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 Spanish?
- There are 470 million native speakers of Spanish
- Spanish is the official language of 40 countries
- Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations
- Over 75% of Spanish majors also carry another major, such as Neuroscience, Public Health, Business, Nursing, Social Work, Biology, and International Studies
- Ohio State graduates with Spanish degrees have chosen a wide range of professions
Students may seek out an Internship to include as part of the Spanish programs.
Elementary Language Sequence for Spanish
All students with majors or minors in Spanish must demonstrate proficiency through the 1100-level General Education language sequence and Spanish 2202 or 2213. The pathways are:
- 1101 > 1102 > 1103 / 1113 > 2202 / 2213 OR
- 1155 > 1103 / 1113 > 2202 / 2213
Students with previous experience with Spanish language may be able to begin at a more advanced level through Departmental Placement, Testing and Transfer Credit options.
Spanish Major Program
The Spanish major consists of a minimum of 33 credits distributed into four tracks.
- A minimum grade of "C-" in all courses toward the major.
- Only 1 course taught in English at the 4000 or 5000-level may apply to the Spanish Major.
- ASC Honors students must fulfill the requirements of the Spanish Honors Major. (H) and (E) denotes Honors and Embedded Honors versions.
- Only 2 Honors embedded (E) courses may apply to the Major program.
- Non-Honors students must meet GPA and pre-requisites to be considered for enrollment in H or E sections.
Why Study Spanish?
- There are 470 million native speakers of Spanish
- Spanish is the official language of 40 countries
- Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations
- Over 75% of Spanish majors also carry another major, such as Neuroscience, Public Health, Business, Nursing, Social Work, Biology, and International Studies
- Ohio State graduates with Spanish degrees have chosen a wide range of professions
Students may seek out an Internship to include as part of the Spanish programs.
Elementary Language Sequence for Spanish
All students with majors or minors in Spanish must demonstrate proficiency through the 1100-level General Education language sequence and Spanish 2202 or 2213. The pathways are:
- 1101 > 1102 > 1103 / 1113 > 2202 / 2213 OR
- 1155 > 1103 / 1113 > 2202 / 2213
Students with previous experience with Spanish language may be able to begin at a more advanced level through Departmental Placement, Testing and Transfer Credit options.
Spanish Major Program
The Spanish major consists of a minimum of 33 credits distributed into four tracks.
- A minimum grade of "C-" in all courses toward the major.
- Only 1 course taught in English at the 4000 or 5000-level may apply to the Spanish Major.
- ASC Honors students must fulfill the requirements of the Spanish Honors Major. (H) and (E) denotes Honors and Embedded Honors versions.
- Only 2 Honors embedded (E) courses may apply to the Major program.
- Non-Honors students must meet GPA and pre-requisites to be considered for enrollment in H or E sections.
Spanish 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 Spanish offerings through the Registrar's Schedule of Classes.
Major Concentration Requirements
Orientation Level
These four courses are required for all tracks:
- 3401 Advanced Grammar; and
- 3403 Intermediate Spanish Composition; or
3413 Spanish for Heritage Speakers; and - 3450(H) Intro to the Study of Literature and Culture in Spanish: Reading Texts; and
- 3404 Spanish Pronunciation
Track in Hispanic Linguistics
- Concentration: 3 courses from Hispanic Linguistics Concentration, including 4430 or 4430H – 9cr
- Diversification: 2 courses from either Iberian or Latin American Literatures and Cultures Concentration or one course from each Concentration – 6cr
- Hispanic Linguistics Seminar: Spanish 5630(E) (Offered SP semester only) – 3cr
- Electives: 1 course from any Concentration or the Electives section – 3cr
Students desiring to switch tracks during the major will be able to do so fairly easily, given the common core requirements of each track. However, it should be noted that the longer a student waits to switch tracks, the potentially more time-consuming such a switch will become.
*4999(H), 5797, 4193 can be taken for up to 9 credit hours, but only a maximum of 3 credit hours can count toward the Spanish Major program by departmental approval.
Track in Iberian Literatures and Cultures
- Concentration: 3 courses from Iberian Concentration courses – 9cr
- Diversification: 2 courses from either Latin American Literatures and Cultures Concentration or Hispanic Linguistics Concentration or one course from each Concentration – 6cr
- Iberian Seminar: Spanish 5650(E) (Offered AU semester only) – 3cr
- Electives: 1 course from any Concentration or the Electives section – 3cr
Students desiring to switch tracks during the major will be able to do so fairly easily, given the common core requirements of each track. However, it should be noted that the longer a student waits to switch tracks, the potentially more time-consuming such a switch will become.
*4999(H), 5797, 4193 can be taken for up to 9 credit hours, but only a maximum of 3 credit hours can count toward the Spanish Major program by departmental approval.
