Majoring in Hispanic Studies
The Hispanic Studies department offers and administers two majors and two minors. The Hispanic Studies major and minor look comprehensively at the Hispanic world. Spanish is the means of communication that guides your experience in the major (9 courses) or minor (6 courses) because it is the third most spoken language in the world. Major in Hispanic Studies and you will learn to participate in and better understand the global community. You will not only master the language, you will acquire a broad understanding of the cultures of Spain, Latin America and Latinos in the US. We urge you to study, volunteer, complete research projects or internships abroad in Spanish through approved programs and then develop, experiment with and push further your ideas in our courses and in the senior reflection research project upon returning. Your learning is integrated with outreach through a particular focus on the life of Hispanic communities both locally and abroad. You are encouraged to take courses in all three cultural and geographic areas, but you choose the focus of your travel, work and study in the region, time period, and human connection that inspire you most.
International opportunities and study abroad
You can go abroad through the College's own Study Away/Teach Away program (SATA Sevilla, SATA Puebla, SATA Lima, for example) or through study-abroad programs approved by our department and the College. Certain Connecticut College courses integrate short TRIPS (Travel Immersion Programs) supported by Spanish into your coursework for short research trips to Spain, Latin America or the U.S.-Mexico border. On campus, you will practice your conversational Spanish with friends in the dorms, at cafés and the Spanish language table over lunch.
Personalized learning
Hispanic Studies will open doors to a range of opportunities that require critical analysis and problem-solving skills. World languages and cultures are a major part of the Connections program, and you may choose an Integrative Pathway or Center that enhances your major with a series of interconnected classes designed to help you think about a problem or animating question from multiple perspectives. Your academic experience will give you a competitive edge for a career in education, business, government, social work, health care, law, media, travel and many other fields. If you are considering a major in Hispanic Studies, please contact the members of the department who serve as advisors: Profs. Heredia, González, Kuder, Koehler and Kushigian.
All courses taken in Spanish, regardless of level, count toward Connecticut College’s World Languages and Cultures requirement, and many of our courses also count toward the Conncourse, Writing and SDP requirements. See the college catalog for course descriptions and the requirements for the major and minor in Hispanic Studies (HS): College Catalog Hispanic Studies Major.
