Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Spanish, Bachelor of Arts (778)


Program Coordinator

Melissa A. Stewart, melissa.stewart@wku.edu

There are so many reasons to learn Spanish, we could hardly list them all here. Spanish is spoken by some 400 million people. According to About.com, it is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. It is the official language on four continents, and the number of Spanish speakers in the United States is growing. Speakers of Spanish are needed in a wide variety of fields such as business, education, health care, journalism and social work. Spanish makes a great "second major" in combination with just about any other discipline that interests you. Our Spanish program provides you many opportunities to interact with Spanish speakers both at home and abroad, and to apply your skills in service opportunities.

Concentrations

  • Spanish Language and Cultures (SPLC)
  • Communication (COMM)
  • International Business (INBU)
  • Health Sciences & Health Careers (HSHC)
  • Legal Professionals (LEPR)
  • Teacher Education (TCHR)

Program Requirements (36-73 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The Spanish major (reference # 778) leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. A minor is required, unless the student declares the teacher certification concentration. Some of the required coursework may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit. Study abroad is strongly recommended. A minor or second major is required for the non-teacher certification concentration. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this major.

Required Core Courses
SPAN 102Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent)3
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish I3
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II3
SPAN 370Spanish Conversation3
SPAN 371Spanish Composition and Grammar3
SPAN 372Latin American Civilization and Culture3
or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture
SPAN 374Literature and Culture of Spain3
or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America
Total Hours21

Select one of the following Concentrations: 

Spanish Language and Cultures Concentration

In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish Language and Cultures concentration:
Select 5 elective upper level Spanish courses, with at least one 400 level course15
Total Hours15

Spanish Communication Concentration

In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish Communication concentration:
SPAN 345Topics in Spanish3
or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings
SPAN 470Advanced Oral Spanish3
or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition
Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: 3
Internship in Spanish
Spanish for Professional Communication
Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
Translation and Interpreting
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad
Students must take all 3 courses in one of the following options: 9
Workplace Communication
Leadership Communication
Small Group Communication
Intercultural Communication
Advertising/User Experience
Digital Media
Introduction to User Experience Design
User Interface Design
Strategic Communication
Fundamentals of Public Relations
Persuasion
Crisis Communication
Total Hours18

Spanish for International Business Concentration

In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for International Business concentration:
SPAN 345Topics in Spanish3
or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings
SPAN 470Advanced Oral Spanish3
or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition
MGT 210Organization and Management3
MGT 303International Business3
Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: 3
Internship in Spanish
Spanish for Professional Communication
Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
Translation and Interpreting
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad
Choose one of the following International Business electives: 3
International Entrepreneurship
International Management
International Economics
Total Hours18

Spanish for Health Sciences and Health Care Concentration

In addition to the required core courses, students must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for Health Sciences and Health Care concentration:
SPAN 345Topics in Spanish3
or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings
SPAN 470Advanced Oral Spanish3
or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition
Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: 3
Internship in Spanish
Spanish for Professional Communication
Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
Translation and Interpreting
Choose nine hours from the following courses: 9
General Biology
and General Biology Laboratory
Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics
and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab
Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology
and Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Fundamentals of General Chemistry
and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Introduction to College Chemistry
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Human Nutrition
Total Hours18

Spanish for Legal Professionals Concentration

In addition to the required core courses, student must take the following courses if they pursue the Spanish for Legal Professionals concentration:
SPAN 345Topics in Spanish3
or SPAN 381 Spanish Grammar Through Cultural Readings
SPAN 470Advanced Oral Spanish3
or SPAN 471 Advanced Spanish Composition
Legal Ethics
Introduction to Law
Choose one of the following Spanish elective courses: 3
Internship in Spanish
Spanish for Professional Communication
Topics in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies
Translation and Interpreting
SPAN 3** or SPAN 4** Study Abroad
Choose one of the following Paralegal Studies electives: 3
Family Law
Total Hours12

Major in Spanish with Teacher Certification

Required Core Courses
SPAN 102Elementary Spanish II (or equivalent)3
SPAN 201Intermediate Spanish I3
SPAN 202Intermediate Spanish II3
SPAN 370Spanish Conversation3
SPAN 371Spanish Composition and Grammar3
SPAN 372Latin American Civilization and Culture3
or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture
SPAN 374Literature and Culture of Spain3
or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America
SPAN 470Advanced Oral Spanish3
Elective Courses
Select four Spanish Courses at the 300- or 400-level12
Total Hours36

Teacher Certification

Students interested in teacher certification in Arabic, Chinese, or Spanish should meet with the Modern Languages Academic Advisor as early in their academic career as possible for information on current program requirements. World Language teachers in Kentucky may be eligible for interest forgiveness on student loans.

