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Spanish - B.A.

Bachelor’s Degree in the Spanish Language – B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish provides students with opportunities to explore the rich diversity of Spanish cultures, while developing reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in the Spanish language. Students earning their bachelor’s degree in Spanish will also acquire an in-depth knowledge and critical perspective on history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world through the analysis of literary and nonliterary texts.

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Our Bachelor's Degree in Spanish

Kent State University's Bachelor of Arts in Spanish provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Spanish language, along with the rich cultural, literary, and historical traditions of Spanish-speaking regions. The B.A. in Spanish program emphasizes fluency in speaking, reading, and writing, while exploring the literature, history, and contemporary issues of Latin America, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking communities.

This degree prepares graduates for diverse careers in education, international relations, business, translation, and cultural exchange, as well as for advanced studies. Students develop both linguistic skills and cultural competency, equipping them for success in global, multicultural environments.

Program Information for Bachelor’s Degree in the Spanish Language – B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish provides students with opportunities to explore the rich diversity of Spanish cultures and develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in the Spanish language. Students also acquire an in-depth knowledge and critical perspective of history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world through the analysis of literary and non-literary texts.

Successful completion of the program fosters in students a lifetime commitment and desire to continue learning about languages, literatures and cultures different from their own.

Admissions for Bachelor’s Degree in the Spanish Language – B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Perform tasks at intermediate-high and advanced-low levels of proficiency as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency, in ACTFL terms, is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic, skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and so forth.
  2. Contribute to most informal and some formal conversations with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion. They will, for the most part, be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-native speakers.
  3. Vary the register (formality level) of their speech.
  4. Talk about personal interests, topics of general interest, literature and culture and so forth in the target language.
  5. Listen to extended discourse on a variety of topics and understand main ideas and most details.
  6. Read texts written for native speakers and not edited or adapted for students. They will read a wide variety of text types such as poems, plays, novels, magazine articles, newspaper articles, brochures, pamphlets, menus and letters written for native speakers of Spanish.
  7. Compose routine social correspondence, take notes and write cohesive summaries and resumes, as well as narratives and descriptions of a factual nature, in the target language.
  8. Demonstrate a historical knowledge of Spanish history and culture and understand the diverse nature of culture throughout the ages.
  9. Discuss cultural differences, distinguishing between fact, opinion and stereotypes.
  10. Learn to recognize and esteem diversity as they gain the skills necessary for sensitive, effective interpersonal and intercultural interaction.
  11. Learn to view concepts, issues, events and themes from the perspectives of diverse ethnic and cultural groups and esteem diversity as they gain the skills necessary for sensitive, effective interpersonal and intercultural communication.
  12. Maintain an ongoing assessment of their own cultural values and behaviors.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Prerequisite Requirements 1
SPAN 18201
ELEMENTARY SPANISH I
SPAN 18202
ELEMENTARY SPANISH II
SPAN 28201
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
SPAN 28202
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
SPAN 38211SPANISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION 3
SPAN 38213SPANISH READING AND CONVERSATION 3
SPAN 38421CIVILIZATION OF SPAIN 3
SPAN 38424CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION OF LATIN AMERICA 3
SPAN 48215ADVANCED SPANISH COMPOSITION AND CONVERSATION 3
Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level)6
Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Electives (40000 level)6
Survey Literature Elective, choose from the following:3
SPAN 38330
EARLY SPANISH LITERATURE (ELR) (WIC) 2
SPAN 38331
RECENT SPANISH LITERATURE (ELR) (WIC) 2
SPAN 38334
EARLY SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE (ELR) (WIC) 2
SPAN 38335
RECENT SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE (ELR) (WIC) 2
Major Elective, choose from the following:3
Any Modern and Classical Language Studies (MCLS) Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Any Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level)
Any Translation Studies (TRST) Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)50
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Many students begin their university studies with substantial proficiency in Spanish and therefore, should begin their program of study with the first course in the Spanish major, SPAN 38211. Other students may need to complete one or more of the prerequisite courses: SPAN 18201, SPAN 18202, SPAN 28201, SPAN 28202. Starting Spanish studies in the appropriate course(s) is critical to on-time graduation. All students intending to major in Spanish should contact a Spanish faculty advisor in the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies for individualized placement and advising information prior to enrolling in their first Spanish course. Students entering the university with substantial knowledge of Spanish should consider taking the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), through which they may receive up to 14 credit hours of university credit. Students wishing to earn credit through CLEP should take the exam several weeks prior to enrolling in their first Spanish course to ensure eligibility, timely granting of credits and timely placement into the correct Spanish course(s).

