BA in Spanish
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Students choose between two concentrations:
- Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation - equips students with the necessary knowledge, tools and abilities to become competent interpreters and translators.
- Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures - is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study of the varied cultural and literary histories of the Spanish speaking world. Graduates will be prepared for a number of jobs in government, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector, as well as entry into graduate and professional schools.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced level competency in all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in accordance with criteria developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) while developing skills in critical and analytical thinking as well as sharpening research skills through discussion and analysis of different kind of texts, films, documents, and linguistic data.
- Develop professional standards to give presentations in Spanish on a variety of cultural topics including literature, popular culture and films, or interpret speech and translate documents from one language to another, according to their interests.
- Demonstrate intercultural competency through their contact and engagement with the cultures, literatures, history and politics of the diverse places where Spanish is spoken: the Americas- North, Central, and South―the Caribbean, and Europe.
- Gain knowledge of the legal systems of the Spanish–speaking world.
- Graduate with extraordinary international opportunities, whether they elect to undertake further specialized study in Hispanic literatures and cultures, or decide instead to translate and interpret from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Their knowledge of Hispanic cultures will enhance their career opportunities in publishing and journalism, public service, international law and business, social services, diplomacy.
- Expand their career possibilities in many professional fields.
Experiential learning opportunities
Throughout their studies, students can volunteer as translators and interpreters at John Jay and with partner non-profit organizations.
- In their junior year, students are encouraged to participate in the Student Interpreter Services Program, a paid experiential learning opportunity providing language services for John Jay families through the Office for Student Transition Programs.
- During the senior year, students typically engage in an internship experience in translation and/or interpretation in a specific area of their choice.
- In recent years, Spanish majors have
- Worked as interpreters at John Jay during Family Orientation Days and in immigration screenings with attorneys.
- Volunteered their services to non-profit organizations and civic groups, such as The Door, the Petey Greene Program and the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice, and to city-wide events organized by the offices of different council members.
- Interned as interpreters and translators for the NYS Unified Court System and non-profit organizations, such as Immigration Equality and UnLocal.
Coordinator
Professor Aída Martínez-Gómez, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, amartinez-gomez@jjay.cuny.edu
Advising information
Spanish Major Advising Resources, which include sample four-year plans of study
| Spanish Major (or more depending on placement) | 36 | |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish Major (or more depending on placement) General Education | 36 42 | |
| Spanish Major (or more depending on placement) Electives | 36 42 | |
| Spanish Major (or more depending on placement) Total Credits Required for B.A. Degree | 36 120 |
Prerequisites. The Spanish major requires successful completion of the beginning Spanish sequence (SPA 101-SPA 102 OR SPA 111-SPA 112) or placement test results indicating an equivalent level of Spanish language comprehension. The placement exam is available in the Modern Language Lab in room 7.65.00 NB. These courses satisfy the requirements of the General Education program in the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues; and in the College Option: Communications areas.
PART ONE. REQUIRED CORE COURSES - 12 credits
| Required | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| Required | OR | |
| Required SPA 211 | Intermediate Spanish I for Heritage Students | 3 |
| Required SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| Required | OR | |
| Required SPA 212 | Intermediate Spanish II for Heritage Students | 3 |
| Required SPA 215 | Spanish Conversation & Composition | 3 |
| Required | Subtotal: 9 |
PART TWO. CONCENTRATION - 24 credits
Select either Concentration A or Concentration B.
Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation
Concentration A prepares students for positions as translators and interpreters generally, and specifically for positions requiring a background in legal concepts and terminology.
| Electives - Select two | ||
|---|---|---|
| Electives - Select two SPA 309 | The Theme of Justice in Spanish Lit (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 321 | Spanish Literature I | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 322 | Spanish Literature II | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 331 | Latin-American Literature I | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 332 | Latin-American Literature II | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 336 | Themes of Justice in Latin American Lit & Film (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 357 | Violence Against Women in the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 380 | Advanced Selected Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 440 | Legal Interpreting II | 3 |
| Electives - Select two SPA 478 | Internship in Spanish Interpretation and Translation | 3 |
| Electives - Select two | Subtotal: 6 |
Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures
Concentration B is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study in Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures. Students who elect Concentration B can achieve levels of cultural knowledge and sophistication that should make them particularly attractive to employers in such areas as government, international relations, business, marketing (both domestically and in Spain or Latin America), journalism, the foreign service, and certain NGOs in the non-profit sector.
| Select one 300-level Theme of Justice through Literature and/or Film course | ||
|---|---|---|
| Select one 300-level Theme of Justice through Literature and/or Film course SPA 309 | The Theme of Justice in Spanish Lit (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| Select one 300-level Theme of Justice through Literature and/or Film course SPA 336 | Themes of Justice in Latin American Lit & Film (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| Select one 400-level course | ||
|---|---|---|
| Select one 400-level course SPA 401 | Contemporary Issues in Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| Select one 400-level course | Subtotal: 12 |
| Electives - Select four | ||
|---|---|---|
| Electives - Select four SPA 230 | Translating I | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 231 | Interpreting I | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 320 | Latin-American Theatre Taller de Teatro/Theatre Workshop | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 351 | Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Issues in Hispanic Film and Literature | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 354 | Hispanic Film | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 357 | Violence Against Women in the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 359 | The African Legacy in Latin America Through Literature and Films | 3 |
| Electives - Select four SPA 380 | Advanced Selected Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| Electives - Select four FRE 201 | Intermediate French I | 3 |
| Electives - Select four POR 201 | Intermediate Portuguese I | 3 |
| Electives - Select four | Subtotal: 12 | |
| Electives - Select four | TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 36 |
***Notes:
- A semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking university, approved by the student's major advisor and department chair, may substitute for up to fifteen (15) credit hours toward the major.
- All courses used for the major must be taught primarily in the Spanish language except for the POR 201 and FRE 201 electives.