Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in the Professions

Turn your spanish into a professional Advantage

The Major in Spanish for the Professions prepares students to use Spanish in the workplaces and communities where they will build their careers. Designed for students interested in fields such as social services, business, and the health professions, the program develops the language skills and cultural understanding needed to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking clients, patients, colleagues, and communities. Students strengthen their ability to speak, listen, read, and write in Spanish while exploring the social and cultural contexts that shape professional interactions. They learn to approach communication with care, adapt to different settings, and recognize the needs and perspectives of the people they serve. By connecting Spanish study with practical applications, the major helps students bring valuable bilingual and intercultural skills to their chosen professions.

Why Earn Your B.A. in Spanish in the Professions?

Develop advanced professional communication skills in Spanish
Study Spanish for workplace and community settings
Build knowledge of Hispanic and Latin American cultures
Connect Spanish with a second major, minor or professional interest
Apply language skills through field-based learning
Prepare to communicate across cultural and organizational contexts

Student receiving pamphlet at SXU event

About the Program

Courses develop advanced speaking and writing alongside the study of Spanish-speaking cultures. You will explore workplace communication and select electives that connect language with your interests. Faculty help you interpret cultural texts and examine how language, identity, and access shape professional relationships.

Students might combine Spanish in the Professions with other academic areas such as:
Business

Communication
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Criminal justice
Health and Human Services
International Studies
Nursing or health care
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work

Bilingual client or community-relations specialist
International business professional
Health-care or social-service liaison
Nonprofit or community-outreach coordinator
Government or public-service professional
Translator or language-services professional with appropriate additional training
Graduate study in Spanish, professional communication or an interdisciplinary field

The Major in Spanish in the Professions connects your studies with organizations serving communities while you are finish your studies through the capstone course SPAN 300 Field Work. During the last semester this program provides students with practical experience through a 120-hour internship in a professional setting where Spanish language skills and intercultural knowledge support workplace activities.

Students apply their classroom learning to real-world tasks, strengthen their professional communication skills, and develop a deeper understanding of working with Spanish-speaking communities. Through supervised fieldwork and guided reflection, students connect their academic preparation in Spanish combined with their specific field to career interests while building professional relationships and gaining valuable workplace experience.

Available Organizations for SPAN 300 Field Work experience:

Placements are coordinated with the program and depend on availability and fit with your academic and professional goals.

Professional Internships: Complete a 120-hour internship through SPAN 300: Field Work, applying Spanish language skills and intercultural knowledge in a professional setting.
Community-Engaged Learning: Collaborate with Spanish-speaking communities on projects that address community-identified needs while developing professional communication and cultural awareness.
Collaborative Projects: Work in teams on authentic professional tasks, such as developing bilingual outreach materials or examining case studies related to healthcare, business, and international relations.
Capstone Projects and Portfolios: Integrate language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and career preparation through a culminating project or portfolio showcasing professional work and reflection on learning. SPAN 395: Senior Seminar develops advanced analysis, research, and communication through literary or cultural study. Together, these experiences help you connect coursework with your goals.

Adapt spoken and written Spanish to different audiences and purposes.
Interpret literary and cultural texts using evidence.
Explain how cultural context shapes professional communication.
Apply Spanish language skills in a supervised fieldwork setting.
Reflect on responsible communication across languages and communities.

At SXU, you can connect advanced Spanish with another area of study and test that connection through fieldwork. Heritage speakers can build on their language knowledge while developing academic and professional expression. The combination of cultural inquiry, language practice, and a 120-hour internship gives your studies a practical focus.

The minor in Spanish helps students develop advanced language proficiency while gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures, histories, and societies of the Spanish-speaking world. A Spanish minor can make graduates more competitive in the job market, expand career opportunities in education, healthcare, law, government, international relations, social services, and business, and prepare students for a wide range of graduate and professional programs.