Spanish, BA BA
Spanish is spoken by nearly 550 million people worldwide and is an official language in 21 countries and a number of international organizations. Spanish is among the four most spoken languages in the world and has more native speakers than any language except Chinese. Fluency in Spanish opens countless career opportunities for students.
A Spanish major provides exceptional preparation for students interested in a career in business, international affairs, social services, government, health care, communication, translation, marketing, teaching or any profession that requires bilingual written or oral communication skills and cultural understanding. Whether you already have some Spanish communication skills or are starting at the beginning, you will develop both your language capabilities as well as your cultural competence as part of our major. Classes focus on not only language, but literature, linguistics, customs, values, and culture so that students leave UWM ready to speak, read, write and understand Spanish in business and social contexts. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize our Center for International Education to take advantage of study abroad experiences available in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Spain. Some students go short-term, such as a week or two, while others choose to stay abroad for a summer program, a semester or a year.
A Spanish minor and a Business Spanish minor are also available. The Spanish minor can be completed with most Spanish courses at the 300-level and above, while the curriculum for the Business Spanish minor is more structured, with required courses in Business and Legal Spanish. In addition, students who plan to pursue healthcare careers will find value in our Certificate in Spanish for Health Professionals. The certificate is similar to a minor in terms of the number of credits required and can enhance a student's resume.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
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Spanish Major Requirements
The major in Spanish requires 30 credits at the 300 level and above. At least 15 of these advanced credits must be taken in residence at UWM. PORTUGS 202 may be used to satisfy 3 credits of these 30 advanced credits.
The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM, as well as in any transfer work counting toward the major.
All majors are required to take an exit examination, which is offered on campus near the end of each semester. It is recommended strongly that they take this exam during their last semester in the Spanish program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SPANISH 308 | Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 |
| SPANISH 318 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| or SPANISH 319 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPANISH 333 | Advanced Spanish Grammar | 3 |
| SPANISH 350 | Understanding Literature and Culture | 3 |
| Select fifteen credits at the 300 level or above, or PORTUGS 202: 1,2,3 | 15 | |
| Select one course at the 500 level (fulfills L&S Research Requirement): 4 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Students may use a higher-level course to satisfy lower-level electives. For example, to satisfy the "five 300 level or above" electives requirement, a student may take courses at the 300, 400 or 500 levels.
- 2
UWM Study Abroad courses (SPANISH 397, SPANISH 497) may meet these requirements. Please consult the Spanish Undergraduate Advisor about the specific courses to find out whether they can count.
- 3
We encourage our Spanish majors to build on their knowledge of Hispanic Cultures and the Spanish language by developing their knowledge of Lusophone cultures and the Portuguese language, which is closely related to Spanish historically, geographically and linguistically. Therefore, PORTUGS 202 and PORTUGS 360 (3 cr.) may count as electives in the Spanish major, and students who complete these courses should consider completing the Portuguese minor in addition to the Spanish major.
- 4
Students must complete the L&S research experience; they can do this in any Spanish course at the 500 level. These courses include a research component that serves to develop students’ ability to do independent research in a specific field of interest. Both the oral presentation and the written research paper will be evaluated and rated in the areas of language acquisition/usage as well as research ability/synthesis. Students who complete a second 500 level course as one of their electives and fulfill other GPA requirements can apply for Honors in the Major.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.