Alumni will go on to successful careers a:
- Business professionals
- Government civil service, customs, intelligence agents
- Educators
- Health care professionals
- Journalists
- Language analysts
- Lawyers
- Mission workers
- Translators/interpreters
Spanish
- Bachelor of Arts
- Minor
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In This Section
Unlock Your Global Potential: Master Spanish at Saint Vincent College
Fluency in another language is essential in today’s globalized world. Saint Vincent College’s Spanish program offers an opportunity to master Spanish, emphasizing communication skills and cultural understanding. The curriculum integrates listening, speaking, reading, and writing with an exploration of Spanish-speaking cultures. The Spanish program is designed as a support to other majors adding value to any degree while enhancing marketability in a global workforce. This comprehensive program aligns with the College’s mission to produce well-rounded graduates prepared for life, citizenship, and diverse careers.
Spanish education certification
The Spanish education certification program includes preparation for certification to teach through collaboration with the Department of Education. Those interested in pursuing an education certification can learn more here: Education K-12
Undergraduate Programs
Program Highlights
Study Abroad Programs
Our Office of Global and Community Engagement helps students secure study abroad opportunities, allowing them to immerse in another culture, earn degree credits, and become proficient in Spanish through real-life practice and exposure.
Professional Edge
Learning a second language enhances your marketability in business, education, health care, and government jobs by enabling effective communication with diverse populations. A degree in Spanish adds value to any major or field of study, opens up more opportunities, and makes you a more competitive candidate in the job market.
Poster Presentations at Academic Conference
At the annual Academic Conference, students deliver bilingual presentations on cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries that they have researched.
Cultural Events
Students participate in an array of cultural events hosted by the multicultural club and the Spanish Department.
Careers After Saint Vincent
Student Success Stories
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Robert Gigliotti, C' 22
"When I was at Saint Vincent, I majored in biology and minored in business and Spanish. Learning to speak Spanish not only helped me stand out in my interviews for optometry school but has been helping me in my clinical education now as well. I have seen around a hundred patients so far, and half of those exams have been conducted in Spanish. Treating patients without a translator not only helps the flow of the exam, but more importantly helps the patient feel more comfortable - and that's what really counts.”
3rd Year Optometry Student, MCPHS University
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Carly Rimel, C’19 G’22
"Studying Spanish at Saint Vincent College has changed my life for the better. The content covered in SVC Spanish courses spans from language and literature to art and history. My study abroad experience in Cuernavaca, Mexico greatly strengthened my confidence in conversing with native speakers and deepened my cultural awareness. Without this program, I would not be nearly as confident in my language abilities, nor would I have gotten my first job. Being bilingual allows you to communicate in ways you never thought imaginable, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
High School Counselor, West Jefferson Hills School District
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Mickey Orange, C’16
"The liberal arts education I received at SVC emphasized community, stewardship, and intellectual growth, fostering my holistic development that has been highly valued during my time in the Federal government. Studying Spanish as a minor has been essential to my work with the Department of Defense and instrumental in enhancing my ability to navigate global health security partnerships. My time studying abroad at UNIVERSAL in Cuernavaca taught me practical language skills and a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, aligning with Benedictine hallmarks like hospitality. These skills uniquely prepared me to engage in domestic and international biomedical policy efforts and helped hone my ability to strengthen relationships with the Joint Staff, Services, Combatant Commands, and Intelligence Community to ensure the Chemical and Biological Defense Program and medical countermeasure portfolios align with operational concepts that meet Warfighter needs. The liberal arts education, combined with immersive studies at UNIVERSAL, provided me with cultural competence and an interdisciplinary perspective necessary to excel in a field that demands both technical expertise and a global outlook.”
Deputy Director for Medical Acquisition, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense
Required Curriculum
The Spanish major is part of the School of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and supported by our core curriculum, where students delve into diverse academic subjects at both foundational and advanced levels to explore how different disciplines connect, fostering deeper self-understanding and proficiency in their chosen field of study.
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Required Courses - Major or Minor
Spanish majors are required to pursue a second major or a minor as well as develop a portfolio and undergo annual assessments of their oral skills. Additionally, to acquire proficiency in the language, Spanish majors must study in a Spanish-speaking country. For those unable to study abroad, language study in an immersion setting can be substituted.
Major - 36 Credits
- Spanish 203
- Spanish 204
- SP 315 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition
- SP 317 Introduction to Spanish Literary Analysis
- SP 320 Developing Oral Proficiency and Phonetics
Plus one of the following:
- SP 321 Panaroma of Peninsular Literature
- SP 426 Peninsular Short Story
Plus one course from the following:
- SP 322 Panorama of Latin American Literature
- SP 327 Panorama of Spanish American Lit II
- SP 425 Spanish American Short Story
- SP 444 Peninsular Culture and Civilization
- SP 445 Spanish American Culture and Civilization
Plus complete any three courses above SP 317
Credits earned in approved study abroad programs fulfill requirements for the major. Prior approval of study abroad programs is required from the department chairperson.
Required Core Courses:
One course from the following:
- HI 104 Contemporary Europe I
- HI 105 Contemporary Europe II
One course from the following:
- AR 100 Art and Music of Western Culture
- AR 101 Caves to Cathedrals
- AR 102 Art History II: Baroque to the Present
One English course from the following:
- EL 118 Global Literature
- EL 138 Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States
- EL 252 Introduction to Translation
One course from the following:
- AN 222 Cultural Anthropology
- AN 328 Linguistic Anthropology
Minor Requirements - 18 Credits
- SP 315 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition
- SP 317 Introduction to Spanish Literary Analysis
- SP 320 Developing Oral Proficiency and Phonetics
- Any 200+ -level course in literature
- Any course in culture and civilization
- Elective - SP 204 or any 300-level course
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Spanish Teacher Certification
Students seeking Spanish certification, grades K-12, will take a minor in education and are advised to contact the Chairperson of the Education Department for additional guidance. A student should declare an education minor in the registrar’s office.
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Key Courses
Developing Oral Proficiency and Phonetics in Spanish: This course focuses on developing listening, speaking, and pronunciation skills through the study of phonetics. It includes familiarity with dialectal variations and advanced practice in oral expression. Topics may include current events, films, and daily situations.
Spanish American Culture & Civilization: This course surveys the major historic events that shaped Spanish America, including discussions of different historic periods and cultural influences and movements.
Introduction to Spanish Literary Analysis: This course introduces the literary analysis of the four major genres in Peninsular and Spanish American literature: narrative (prose), poetry, drama, and essay. Different texts are discussed and analyzed in their sociocultural contexts. Students acquire the terminology and tools for formal literary analysis in Spanish, recognize major writers and literary movements, and present their findings in written and oral form.
Spanish for Health Professionals: This course enhances Spanish listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills specifically for health care settings. It emphasizes vocabulary and basic conversation skills, while exploring cultural perspectives in medical encounters. Students engage in role-play scenarios from both patient and health professional viewpoints.
Spanish for Business: This course develops oral and written skills in modern commercial Spanish, focusing on common business situations. Practical themes include currency exchange, travel, job interviews, telephone etiquette, and business correspondence. Emphasis is placed on cross-cultural understanding and exploring business practices in Hispanic countries and the United States.