BA in Spanish
Houston Christian University’s Bachelor of Arts in Spanish degree program offers an immersive global experience, blending language proficiency, cultural immersion, and academic exploration.
Whether you’re a heritage Spanish speaker or have prior Spanish learning experience, our program caters to your needs through placement exams and tailored coursework. Beyond language acquisition, our curriculum delves into diverse topics such as medical Spanish, Spanish literature, linguistics, and media, fostering a deep understanding of the Spanish-speaking world.
Prepare for the professional realm or careers in spreading God’s word through missionary work, equipped with communication skills and cultural competency. Immerse yourself in the richness of the Spanish language and culture, and embark on a journey of discovery and impact with our Spanish major program.
Spanish Major Program Overview and Requirements
Your Spanish proficiency level determines the 120-credit bachelor’s degree curriculum and the intermediate and advanced Spanish courses you need to take. Then, in addition to core major coursework and general education classes, you’ll be able to explore various areas of study with electives, including Spanish for healthcare professions, business, writing, media, and international outreach work.
Spanish learners and heritage speakers can take the Spanish Placement Exam to earn course credit toward the Spanish major or minor requirements. Email us for more information about Spanish placement exams for credit.
Degree Plan
Review the BA in Spanish degree plan and major requirements.
Courses
As a Spanish major, you’ll explore courses that delve into linguistic, literary, cultural, and professional Spanish language use. These courses encompass career paths serving Spanish-speaking communities and areas related to teaching, writing, film, media, and business.
You may take courses including:
- Advanced Spanish Grammar
- The Art of Translation
- Business Spanish
- Hispanic Literature
- Medical Spanish
- Spanish Film Studies
Spanish Minor
Add our Spanish minor to a different primary area of study at HCU to enhance your cross-cultural communication skills and broaden your career prospects in nearly every field and industry. The Spanish Placement Exam can seamlessly help you earn credits toward the Spanish minor, not just the major.
Review requirements for the Spanish minor program.
What Can I Do With a BA in Spanish From HCU?
Bilingual skills combined with the ability to speak confidently, read with comprehension, and write effectively can be leveraged in fields ranging from the hospitality industry to business and marketing. There are many reasons to study as a Spanish major, with this just being the beginning.
Whether you see yourself serving Spanish-speaking communities, traveling internationally for work opportunities, or pursuing graduate research or ministry programs, our Spanish major equips you to use your toolset immediately in professional roles and to pursue further education to teach and research using the Spanish language in teaching, health, communication, or seminary.
Career and Salary Outcomes
Armed with language proficiency and cultural understanding, critical thinking skills, and specialized studies, our Spanish program graduates thrive in numerous career paths that value effective communication, global awareness, and speaking more than one language. Even advanced fields like law and medicine benefit from the well-rounded education of a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.
Careers you can pursue with a Spanish major include:
- Diplomacy and international relations
- Education
- Healthcare
- International business
- Journalism and media
- Ministry
- Nonprofit and community organizations
- Public relations
- Translation and interpretation
- Tourism and hospitality
Excel in careers that earn rewarding salaries across these industries and more, in settings from courtrooms to hospitals to international businesses. Translation and interpretation careers reported an average annual salary of $57,090 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Similarly, the BLS reports technical writing roles where Spanish majors can communicate complex information bilingually can average an $80,050 yearly salary. In 2023, public relations specialists earned an average annual salary of $66,750, while market research analysts reported an average yearly wage of $75,680, according to the BLS.
Whether you choose a career directly related to the Spanish language or apply your skills in interdisciplinary fields like global business or healthcare, opportunities abound in government, community and social services, education, medicine, business, and foreign and domestic ministry.
Opportunities for Spanish Majors
Study Abroad in Spain
True cultural immersion is how you become confident in wielding Spanish personally, academically, and professionally. Join students of all majors on our annual travel programs to partner institutions for a semester of study, visiting places like the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Take Spanish classes at one of the oldest universities in Europe and connect with other students, faculty, your host family, and the surrounding community through built-in daily excursions and activities. Pell Grant recipients are eligible to apply for financial aid for our study abroad in Spain.
Learn more about studying in Spain and study abroad opportunities at HCU.
