Spanish Major, Minor, & Certificate
Spanish is spoken by some 400 million people and is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. Speakers of Spanish are needed in a wide variety of fields such as business, education, health care, journalism and social work. A Spanish major, minor, or certificate can be combined with any major to help increase your career opportunities. Many students of Spanish also develop their proficiency by applying their skills in service opportunities and studying abroad.
Required Core Courses - 21 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
Elective courses - 15hrs
Select five 300 or 400 level Spanish courses, OR four additional 300 or 400 level Spanish courses and one 200 level Spanish course.
Total credit hours: 36
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirments, please view the offical WKU catalog:
Required Core Courses - 30 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
- SPAN 345 Topics in Spanish Or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Cultural Readings (3 hours)
- SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish Or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition (3 hours)
- Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses (3 hours):
- SPAN 3** or 4** Study Abroad
- SPAN 389 Internship in Spanish
- SPAN 331 Spanish for Professional Communication
- SPAN 455 Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
- SPAN 480 Translation and Interpreting
Spanish for Communication Concentration Classes - 9 Hrs
Students must complete one of the follow tracks:
Workplace Communication
- COMM 330 Leadership Communication
- COMM 349 Small Group Communication
- COMM 365 Intercultural Comm
Advertising/User Experience
- ART 243 Digital Media
- UX 320 User Experience Design
- UX 330 Interactive Design
Strategic Communications
- PR 255 Fundamentals of Public Relations
- COMM 346 Persuasion
- COMM 364 Crisis Communication
Total: 39 hours
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Required Core Courses - 21 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
Spanish for International Business Concentration Courses - 18 Hrs
- SPAN 345 Topics in Spanish Or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Cultural Readings (3 hours)
- SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish Or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition (3 hours)
- MGT 210 Organization and Management (3 hours)
- MGT 303 International Business (3 hours)
- Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses (3 hours):
- SPAN 3** or 4** Study Abroad
- SPAN 389 Internship in Spanish
- SPAN 331 Spanish for Professional Communication
- SPAN 455 Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
- SPAN 480 Translation and Interpreting
- Choose one of the following International Business electives (3 hours):
- ENT 425 International Entrepreneurship
- MGT 316 International Management
- ECON 380 International Economics
Total: 39 hours
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Required Core Courses - 21 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
Spanish for Health Sciences and Health Care Concentration Courses - 18 Hrs
- SPAN 345 Topics in Spanish Or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Cultural Readings (3 hours)
- SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish Or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition (3 hours)
- Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses (3 hours):
- SPAN 3** or 4** Study Abroad
- SPAN 389 Internship in Spanish
- SPAN 331 Spanish for Professional Communication
- SPAN 455 Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
- SPAN 480 Translation and Interpreting - Choose any 9 hours from the following courses:
- (Biology) BIOL 113-114, 120-121, 122-123, 131
- (Chemistry) CHEM 105-6, 107-8, 109, 116, 120-121
- (Psychology) PSY 100, PSY 220, PSYS 100, PSYS 220, PSYS 440
- (Human Nutrition) HMD 211
Total: 39 hours
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Required Core Courses - 21 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
Spanish for Legal Professionals Concentration Courses - 18 Hrs
- SPAN 345 Topics in Spanish Or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Cultural Readings (3 hours)
- SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish Or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition (3 hours)
- PLS 225 Introduction to Law 3hrs
- PLS 200 Legal Ethics 3hrs
- Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses (3 hours):
- SPAN 3** or 4** Study Abroad
- SPAN 389 Internship in Spanish
- SPAN 331 Spanish for Professional Communication
- SPAN 455 Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
- SPAN 480 Translation and Interpreting - Choose one of the two Paralegal Studies elective courses (3 hours):
- PLS 296 Family Law
- PLS 291 Criminal Law 3hrs
Total: 39 hours
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Required Core Courses - 23 Hrs
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent) (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 Intermediate Spanish (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
- SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish
Elective Courses - 12 Hrs
- Select four Spanish Courses at the 300- or 400-level.
Total: 36 hours
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Note: The Spanish Major only requires 6 more hours (two courses) than the Spanish Minor
Required core courses - 21 Hrs
- SPAN 102 (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 and 202 (6 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
- SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 hours)
- SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America (3 hours)
Elective courses - 9 Hrs
Select three 300 or 400 level Spanish courses, OR two additional 300 or 400 level Spanish courses and one 200 level Spanish course.
Total credit hours: 30
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Great for student in Healthcare, Business, Education, Journalism, and Criminology!
Required Core Courses
- SPAN 101 (3 hours)
- SPAN 102 (3 hours)
- SPAN 201 (3 hours)
- SPAN 202 (3 hours)
- SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation (3 hours)
- SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 hours)
Total credit hours: 18
Contact Melissa Stewart at melissa.stewart@wku.edu to get started.
50% of the course must be taken at WKU.
Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit.
Study abroad is strongly recommended.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date programs requirements, please view the official WKU catalog:
Declare a Spanish Major, Minor, or Certificate
Apply to Western Kentucky University
Do you still have a question that wasn't answered by our web page, your professor or your advisor? Contact the Modern Languages Department at modern.languages@wku.edu for placement questions, and any of the Spanish Faculty for departmental exams, questions about majoring, prestigious scholarships, and study abroad opportunities.
Learn how our alumnus use Spanish professionally and in everyday life.
“I have been able to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients about their healthcare needs.”
“You have to get on and pedal. Sometimes you’ll fall, but if you don’t get on, you’ll never get comfortable.”
“I feel like my professors helped me so much in guiding me into my path.”
“Don’t be afraid to do your research. Lean on other people and know that you are worth more than you think you are.”
Spanish Club
The Spanish Club meets regularly for a wide variety of creative and informative activities, and always fun! The Spanish Club frequently joins other language clubs for food and cultural events. Joining the club is a great way to find friends with similar interests while continuing to learn about Spanish language and culture.
Email yertty.vandermolen@wku.edu for more information.
Human Rights in the Hispanic World - Featured Course
Throughout the Human Rights in the Hispanic World course, we explored different important topics related to human rights through different documents, poems, songs and interacted with experts in different key topics. We worked on two main projects: 1) interviewing Hispanic immigrants in Bowling Green and, 2) using the five service learning principles to meet needs in the Hispanic community in Bowling Green, KY.
Did you take Spanish in high school?
If you have studied Spanish in high school, but haven't taken any courses with us yet, visit the Placement page to learn about options for getting credit for what you know, and for placing properly. If you are already in a course and are considering majoring, begin by talking with your professor. Once you declare the major, you will be assigned an advisor.
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