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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Major in Spanish (Bachelor of Arts in Spanish)

Students on Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027 requirements SPANBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish offers a student in-depth knowledge of the rich and diverse languages and cultures of Iberian, Latin American, and Latinx communities. Students choose from three different tracks: 1. Hispanic studies, 2. Hispanic linguistics, 3. Spanish-Portuguese studies. The major allows students to take a variety of courses in literature, culture, film, multilingualism, translation, and linguistics in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Catalan.   

Requirements

The major requires at least 33 credit hours*, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Second-Year Spanish II. One (1) course:
    • HISP-S 250 Second-Year Spanish II
    • HISP-S 251 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers
  2. Spanish Grammar in Context**. One (1) course:
    • HISP-S 280 Spanish Grammar in Context
    • HISP-S 281 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers
  3. Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Cultures. One (1) course:
    • HISP-S 324 Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Cultures
  4. Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics. One (1) course:
    • HISP-S 326 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
  5. Introduction to Hispanic Literature. One (1) course:
    • HISP-S 328 Introduction to Hispanic Literature
  6. Spanish Track Requirement. Complete one (1) of the Spanish Tracks (see list below).
  7. Major Hours and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. Major Upper Division Courses. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300-499 level.
    3. Minimum Grade. A grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.

Major Area Courses

  • Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

    • Any course at the 100–499 level with the HISP subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
    • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
    • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement (unless otherwise noted) :

  • Any HISP-S 100–199
  • HISP-S 208 The Language of Leadership
  • HISP-S 220 US Latino Literatures
  • HISP-S 260 Trends in Hispanic Cinema
  • HISP-S 265 Topics in Hispanic Literature in Translation
  • HISP-S 284 Women in Hispanic Culture
  • HISP-S 290 Topics in Hispanic Culture
  • HISP-S 293 Spanish Across the Curriculum
  • HISP-S 421
  • HISP-S 499 Honors Research in Spanish
  • SPAN-S 203 Second Year Spanish 1
  • SPAN-S 303 The Hispanic World
  • The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements, but will count toward the College Breadth requirement
    • Any HISP-P 100–499
    • HISP-S 100 Elementary Spanish I *
    • HISP-S 105 First-Year Spanish *
    • HISP-S 150 Elementary Spanish II *
    • HISP-S 200 Second-Year Spanish I *

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) will count toward the College Breadth requirement.

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Area Certificate in Spanish and Hispanic Cultures for Global Business [SHCGBACRT]
  • Minor in Spanish [SPANMIN]

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Tracks