Spanish Curriculum

Spanish at USD offers students the chance to develop advanced communicative proficiency and analyze the rich literary and cultural production of the entire Spanish-speaking world—from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States to the Iberian Peninsula. You'll gain a broad understanding of diverse cultures by exploring literary and cultural contributions, traditions, perspectives and histories. Students also learn to critically analyze and interpret the texts and language that define this dynamic, intercultural space. Our program includes a specialized sequence (SPAN 212 and 311) to meet the unique needs of heritage language learners.

As the second most widely spoken language globally and in the United States, and an official language in over 20 countries, Spanish is more vital than ever. With over 50 million speakers, the USA is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country, and nearly a third of Californians speak Spanish as a first language. Clearly, effective Spanish communicative proficiency is paramount for all professions across the private, public and non-profit sectors. Spanish pairs well with other majors and minors including healthcare, business, law and more, enhancing students’ cultural and linguistic fluency.

Major

Through language and cultural study across the Spanish-speaking world, students build strong communication and analytical skills through the Spanish major.

Minor

The Spanish minor expands students' understanding of the traditions, histories and diverse cultures of Latin America, Spain and U.S. Latinx communities while enhancing their linguistic proficiency.

Within the minor, there are two options of study. Review the minor tab below to learn more about the requirements for each and what your options are within the Spanish minor.

Explore Spanish Courses

Read descriptions of our Spanish classes on our Courses page! Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.