Required for Certification in Spanish
EDU 250Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education3
EDU 260Classroom Assessment3
EDU 350Student Diversity and Differentiation3
EDU 360Behavior and Classroom Management in Education3
EDU 489Student Teaching Seminar3
MLNG 410Second Language Acquisition3
or ENG 469 2nd Language Acquisition Theory
MLNG 474Teaching Foreign Language3
PSY 310Educational Psychology: Development and Learning3
SEC 350Clinical Practices in Secondary Teaching I4
SEC 490Student Teaching10
Total Hours38

All students seeking teacher certification must take the official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) given by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

Finish in Four Plans

Additional Information for Students pursuing a Spanish major

2nd Major or Minor Required for all Spanish Tracks, with the exception of Teacher Certification.

Placement: Students should begin the curriculum at the right level based on previous knowledge. If students begin in 101, bi-term classes are recommended for the first and second year. Read about placement and verified credit at: www.wku.edu/modernlanguages/placement. 

Study Abroad: A full semester abroad - or at a minimum 1-2 shorter term study abroad experiences - are strongly recommended. Consult with an advisor and plan ahead.

Spanish Languages and Cultures 

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
COMM 1453ENG 2003
MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 1163Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3General Elective 3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms)3SPAN 3703
ENG 3003SPAN 3713
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3
General Elective3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3-4
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 372 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN Elective (300-level)3SPAN Elective (300-level)3
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3
SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 120-121

Communication

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
COMM 1453ENG 2003
MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 1163Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3-4
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms)3SPAN 3703
COMM 2003SPAN 3713
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab3-4
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 372 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN Elective (300-level)3COMM 349, UX 220, or COMM 3463
SPAN 381 or SPAN 3453General Elective3
COMM 330, ART 243, or PR 2553General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3 
 18 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 470 or SPAN 4713SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3
COMM 365, UX 330, or COMM 3643General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 123-125
Note:

 Students will choose one concentration and must take the 3 courses listed for that concentration.  The first option listed is Workplace Communication, the second option is Advertising/User Experience, and the third is Strategic Communication.

International Business

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
COMM 1453ECON 2033
MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 1163ENG 2003
ECON 2023Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3-4
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms)3SPAN 3703
MGT 2103SPAN 3713
ENG 3003Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab3-4
General Elective3MGT 3033
 15 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 372 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN 381 or SPAN 3453Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
ENT 425, MGT 316, or ECON 3803General Elective3
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 470 or SPAN 4713SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 120-122

Health Sciences and Health Care

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
COMM 1453ENG 2003
MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 1163BIOL 113
BIOL 114
4
PSY 100, PSYS 100, PSY 220, or PSYS 2203General Elective3
 15 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms)3SPAN 3703
CHEM 107
CHEM 108
4SPAN 3713
ENG 3003CHEM 105
CHEM 106
3-4
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3
General Elective3General Elective3
 16 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 372 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN 381 or SPAN 3453Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
HMD 2113General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 470 or SPAN 4713SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3
PSY 440 or PSYS 4403General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 122-123
Note:

 Students must complete any 9 hours of the science classes listed in the above pathway. 

Legal Professionals

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003PLS 2253
COMM 1453HIST 101 or HIST 1023
MATH 109, MATH 115, or MATH 1163ENG 2003
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3-4
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-terms)3SPAN 3703
PLS 2003SPAN 3713
ENG 3003PLS 296 or PLS 2913
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3
General Elective3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o Lab3-4
 15 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 372 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN 381 or SPAN 3453Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 470 or SPAN 4713SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 120-122

With Teacher Certification

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 1023SPAN 2013
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
COMM 1453EDU 2503
MATH 109 (or higher)3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/Lab3
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3ENG 2003
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 202 (or SPAN 201/SPAN 202 as bi-term)3SPAN 3703
PSY 3103SPAN 3713
ENG 3003Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3
EDU 2603Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3General Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 376 or SPAN 3733SPAN 374 or SPAN 3723
SPAN 381 or SPAN 3313SPAN 3453
ENG 4693Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3
SEC 3504Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
EDU 3503General Elective3
EDU 3603 
 19 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SPAN 470 (or SPAN Elective)3EDU 4893
SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3SEC 49010
SPAN Elective (300/400 level)3 
MLNG 4743 
General Elective3 
 15 13
Total Hours 122