Bachelor of Arts in Spanish

Students choose between two concentrations:

• Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation - equips students with the necessary knowledge, tools and abilities to become competent interpreters and translators.
• Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures - is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study of the varied cultural and literary histories of the Spanish speaking world. Graduates will be prepared for a number of jobs in government, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector, as well as entry into graduate and professional schools.

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced level competency in all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in accordance with criteria  developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) while developing skills in critical and analytical thinking as well as sharpening research skills through discussion and analysis of different kind of texts, films, documents, and linguistic data.
• Develop professional standards to give presentations in Spanish on a variety of cultural topics including literature, popular culture and films, or interpret speech and translate documents from one language to another, according to their interests.
• Demonstrate intercultural competency through their contact and engagement with the cultures, literatures, history and politics of the diverse places where Spanish is spoken: the Americas- North, Central, and South―the Caribbean, and Europe.
• Gain knowledge of the legal systems of the Spanish–speaking world.
• Graduate with extraordinary international opportunities, whether they elect to undertake further specialized study in Hispanic literatures and cultures, or decide instead to translate and interpret from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Their knowledge of Hispanic cultures will enhance their career opportunities in publishing and journalism, public service, international law and business, social services, diplomacy.
• Expand their career possibilities in many professional fields.

Experiential learning opportunities

Throughout their studies, students can volunteer as translators and interpreters at John Jay and with partner non-profit organizations.

• In their junior year, students are encouraged to participate in the Student Interpreter Services Program, a paid experiential learning opportunity providing language services for John Jay families through the Office for Student Transition Programs.
• During the senior year, students typically engage in an internship experience in translation and/or interpretation in a specific area of their choice.  
• In recent years, Spanish majors have
  • Worked as interpreters at John Jay during Family Orientation Days and in immigration screenings with attorneys.
  • Volunteered their services to non-profit organizations and civic groups, such as The Door, the Petey Greene Program and the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice, and to city-wide events organized by the offices of different council members.
  • Interned as interpreters and translators for the NYS Unified Court System and non-profit organizations, such as Immigration Equality and UnLocal.

Coordinator

Professor Aída Martínez-Gómez, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, amartinez-gomez@jjay.cuny.edu

Advising information 

Spanish Major Advising Resources, which include sample four-year plans of study 

Prerequisites. The Spanish major requires successful completion of the beginning Spanish sequence (SPA 101-SPA 102 OR SPA 111-SPA 112) or placement test results indicating an equivalent level of Spanish language comprehension. The placement exam is available in the Modern Language Lab in room 7.65.00 NB. These courses satisfy the requirements of the General Education program in the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues; and in the College Option: Communications areas.

PART ONE. REQUIRED CORE COURSES - 12 credits

PART TWO. CONCENTRATION - 24 credits

Select either Concentration A or Concentration B.

Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation

Concentration A prepares students for positions as translators and interpreters generally, and specifically for positions requiring a background in legal concepts and terminology.

Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures

Concentration B is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study in Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures. Students who elect Concentration B can achieve levels of cultural knowledge and sophistication that should make them particularly attractive to employers in such areas as government, international relations, business, marketing (both domestically and in Spain or Latin America), journalism, the foreign service, and certain NGOs in the non-profit sector.

***Notes:

• A semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking university, approved by the student's major advisor and department chair, may substitute for up to fifteen (15) credit hours toward the major.
• All courses used for the major must be taught primarily in the Spanish language except for the POR 201 and FRE 201 electives.