Track in Latin American Literatures and Cultures
- Concentration: 3 courses from Latin American Literatures and Cultures Concentration courses – 9cr
- Diversification: 2 courses from either Iberian Concentration or Hispanic Linguistics Concentration or one course from each Concentration – 6cr
- Latin American Seminar: Spanish 5660(E) (Offered both AU and SP semester) – 3cr
- Electives: 1 course from any Concentration or the Electives section – 3cr
Students desiring to switch tracks during the major will be able to do so fairly easily, given the common core requirements of each track. However, it should be noted that the longer a student waits to switch tracks, the potentially more time-consuming such a switch will become.
*4999(H), 5797, 4193 can be taken for up to 9 credit hours, but only a maximum of 3 credit hours can count toward the Spanish Major program by departmental approval.
Track in Latinx Literatures and Cultures
- Concentration: 3 courses from Latinx Literatures and Cultures Concentration courses – 9cr
- Diversification: 2 courses from Iberian, Latin American Literatures & Cultures and/or Hispanic Linguistics– 6cr
- Latinx Seminar: SPAN 5670(E)– 3cr
- Immersion Requirement: 5689S Spanish in Ohio– 3cr
Students desiring to switch tracks during the major will be able to do so fairly easily, given the common core requirements of each track. However, it should be noted that the longer a student waits to switch tracks, the potentially more time-consuming such a switch will become.
*4999(H), 5797, 4193 can be taken for up to 9 credit hours, but only a maximum of 3 credit hours can count toward the Spanish Major program by departmental approval.
Immersion Requirement
In order to satisfy the Spanish Immersion Requirement, students must fulfill one of the following options:
- They must successfully complete an accredited Spanish study abroad program approved by the major/minor advisor; it must be a minimum of 5-weeks in length with at least 3 semester credit hours at the intermediate (3400) level or above; or
- they must have studied an academic year (at least 9 months) in a Spanish-language high-school or university; or
- they must document that they spent at least one calendar year abroad (12 months) in a Spanish-language immersion environment; or
- they must successfully complete Spanish 5689S: Spanish in Ohio; or
- they must successfully complete a UGSC-approved Internship 5191
- they must be a heritage Spanish speaker entering at the 3400-level; or
- they must be a native Spanish speaker as defined by Ohio State.
Spanish Honors Major Requirements
Orientation Level
These four courses are required:
- 3401 Advanced Grammar
- 3403 Intermediate Spanish Composition; or
3413 Spanish for Heritage Speakers - 3450H Introduction to the Study of Literature & Culture in Spanish H-section required
- 3404 Spanish Pronunciation
Core
- Three courses in a primary concentration - 9 credits; and
- Two courses in a secondary concentration - 6 credits; and
- Two of five concentration courses must carry Honors status (E = Embedded Honors available*); and
- Spanish Seminar (5650, 5660, 5670 or 5630 - 3 credits); and
- Spanish Honors Thesis completion (4999H, 4+ credits) or Spanish Embedded Honors Seminar (5650E, 5660E, 5670E or 5630E - 3 credits)
NOTE: Exceptions to the above requirements and distributions will be considered when they do not diminish the quality of the individual major program.
Immersion Requirement
In order to satisfy the Spanish Immersion Requirement, students must fulfill one of the following options:
- They must successfully complete an accredited Spanish study abroad program approved by the major/minor advisor; it must be a minimum of 5-weeks in length with at least 3 semester credit hours at the intermediate (3400) level or above; or
- they must have studied an academic year (at least 9 months) in a Spanish-language high-school or university; or
- they must document that they spent at least one calendar year abroad (12 months) in a Spanish-language immersion environment; or
- they must successfully complete Spanish 5689S: Spanish in Ohio; or
- they must successfully complete a UGSC-approved Internship 5191
- they must be a heritage Spanish speaker entering at the 3400-level; or
- they must be a native Spanish speaker as defined by Ohio State.
Arts and Sciences Honors Advisor
Your Arts and Sciences honors advisor is a full-time professional and generalist who will advise you on:
- general education requirements
- graduation requirements
- honors opportunities and requirements
- degree planning
- special academic and career opportunities
- referrals to campus support and enrichment services
- university policies and procedures
Unless you come in during designated walk-in hours, you will need to make an appointment to meet with your Arts and Sciences honors advisor. To schedule an appointment, please use OnCourse, call (614) 292-5104, or stop by the Honors Office in 100 Denney Hall.
Departmental Honors Advisor (Major Advisor)
Your departmental honors advisor is knowledgeable in your area of study. This advisor will be a department faculty member who advises, teaches, and fulfills research duties, or, in some cases, a full-time professional advisor. You should consult your departmental honors advisor on issues related specifically to your major.
If you have questions or concerns specifically about your major or minor, please contact the departmental honors advisor for the relevant department. To make an appointment with a departmental honors advisor, please call or e-mail that advisor.
Many of the forms on the linked page are editable. You can type in your information and email it to aschonors@osu.edu.
