The ability to communicate in Spanish is becoming increasingly important in this country and is a valued skill in competition for better job opportunities. Today, Spanish, as much as English, is the language of the Americas. There are 400 million Spanish speakers between Spain and Latin America and the Spanish population is growing fast. In the United States alone, there are 40 million speakers of Spanish.

Emphases / Concentrations:

• demonstrate proficiency in the oral language skills of listening and speaking;
• demonstrate proficiency in writing and reading;
• demonstrate knowledge of major themes, genres, movements in the history of the literature of the language culture under study;
• demonstrate an understanding of the interconnectedness of language, culture, history and literature;
• apply knowledge of the historical background of the language culture under study; show conversance in contemporary issues political, economic, social and artistic;
• demonstrate knowledge of the customs and idioms of the language culture under study in order to be able to respond to everyday situations in appropriate ways.
• demonstrate knowledge of the customs and idioms of the language culture under study in order to be able to respond to everyday situations in appropriate ways;
• (BAE) apply knowledge of language teaching techniques, methods and materials; demonstrate and apply knowledge of grammatical concepts and structures in preparation for the teaching profession.