Studying the language, cultures, and literatures of the Spanish-speaking world, you will gain vital writing, speaking, and communication skills, improve your analytical abilities, and develop a cross-cultural awareness and global perspective at home and abroad.
The Department of Spanish seeks to prepare students to engage with the diverse communities, cultures, and traditions found in the Spanish-speaking world, including those in the US. Our program provides opportunities for students to increase their intercultural competence and develop advanced writing, speaking, reading, and communication skills in Spanish. Drawing upon faculty expertise in literature, film, cultural studies, linguistics, Latin American, Latinx, and Iberian studies, creative writing, digital and medical humanities, decolonial theory, and race and ethnicity, among other areas, our curriculum also allows students to hone their critical thinking, their creative expression, and key academic and intellectual skills. We welcome students from all language backgrounds, including native and heritage speakers of Spanish as well as second language learners.
Spanish majors can complement their degree with courses in other academic programs at Holy Cross, including Latin American, Latinx and Caribbean Studies. Interested Spanish majors can also receive their license to teach at the middle through secondary level through our partnership with the Teacher Education Program.
Our Study Abroad programs allow students from any major to expand their language skills and study a variety of subjects while they experience life in Spanish-speaking countries. Study Abroad offerings include year-long and extended semester programs in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and Spain.
Our students benefit from close interaction with native Foreign Language Assistants from Argentina, Peru, and Spain in weekly practice sessions (called Practicum) integrated into our language courses. A number of our courses incorporate Community-Based Learning projects and other experiential learning opportunities. Students can also participate in a rich variety of co-curricular activities and events organized by the Spanish Club. Moreover, our bilingual literary and cultural review fósforo: Revista de Inspiración Hispánica, provides a forum where students may publish their creative work alongside their professors, Foreign Language Assistants, and other members of the community.
Students interested in learning Spanish have the option of taking courses in the Directed Independent Spanish Curriculum (DISC) program. These elementary- and intermediate-level language courses offer an alternative approach to language instruction for students who are motivated to work independently and enjoy using technology. Guided by a professor, students work with online materials and attend weekly Practicum sessions with our Foreign Language Assistants.
Program Highlights
We offer language classes from elementary to advanced levels and a wide variety of courses in the following areas:
-
Focused Language (including creative writing, medical Spanish, translation, and Spanish for business, among others)
-
Culture and Cinema
-
Linguistics (e.g. bilingualism in the Spanish-speaking world, second language acquisition)
-
Textual Analysis
-
Readings in Literature
-
Advanced Pre-modern Studies
-
Advanced Modern Studies
Spanish News
As students across the country transitioned to remote learning in March in the wake of coronavirus, communities of learning had to start thinking about creative approaches to education outside of the classroom. For Holy Cross' Montserrat program, however, learning that transcends the typical classroom had been part of the experience from day one...