Spanish Language and Literature Major
The Spanish language and literature major provides students a high linguistic proficiency, cross-cultural literacy, and critical and analytical skills that lead to careers in the humanities, law, medicine, government, international relations, international business, education, and community-based initiatives today.
All courses, to be completed in Spanish, aim to offer a comprehensive knowledge of Hispanic literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Classes focus on close textual analysis, historical contextualization, and the use of current critical perspectives. Majors will become familiar with the major authors and issues defining the diverse cultural traditions of the Hispanic world. In addition to their written work, students are required to participate actively in class discussions and/or make oral presentations.
CIP Code
16.0905 - Spanish Language and Literature.
You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions. Learn more about CIP codes and other information resources.
Students majoring in Spanish language and literature will take a minimum of ten courses numbered SPAN 2001 Spanish Language and Literature and higher, to be selected in consultation with the assigned departmental Spanish language and literature major adviser.
All 10 courses for the major must be taken in Spanish and within the department.
These courses normally include:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 2001 | Spanish Language and Literature 1 | 3 |
| or SPAN 2201 | Spanish Community Engaged Learning | |
| or SPAN 2301 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPAN 2500 | Approaches to Literature 2 | 4 |
| SPAN 3001 | Spain: Literature and Culture Survey 3 | 4 |
| SPAN 3002 | Latin America: Literature and Culture Survey 3 | 4 |
| Select six additional upper-level courses 4 | 24 | |
- 1
Students normally begin the major with one of these courses, and may only count one of them towards the major. Courses numbered lower than 2001 will not count toward the major.
- 2
This course is the prerequisite for all courses numbered 3000 and above.
- 3
These courses are not prerequisites for courses numbered 3000 and above.
- 4
Please note:
- A minimum of four of these courses must be at the 3000-level or above. A list of courses with the SPAN subject code can be found here. 3000- and 4000-level courses do not need to be taken in numerical order.
- Advanced language courses at the 2000-level are also available, such as SPAN 2305 Spanish Conversation and Composition, SPAN 2450 Business Spanish, and SPAN 2620 Spanish Phonetics, among others. These courses help interested students to hone their language skills before proceeding to 3000- and 4000-level literature courses.
In addition to SPAN 2001 (or SPAN 2201/SPAN 2301, when applicable) and SPAN 2500 Approaches to Literature, only two more courses can be taken at the 2000-level, and a minimum of six courses, including SPAN 3001 and SPAN 3002, must be numbered 3000 and above.
Heritage speakers of Spanish, who are initially placed in SPAN 2301 Spanish for Heritage Speakers, will fulfill the language core requirement with this course and will begin the Spanish language and literature major at this level.
Students who place out of either SPAN 2001 or SPAN 2301 will replace them with an upper-level elective course.
AB and IB Credit
All courses counting towards the core language requirement and the major or the minor in a modern foreign language, literature and culture must be taken for credit and a letter grade. When AP or IB credits are awarded as equivalent to the 1502 level in a language, these credits will be applied toward the core language requirement and, as elective credits, toward graduation, but they will not be applied toward the major or the minor in that language.
Double Counting
Spanish language and literature majors may double count up to two courses toward their Spanish language and literature major and another major or minor.
Study Abroad
The department encourages students to study abroad for one or two semesters. Students who opt to apply for study abroad credits toward their major must have these courses approved by the Spanish language and literature major adviser prior to their going abroad. Students studying abroad for one year may apply up to five study abroad courses toward their major. Students studying abroad for one semester may apply up to four study abroad courses toward their major. Additional study abroad credits accepted by Fordham University may be applied as elective credits toward graduation, but not toward the Spanish major.
Honors
Students who exhibit exceptional potential and intellectual curiosity and have a minimum GPA of 3.67 in the major may choose to write a senior thesis for Honors in Spanish language and literature. Students should consult their Spanish major adviser for advice and guidelines on this option early in their junior year.
Availability
The major in Spanish language and literature is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Students in Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies may major in Spanish language and literature only if they receive the approval of their advising dean and/or department, and their schedules are sufficiently flexible to permit them to take day courses at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses.
Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Professional and Continuing Studies students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the PCS Core Curriculum and any additional electives that may be required to earn a minimum of 124 credits.