Major and Minor in Hispanic Studies

A Hispanic Studies major assures exceptional competence in Spanish, allowing students to work extensively and closely with literary and cultural artifacts that language makes possible. Building on their linguistic proficiency consolidated in the language program, majors expand that proficiency to a wide variety of Hispanic texts. This training exercises and assures our students' ability to analyze texts and contexts, as well as to conceive, articulate, and defend an original idea.

Hispanic Studies minors reap similar benefits, albeit to a lesser extent, by attaining linguistic proficiency and taking at least two 6000-level courses.

Language Courses for the Major and Minor

Students begin the program at the level most appropriate for their linguistic proficiency. Advanced, heritage, and native speakers of Spanish can seek placement advice from any of the Spanish Language Coordinators or Spanish instructors in the department.

Non-native Spanish speakers with advanced Spanish skills, as well as heritage and native Spanish speakers, should seek placement guidance from the department (rll@bc.edu). Most begin the major or minor with Conversation, Composition and Reading II (SPAN2216), while some are able to begin with Span3395: Contextos, Introduction to Textual Analysis.

Note that Contextos: Introduction to Textual Analysis (SPAN3395) is a prerequisite for all upper-level courses (SPAN6000 and above).

Major Requirements

30 Credits (10 three-credit courses), which must include:

3 credits (1 course) in SPAN3395 Contextos

12 credits (4 advanced courses) at the 6000 level in literature and culture, which must include at least one course in each of the following categories:

  • Pre-1800 Peninsular literature and culture
  • Pre-1900 Latin American literature and culture
  • Post-1800 Peninsular literature and culture
  • Post-1900 Latin American literature and culture

15 credits (5 elective courses), which may be chosen from:

  • SPAN2215 Spanish Composition, Conversation and Reading I
  • SPAN 2216 Spanish Composition, Conversation and Reading II
  • Any 6000-level course

Students who have taken Span3395 Contextos may fulfill elective requirements with 6000-level courses only.

Students who enter the major at the level of Span2215 or SPAN2216 (Spanish Composition, Conversation, and Reading I and II) may count those courses as electives toward the major.

Notes and Conditions

  • Hispanic Studies majors are required to enroll in at least one 6000 level course each semester of their senior year, regardless of whether they have completed the ten-course requirement for the major.
  • One-credit practicum courses do not count for the major.
  • Maximum total transfer credit toward the major from study abroad: 15 credits (5 three-credit courses) for one year of study; 9 credits (3 three-credit courses) for one semester of study. No RLL credit will be granted for courses abroad conducted in English taken during a semester or academic year program.
  • Credit toward the Hispanic Studies major will be granted for courses taken abroad
    1. conducted in Spanish;
    2. of a sophistication and level of expectations appropriate for our program;
    3. directly related to analysis of Spanish-speaking peoples’ cultural production. Students taking courses in other disciplines are encouraged to seek credit for those courses in the appropriate departments.
  • Hispanic Studies majors who transfer 9 credits (3 three-credit courses) or more from study abroad or elsewhere outside the department must take their remaining courses towards the major in the department.
  • Students who have taken SPAN3392, Advanced Spanish, will not receive credit toward the major for language or proficiency-building courses taken abroad.
  • Students who do not study abroad may take up to two courses related to their major program of study outside the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, with permission of the Hispanic Studies section.
  • Approval for summer courses taught by Boston College faculty, including courses abroad, will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Undergraduate studies in consultation with the Hispanic Studies section.

Minor Requirements

18 Credits (6 three-credit courses), which must include:

6 credits (2 courses)

  • SPAN2215 Spanish Composition, Conversation and Reading I
  • SPAN2216 Spanish Composition, Conversation and Reading II

3 credits (1 course): SPAN3395 Contextos

9 credits (3 advanced courses) at the 6000 level in literature and culture

Students who have taken Span3395 Contextos fulfill any remaining elective requirements with 6000-level courses only.

The minor begins with SPAN2215 (CCRI). Students who began the HS minor before the Fall semester 2023 and who began the minor above the level of CCRI or CCRII do not have to take either of those two courses to fulfill the minor. They should take any courses at the 6000 level.

Notes and Conditions

  • Hispanic Studies minors must enroll in at least one 6000 level course during their senior year, regardless of whether they have completed the six-course requirement for the minor.
  • One-credit practicum courses do not count for the minor.
  • Maximum total transfer credit toward the minor from study abroad: 9 credits (3 approved three-credit courses) for one year of study; 6 credits (2 approved three-credit courses) for one semester of study. No RLL credit will be granted for courses abroad conducted in English taken during a semester or academic year program.
  • Credit toward the Hispanic Studies minor will be granted for courses taken abroad:
    1. conducted in Spanish; 
    2. of a sophistication and level of expectations appropriate for our program;
    3. directly related to analysis of Spanish-speaking peoples’ cultural production. Students taking courses in other disciplines are encouraged to seek credit for those courses in the appropriate departments.
  • Students who have taken SPAN3392, Advanced Spanish, will not receive credit toward the minor for grammar or proficiency-building courses taken abroad.
  • All courses for the Hispanic Studies minor will normally be in Spanish, though one relevant course taught in English may be counted toward the minor with permission from the Hispanic Studies Section.
  • Approval for summer courses taught by Boston College faculty, including courses abroad, will be granted on a case-by- case basis by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with the Hispanic Studies section.
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