Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) at the University of the Incarnate Word fosters knowledge of the language, history and culture of the vast Spanish-speaking world.
Why Spanish?
As one of the most spoken languages on Earth, Spanish is key to navigating the world. It’s the second most spoken language in the United States and counts more than 41 million (and rising) people among its speakers. Earning a degree in Spanish can give provide endless possibilities for life beyond college. Proficient Spanish speakers with cultural awareness are a boon to any business, organization or enterprise, large and small. Spanish speakers help organizations connect with new audiences and communities, communicate effectively and appropriately, and open doors of opportunity in the U.S. and abroad. At UIW, degree program classes are taught entirely in Spanish, which provides students with real-life communicative, research and analytical skills essential for various professions both within and beyond our national borders.
Spanish Curriculum
The B.A. in Spanish major at UIW is a 121-degree hour program designed to help graduates develop language proficiency and cultural awareness through collaborative and rigorous classes. Students can expect engaging courses where they learn to write using correct grammar, including verb tense, aspect and mood, while observing standard usage of writing mechanics like punctuation, accentuation and spelling. Throughout the program, they also develop skills in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and understanding cultural context. What’s more, frequent in-language interaction supports oral fluency approaching that of native speakers.
Students learn from extraordinary faculty who have a deep understanding of Spanish literature and culture. UIW’s Spanish majors take intermediate to advanced courses in grammar, composition, phonetics, communication, literature, culture and civilization and linguistics. They will master the mechanics of language and gain a deep understanding of and appreciation for the culture, history, people and literature of Spain and Latin America.
Through learning about Spanish and Spanish-American social justice issues, UIW graduates will begin to understand and be sensitive to the ways humans have been influenced by cultural, religious and ethnic traditions, by economic forces and by environmental opportunities and limitations.
UIW’s classes tend to be smaller in size, allowing for a more individualized learning environment. Additionally, UIW students also have an opportunity to take part in an internship in Spanish. This professional preparation internship provides practical experience as a language professional in an international or bilingual environment in an approved setting.
Students entering the program with prior knowledge of Spanish should consider taking the Spanish CLEP exam to receive credit for SPAN 1311/1312. See the UIW Undergraduate Bulletin for details.
In addition to locations in San Antonio and a European Study Center, UIW has two campuses in Mexico where students are encouraged to attend through the UIW Study Abroad program. Centro Universitario Incarnate Word, or more commonly referred to as CIW, was established in 2003 and is in the capital of Mexico, Mexico City. Universidad Incarnate Word Campus Bajío, or more commonly referred to as Campus Bajío, was established in 2015 and is in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. All degree programs follow the same curriculum and degree requirements as UIW in San Antonio, and through being immersed in the Latin American culture of Mexico, students can deepen their understanding and knowledge of the Spanish language.
UIW offers students a B.A. in Spanish with an education minor, allowing graduates the opportunity to get certified professionally. In addition to learning to speak, read and write Spanish, UIW graduates selecting this path will demonstrate a detailed knowledge of language acquisition theory and problem areas of the Spanish language for both native-speaking and non-native-speaking learnings, K-12. UIW graduates will also show competence in the preparation and use of Spanish-language teaching materials.
The UIW Teacher Education program that provides the opportunity for students to achieve a teacher certification requires a major in Spanish as well as education courses in learning theories, culturally responsive teaching, a teaching apprenticeship with an apprenticeship seminar and technology in education.
Careers
A world of professional opportunities awaits graduates of the Spanish degree program. Those pursuing a path in education can become Spanish teachers, bilingual educators, English-as-a-second-language or English immersion teachers, curriculum specialists or teacher trainers. Outside of education, graduates can go on to work as translators/interpreters, community outreach specialists, journalists, personnel managers, liaisons for U.S. firms who engage with Spanish-speaking countries, international law, banking, import/export or in a wide variety of industries.