2

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

3

It is recommended that students who have declared the Education minor and students interested in declaring a double major with Translation take MCLS 30420.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • All students in the Spanish major are required to complete the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview, ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test and the Spanish Outcomes Assessment Test prior to being cleared for graduation. Information about the exams can be found on the ACTFL website and the Language Testing International (LTI) website, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL.

Program Note

  • Some courses in the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies are offered on a rotating basis, and course availability may change at any time. Please see the program coordinator or your academic advisor for course planning.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
SPAN 38211 SPANISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
SPAN 38213 SPANISH READING AND CONVERSATION 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
SPAN 38421 CIVILIZATION OF SPAIN 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
SPAN 38424 CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION OF LATIN AMERICA 3
Major Elective or Survey Literature Elective or Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Major Elective or Survey Literature Elective or Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Major Elective or Survey Literature Elective or Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
SPAN 48215 ADVANCED SPANISH COMPOSITION AND CONVERSATION 3
Major Electives or Survey Literature Electives or Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Major Elective or Survey Literature Elective or Spanish (SPAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 11
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Bachelor’s Degree in the Spanish Language – B.A.

Graduates of Kent State’s B.A. in Spanish are well-prepared for careers in education, translation, international relations, and cultural engagement. The program’s comprehensive curriculum emphasizes language proficiency, literary analysis, and cultural studies, equipping students with the skills to communicate effectively and navigate Spanish-speaking environments. 

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language often pursue diverse roles in fields like education, diplomacy, international commerce, and more, where they can apply their Spanish skills.

Some of the various roles graduates pursue in these fields include:

  • Spanish teacher – Educating students in elementary, secondary, or higher education settings, helping them develop language proficiency and cultural understanding
  • Translator and interpreter – Providing written or spoken translation services in various industries such as healthcare, law, and business, ensuring clear communication between Spanish and non-Spanish speakers
  • Cultural ambassador – Promoting cross-cultural understanding through government programs, nonprofits, or international organizations that foster global relationships
  • Global business professional – Working in multinational companies to manage communication, negotiations, and business development in Spanish-speaking markets
  • Public relations specialist – Developing communication strategies and managing media relations for organizations targeting Spanish-speaking audiences
  • Foreign service officer – Engaging in international relations, diplomacy, and policymaking within Spanish-speaking countries
  • Language program coordinator – Designing and implementing language programs in schools or community organizations, focusing on Spanish language acquisition and cultural education

All of these roles are ideal options for those with a bachelor’s degree in the Spanish language, as they leverage language skills and cultural knowledge. Beyond this list, graduates can also explore various other career paths in fields such as media, social services, research, and more. 

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

5.7%

faster than the average

30,600

number of jobs

$69,920

potential earnings

Interpreters and translators

20.0%

much faster than the average

77,400

number of jobs

$52,330

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Take Your Education to New Heights with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Spanish Language

At Kent State, our Bachelor of Arts in Spanish is just the beginning. We offer a diverse array of Spanish language programs, from introductory courses to advanced studies leading to a master’s degree.

In addition to earning a bachelor’s in Spanish, you can explore our other relevant language programs, which include:

With a strong emphasis on practical application, our B.A. in Spanish and other Spanish programs integrate real-world experiences and cultural immersion opportunities. This hands-on approach not only enriches your education but also equips you with valuable skills to thrive in today’s global job market.

Benefits of Earning Your Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at Kent State

As you pursue your bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Kent State, you’ll gain valuable experiences and benefits that will enrich your academic journey and prepare you for a successful career.

Key advantages of earning your degree at Kent State include:

  • Expert faculty support – Our dedicated faculty in Spanish provide personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your academic and career goals while earning your B.A. in Spanish
  • Career development resources – Access career advising, meet with career advisors, and join career communities that support you throughout your journey as you earn your bachelor’s in Spanish
  • Study abroad opportunities – Immerse yourself in Spanish-speaking cultures through our study abroad programs offered by the Office of Global Education, enhancing your learning experience
  • Networking opportunities – Connect with professionals in the language field through workshops and events, allowing you to build a strong professional network for your future career

Ready to take the next step toward a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language? Apply to Kent State online today. 

Contact Our Admissions Office Today

If you have any questions about our Bachelor of Arts in Spanish degree, please reach out to our admissions team. We are eager to assist you as you embark on this exciting journey toward your career in Spanish.

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