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The Spanish major offered through the Department of World Languages and Literatures within the College of Liberal Arts is an invaluable option to further undergraduate education with rich cultural experiences. The B.A. in Spanish provides students with a number of Spanish language skills including linguistic understanding, critical thinking skills, reading, writing and listening proficiency. It also gives students the opportunity to advance their Spanish language skills in composition, culture and literature, as well as advanced grammar, conversation and Spanish film knowledge.
Students who plan to enter a career using their Spanish language skills may choose to specialize in Spanish through the professions. Students will develop bilingual and bicultural competentency through several course offerings. Students will also gain extensive practice in real-life settings that address the specialized needs of professionals – medical/nursing, legal, business – and prepare students for successful careers in which Spanish-English bilingualism is a key asset.
A language degree opens up numerous career opportunities in a variety of fields where language skills and culture are valued. In addition to broadening your life experiences and your view of the world, studying another language has been shown to improve your general communication skills, your cognitive abilities and your critical thinking. Spanish study on your transcript gives you an edge in any career choice. Among other things, a bachelor's degree in Spanish offers a gateway to countries that trade with the United States. To compete in a global marketplace and to engage an increasingly diverse U.S. population, major industries, multinational corporations and many branches of government seek employees who speak more than just English. Even small local businesses, without global reach, know that applicants with foreign language skills are better qualified than those without them.
Photo caption: Ms. Grimmer (OSLCE) and Ms. Leonard (WLL), Service Learning in Spanish, SPAN 400, course project.
In this specialization, you will focus on theoretical and applied linguistics and learn the science of language. Why study Hispanic linguistics?
A B.A. in Hispanic linguistics prepares you for language teaching, health care professions, translation and interpretation, speech and hearing sciences, international relations, and graduate studies in several areas, including; computer sciences, computational linguistics, bilingual education and several subfields in linguistics.
Students looking to enhance their cultural understanding of the second most widely spoken language in the United States should consider the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Literature and Culture Specialization at the University of Nevada, Reno.
This B.A. track is designed for students who wish to further their communication skills and cultural knowledge to perform language services in professional settings where Spanish is used. This track hones Spanish communication skills and cultural knowledge so that you may serve the needs of the U.S.-Latino community in professional settings (i.e., education, social work, health care, criminology, journalism, service agencies, etc.) through translation and interpretation. The combination of professionally focused courses and practical experience in this program will enhance students' professional preparation for employment in positions that require advanced proficiency in Spanish and an in-depth understanding of U.S.-Latino culture.
The Spanish Bachelor of Arts with concentration in media aims to serve students who plan to enter a career using their Spanish language skills. It offers students who plan to enter the field of media with a foundational background in Spanish language, linguistics and culture. It offers courses that focus on the linguistic structures of English and Spanish, including U.S. Spanish, and on the development of a bilingual and bicultural competence. Several courses offer students extensive practice in real-life settings that address the specialized needs of professionals – journalism – and prepare students for successful careers in which Spanish-English bilingualism is a key asset.
Students who complete this dual major program will earn two majors: the Bachelor of Arts with majors in journalism (bilingual media) and Spanish (media studies). This program provides students with a foundational background in Spanish linguistics, literature and culture, and the skills and knowledge necessary to practice bilingual journalism or strategic communications. Students who successfully complete the program are prepared to pursue careers as bilingual professionals in news, public relations or advertising, graduate school, or a career using media skills and/or Spanish language.
Students who complete this dual degree program will earn two degrees: the Bachelor of Arts in Education/Secondary Education and the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. This program provides students with a foundational background in Spanish linguistics, literature and culture, and includes all coursework required to apply for a license to teach Spanish in Nevada. Students who successfully complete the program are prepared to pursue secondary school teaching, graduate school, or an immediate career using Spanish.
The Department of World Languages and Literatures at the University of Nevada, Reno also offers four Spanish minors with specializations in translation/professions, linguistics, literatures and media studies. Students who graduate with a minor in Spanish have a diverse array of opportunities in many different fields, especially those with an international focus, including further specialized studies in literature, linguistics and culture, or careers in other fields such as translation, interpretation, education, public service, business, law, environmental policies, social services, medicine, or the arts.
A Spanish major will open up more career options and make you more competitive on the job market. The Department of World Languages and Literatures helps prepare students for internships in organizations such as these:
In addition to going into teaching after graduation, the following areas are looking for leaders with a foreign language proficiency:
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