Internships and Professional Experiences
In addition to time spent studying, your optional semester in Spain can include an international internship tailored to your career aspirations, including medicine, business, and church ministry. We think hands-on experience is a lynchpin in a well-rounded education, so whether you complete an internship here in Houston or abroad or take advantage of our numerous service learning opportunities, as a Spanish major you’ll demonstrate real-world experience in putting your Spanish skills and communication skills to work.
Learn From Expert Faculty
Our expert Spanish language faculty have experience speaking, teaching, and researching Spanish across various professional contexts and publish cutting-edge research in Spanish language learning and other topics. Your professors’ vast network of contacts in international business, language, linguistics, and translation provides a framework of support for your post-graduation endeavors, no matter how ambitious.
Testimonials from Spanish Majors
Throughout my time studying Spanish at HCU, I was amazed by the dedication of the professors and how available they were to us as students. They are experts in their fields of study and they know very well how to teach. After having gone through the program, I am now fully confident in my abilities to communicate in Spanish and I know my career options. I discovered the importance of Hispanic literature in the world, learned how to use Spanish in various careers such as in the medical field and in business, and I was able to learn alongside native speakers with whom I was able to practice Spanish, learn about culture, and make lifelong friendships. I definitely recommend studying Spanish at HCU to anyone who is interested.
Becoming a Spanish Major was not my main focus coming into HCU. I was unaware of the opportunities it could provide me with and now I am actually pursuing a career with this degree. The Spanish department is helpful, friendly, and always available. I have created relationships that have pushed me to do better while in this program and cherish every one of them. Being a Spanish major, especially coming from a Hispanic background, has taught me more about a side of Hispanic culture that was not taught to me at home and has resulted in a deeper connection to my roots and heritage. Having a Spanish degree has given me an advantage in my field of work since not only am I able to help the Hispanic community but I am seen as more desirable in many social fields of work for being able to connect with Spanish-speaking families. I look forward to impacting the Spanish community with my future endeavors and hopefully, I am able to leave an impact on others as the professors and students of the Spanish program left on me.
The Spanish program at HCU has given me an exceptional education. It has allowed me to reach my college goals by preparing me for a prosperous foreign language teaching career. The program has allowed me to develop a fond appreciation for Spanish literature, which has taken me into a deeper understanding of multicultural societies. The caring community of professors gave me support and encouragement during the whole program. I would not have been able to make it without their sincere care and support. I highly recommend the program to future candidates who are ready to explore, learn, create, and succeed.
Related Programs
Consider checking out other degree and minor programs to help you make a difference and connect with people through language, whether solving problems or communicating certain truths. Whether you’re interested in becoming certified to teach Spanish or Spanish speakers or intensify your track in global business or marketing, you could consider adding a Spanish minor or double majoring with another degree:
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Bilingual Certification and Special Education: This in-demand teacher preparation degree program helps you become certified for teaching bilingual populations aged through sixth grade.
- Bachelor of Science in Spanish Early Childhood-12 with Teacher Certification and Special Education: If you want to become a Spanish teacher, this bachelor’s degree leads to certification in Spanish from early childhood through twelfth grade.
- Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry: Learn the foundation of theological and Biblical studies needed to gain practical ministry skills for various contexts.
- Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business: With our global partnerships, our BBA program in International Business catalyzes the rich exploration of global business careers.
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW): Connect with populations of Spanish speakers through becoming a bilingual social worker licensed in Texas.
We offer bachelor’s programs for all callings, from social work to prelaw and legal studies. Explore HCU majors and online degree programs.
Admissions and Aid
Central to our Ten Pillars vision is a dedication to global engagement and preparing our students to change the wider world. As a Spanish major, prepare comprehensively for fulfilling careers in a supportive and spiritually fruitful community.
- Explore undergraduate admissions requirements: Learn how to submit an application and get help if you need it.
- Find financial aid details: An easy step-by-step guide to everything costs and aid from scholarships to loans.
- Learn about HCU’s core mission: At a glance, see how global engagement ties in with our values and strengths.
Become a Spanish Major at Houston Christian University
No matter your experience in Spanish, leverage the richness of language and culture with HCU’s comprehensive Bachelor of Arts in Spanish degree program. Immerse yourself in a transformative academic experience that opens doors to global opportunities relevant to your aspirational international or domestic career path.
Apply today to embark on a journey of discovery and impact by studying the Spanish language and culture.