Minor in Spanish
The Spanish minor consists of any 15 credits (5 courses) above the elementary level in Spanish language, literature or culture. Typically, this means two intermediate courses (SPN 201-202), plus three additional courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level. The Department offers a different upper-level course every semester. Elementary (100-level) courses do not count towards the Spanish minor. Students may transfer up to 6 credits towards the Spanish minor from study abroad or other universities.
Which course should I start with?
If you have studied Spanish in high school or you speak Spanish at home as a first or second language, you may not need to take elementary or even intermediate language courses. Consult the Department's placement guidelines take the Spanish placement test, and speak to a Spanish professor to determine the level that is appropriate for you. Native speakers of Spanish can not earn credit for elementary-level courses.
Students who took the AP test in Spanish or the CLEP test, and international students who graduated from a high school where the language of instruction was Spanish can receive up to 6 credits that count towards a Spanish minor. See the Department Chairperson for more information.
Why Study Spanish?
Languages are key to understanding today's world. With the internationalization of almost all fields, the economic interdependence of the world's nations, and the increasingly multicultural character of American society, there has been an increased demand for multilingual professionals and language teachers at all levels. In addition to being practical, becoming multilingual and multicultural allows for intellectual, esthetic, and personal development.
Spanish is a major world language. It is the language of over 400 million people in over 20 countries and the second most spoken language in the United States. Hispanics have recently become the largest minority in our country and will comprise a quarter of the US population in just a few decades. For these reasons Spanish is the most studied foreign language in the U.S., and there is a high demand for people who can communicate in Spanish, as well as for people who can teach it.
A student who chooses to minor in Spanish at Salem State will be able to find employment opportunities in many areas, including teaching, translating and interpreting, business, government, media, or social services. The combination of Spanish with a major in another field further increases the possibilities for graduates.