minor in Spanish for Global Competence

People with foreign language abilities have a distinct advantage in the career marketplace, and they can use those skills to assist them in varying fields, such as business, government, healthcare, as well as legal and social services. Minoring in Spanish is a great way for you to gain a distinguishing, marketable skill while opening your eyes to another culture.
Requirements for a Minor in Spanish For Global Competence

• SPAN 1442*
• SPAN 2313
• SPAN 2314 OR SPAN 2315
• 9 hours of 3000- or 4000-level Spanish coursework

* Note: Although SPAN 1441 is not required for the minor, SPAN 1441 with a grade of C or better is the prerequisite for SPAN 1442. Likewise, a C or better is required for each course in the series in order to enroll in the next.

Minor in Spanish for Global Health

The Program
The minor in Spanish for Global Health will provide students with the skills, both linguistic and cross-cultural, that will enable them to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients, understand the differences between the U.S. and Hispanic healthcare systems and beliefs, and comprehend and produce written and oral texts in Spanish in the fields of healthcare and human services.
Requirements for a Minor in Spanish for Global Health

• SPAN 2314/2315*
• SPAN 3305/3314
• SPAN 2300, 2310, 3312, or 3319
• SPAN 3308
• SPAN 4312, 4336, 4342, or 4343
• 3 hours of an interdisciplinary course (see advisor for list of courses)

*Note: The prerequisite for SPAN 2314/2315 is SPAN 2313 with a grade of C or better or the equivalent, or the consent of the department.

Minor or Certificate in Mexican Culture

The Program
The minor and certificate in Mexican Culture is designed for students that want to learn about some of the most important characteristics of Mexican culture (literature, comics, film, food, art, music, popular culture, literary journalism, feminism, Colonial documents and texts, the study and conservation of endangered Mexican indigenous languages, etc.). This program also emphasizes the relations between cultural production and the society, and the application of that knowledge to teaching, research, translation and interpreting, as well as other professions in the healthcare, business, and government sectors.
Requirements for a Minor in Mexican Culture

• SPAN 2313*
• SPAN 2314/SPAN 2315
• SPAN 3304, SPAN 3317, SPAN 3318, SPAN 4318(Choose two)
• SPAN 3312, SPAN 3313, SPAN 4313, SPAN 4315, SPAN 4332, SPAN 4334(Choose two)

* Note: The prerequisite for this course is SPAN 1442 with a grade of C or better.

Minor or Certificate in Spanish Linguistics

The Program
The Spanish Linguistics program is designed for students who want to strengthen their communication skills and gain a deep knowledge of the Spanish language as a linguistic system. The 18-hour minor and 15-hour certificate offer courses that will take you from theory to practice as you master the elements of the language, including its writing, pronunciation, structure, and history.
Requirements for a Minor in Spanish Linguistics

• SPAN 2313*
• SPAN 2314/2315
• SPAN 3314/3305
• SPAN 3316
• SPAN 4316, 4330, 4332, 4339 (Choose two)

* Note: The prerequisite for this course is SPAN 1442 with a grade of C or better.

Minor or Certificate in Spanish Translation

In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as in the rest of the United States and around the globe, there is a dramatic demand for professionals with a command of both Spanish and English who are capable of effectively translating from Spanish into English and vice versa. To help prepare students for this global market, MODL is pleased to offer a Certificate in Spanish Translation.

The Program
Students interested in receiving theoretical and practical training in Spanish-English and English-Spanish translation should apply for this 15-hour certificate program, which provides hand-on experience in translation, localization, computer-assisted translation, and translation theory. Topics to be covered by coursework in the Certificate in Spanish Translation include medical, business, technical, scientific, legal, and literary translation. Prospective students must demonstrate writing proficiency in both Spanish and English.

Prerequisites

• SPAN 3314 Advanced Spanish Grammar, or SPAN 3305 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers
• SPAN 3315 Spanish Composition

Required Courses:

• SPAN 3340 Introduction to Translation
• SPAN 4341 Business and Legal Translation
• SPAN 4342 Translation in Healthcare Settings

Certificate Program Completion
To receive the certificate, students are also required to pass an Exit Examination in translation.

Minor or Certificate in Spanish Interpreting

In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as in the rest of the United States and around the globe, there is a dramatic demand for professionals with a command of both Spanish and English who are capable of effectively interpreting from Spanish into English and vice versa. To help prepare students for this global market, MODL is pleased to offer a Certificate in Spanish Interpreting.

The Program
Students interested in receiving theoretical and practical training in Spanish-English and English-Spanish interpreting should apply for this 15-hour certificate program, which provides hand-on experience with community interpreting and interpretation theory. Topics to be covered by coursework in the Certificate in Spanish Interpreting include interpreting in medical and legal settings. Prospective students must demonstrate oral proficiency in both Spanish and English.

Prerequisites

• SPAN 2314 Intermediate Spanish II, or SPAN 2315 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers
• SPAN 3314 Advanced Spanish Grammar, or SPAN 3305 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers

Required Courses:

• SPAN 3341 Introduction to Interpreting
• SPAN 4343 Interpreting in Medical Settings
• SPAN 4344 Interpreting in Legal Settings

Certificate in Spanish for the Professions

In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as in the rest of the United States and around the globe, there is a dramatic demand for professionals with Spanish-language skills appropriate for the workplace. To help prepare students for this global market, MODL is pleased to offer a Certificate in Spanish for the Professions.

The Program
Students interested in receiving theoretical and practical training in Spanish for the Professions should apply for this 15-hour certificate program, which will prepare them to work with Spanish-speaking individuals and in Spanish-language contexts. Topics to be covered by coursework in the Certificate in Spanish for the Professions include Spanish for law enforcement, social services, education, medical professions, business, communications; Hispanic culture; and intercultural competence.

Required Courses:

• SPAN 3309 Spanish for the Professions
• SPAN 3314 Advanced Spanish Grammar, or SPAN 3305 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers
• SPAN 3315 Spanish Composition

Two (2) 4000-level courses from the following:

• SPAN 4312 Intercultural Competence for Global Communication
• SPAN 4334 Contemporary Hispanic Culture
• SPAN 4335 Business Spanish
• SPAN 4336 Topics in Spanish for the Professions