Our department is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where students can explore the richness of Latinx, Spanish and Portuguese languages and cultures. With a distinguished faculty passionate about teaching and research, students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge academic pursuits while honing their language skills. We pride ourselves on offering a variety of options; including four Spanish major tracks, a Portuguese major, as well as four minors. This diverse set of offerings allows students to tailor their academic journey to align with specific interests and career goals. Whether interested in literature, linguistics, translation, or cultural studies, our diverse and comprehensive programs will empower you to become a global citizen with a deep understanding of the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds.
One of the principal goals of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is to help students attain the highest possible level of language proficiency. To complement classroom study in each language, our department proudly offers various extracurricular and enrichment opportunities for students to further enhance their skills and experience with Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua and Catalan. The department encourages students to take advantage of several short-term and long-term study abroad programs in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Perú, Portugal and Spain.
Why Study Portuguese?
- Portuguese is spoken in countries on four continents.
- It is the 9th most spoken language in the world, with approximately 234 million speakers.
- More than a third of Latin America's population lives in Brazil and speaks Portuguese.
- Portuguese, spoken by 25% of the Southern Hemisphere, is the most common language, surpassing Spanish.
- There are an estimated 1,100,000 Brazilians currently living in the United States.
- Ohio is the sister state of Paraná, Brazil, fostering cultural and business ties.
Portuguese Elementary Language Sequence
All students wishing to major or minor in Portuguese must demonstrate proficiency through the General Education language sequence. There are two pathways for completion:
Portuguese 1101 > 1102 > 1103; OR
Portuguese for Spanish Speakers 5501 > 5502
Students with previous experience with Portuguese language may be able to begin at a more advanced level through Departmental Placement, Testing and Transfer Credit options.
Portuguese Major Program
The Portuguese major consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours distributed as indicated below.
- A minimum grade of "C-" in all courses counting toward the major is required.
- Only 1 course (3 credits) taught in English may count toward the Portuguese Major program
Students may seek out an Internship to include as part of the Portuguese programs.
Why Study Portuguese?
- Portuguese is spoken in countries on four continents.
- It is the 9th most spoken language in the world, with approximately 234 million speakers.
- More than a third of Latin America's population lives in Brazil and speaks Portuguese.
- Portuguese, spoken by 25% of the Southern Hemisphere, is the most common language, surpassing Spanish.
- There are an estimated 1,100,000 Brazilians currently living in the United States.
- Ohio is the sister state of Paraná, Brazil, fostering cultural and business ties.
Portuguese Elementary Language Sequence
All students wishing to major or minor in Portuguese must demonstrate proficiency through the General Education language sequence. There are two pathways for completion:
Portuguese 1101 > 1102 > 1103; OR
Portuguese for Spanish Speakers 5501 > 5502
Students with previous experience with Portuguese language may be able to begin at a more advanced level through Departmental Placement, Testing and Transfer Credit options.
Portuguese Major Program
The Portuguese major consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours distributed as indicated below.
- A minimum grade of "C-" in all courses counting toward the major is required.
- Only 1 course (3 credits) taught in English may count toward the Portuguese Major program
Students may seek out an Internship to include as part of the Portuguese programs.
Portuguese Course Descriptions and Pre-Requisites
Complete course descriptions and pre-requisites are listed in the official OSU Course Catalog. Students may also search specific term Portuguese offerings through the Registrar's Schedule of Classes.
Major Concentration Requirements
Orientation Level
These two Portuguese courses are required:
- 3401 Review of Grammar and Composition
- 3450 Introduction to the Study of Literatures and Cultures
Core Requirements
- Six (6) credit hours at the 3400+ level in Advanced Language and Linguistics, at least three (3) credit hours must be at the 4000-level or above
- 12 credit hours at the 4000+ level in Literature and Culture
- Six (6) credit hours, Electives
**4999H, 5797, 4193 can be taken for up to 3-9cr, but only a maximum of 3cr for each can count toward the Portuguese Major or Minor program.
NOTE: Exceptions to the above requirements and distributions will be considered when they do not diminish the quality of the individual major program.
Do you speak Spanish? OSU’s Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers Portuguese course sequence for students who already speak Spanish –from high intermediate-level to native speakers.
As a speaker of Spanish, you come to Portuguese with a huge vocabulary of cognates and a knowledge of the basic grammar! Such unique strengths (and challenges) call for a specialized approach to learning. Learn about PORT 5501 and 5502, two Portuguese language courses specifically designed to leverage your Spanish knowledge for quick gains in Portuguese proficiency!
Note: Students with high-intermediate to advanced language skills in other Romance Languages may seek instructor permission to enroll.
