Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Spanish and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

George Washington University and the Washington, DC, area are ideal locations for learning about Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. Through our program, students are prepared to be global citizens from multiple perspectives—our courses cover a variety of topics, including imperial and post-colonial literary and cultural history, poetry, drama, cinema, and prose narratives, as well as all aspects of language learning. Students gain access to symposia, exhibits, and film festivals dedicated to furthering the understanding and appreciation of Spanish and Latin cultures. Graduates pursue careers in a variety of fields, including education, medicine, politics, journalism, publishing, law, and business. Our alumni work within the State Department, nongovernmental organizations, the Organization of American States, the United Nations, and many other international organizations.

For information about the admission process, including deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications can be submitted via the Common Application.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The George Washington University
800 21st St NW Suite 100
Washington, DC 20052

For questions visit undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/contact-us.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

The major-specific curriculum.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Major requirements
Required
SPAN 2006	Advanced Spanish II
or SPAN 2026	Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners
or SPAN 2056	Intensive Advanced Spanish through Sustainability Literacy
or SPAN 2156	Intensive Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners
SPAN 2500	The Spanish-Speaking World: Spain, Latin America, and the United States
SPAN 3100W	Texts and Contexts of the Spanish-Speaking World
One course (3 credits) selected from the following:
SPAN 3500	Medieval Iberia in the Modern World
SPAN 3510	Heresy and the Other in Early Modern Iberia
SPAN 3520	Decolonizing the Empire: Colonial Latin America
SPAN 3530	Limits of Enlightenment in Spain & Lat. Am.
SPAN 3600	Special Topics
SPAN 4510	Cervantes Don Quixote
Six courses (18 credits) selected from the following. With the approval of the major advisor, two of these courses may be taken outside the program.
SPAN 3200	Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World
SPAN 3400	Theatre of Spain and Latin America
SPAN 3410	Latin American Short Fiction
SPAN 3420	The Essay in Spain and Latin America
SPAN 3430	Afro-Latin America in the Diaspora
SPAN 3440	Caribbean Literature and Culture
SPAN 3540	Major Authors of Spain and Latin America
SPAN 3550	Queer Latin America
SPAN 3570	Women Writers of Spain and Latin America
SPAN 3650	Literature and Dictatorship
SPAN 3700	Cinema of Spain and Latin America
SPAN 4200	Topics on Hispanic Linguistics
SPAN 4410	Contemporary Narrative in Latin America
SPAN 4420	Global Migrations in the Spanish-Speaking World
SPAN 4450	Mexican Literature and Culture
SPAN 4460	Southern Cone Literature and Culture
SPAN 4480	Studies in Latinx Cultural Production
SPAN 4520	Experimental Literature
SPAN 4540	The Myth of the Two Spains
SPAN 4550	1898 to 1998: Spain's First Century without Empire
SPAN 4560	Modern Poetry of Spain and Latin America
SPAN 4600	Special Topics
SPAN 4650	Literary Translation
SPAN 4700	Film as Text in Latin America
SPAN 4800	Independent Study
SPAN 4919	Honors Thesis Research (Restricted to majors in 4th year who have been invited to conduct independent research for Honors Thesis)
SPAN 4920W	Honors Thesis (Restricted to students in 4th year who are writing an Honors Thesis)
Excluding courses taught at GW Study Centers abroad, no more than four courses taken abroad or at another institution may count toward the major.

In addition to the University General Education Requirement, undergraduate students in Columbian College must complete a further, College-specific general education curriculum—Perspective, Analysis, Communication (G-PAC) as well as the course CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience. Together with the University General Education Requirement, G-PAC engages students in active intellectual inquiry across the liberal arts. Students achieve a set of learning outcomes that enhance their analytical skills, develop their communication competencies, and invite them to participate as responsible citizens who are attentive to issues of culture, diversity, and privilege.

Coursework for the University General Education Requirement is distributed as follows:

• One course in critical thinking in the humanities.

• Two courses in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences.

• One course that has an approved oral communication component.

• One course in quantitative reasoning (must be in mathematics or statistics).
• One course in scientific reasoning (must be in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences).
• UW 1020 University Writing (4 credits).
• After successful completion of UW 1020, 6 credits distributed over at least two writing in the discipline (WID) courses taken in separate semesters. WID courses are designated by a "W" appended to the course number. 

Coursework for the CCAS G-PAC requirement is distributed as follows:

• Arts—one approved arts course that involves the study or creation of artwork based on an understanding or interpretation of artistic traditions or knowledge of art in a contemporary context.
• Global or cross-cultural perspective—one approved course that analyzes the ways in which institutions, practices, and problems transcend national and regional boundaries.
• Local or civic engagement—one approved course that develops the values, ethics, disciplines, and commitment to pursue responsible public action.
• Natural or physical science—one additional approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• Humanities—one additional approved humanities course that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience

Certain courses are approved to fulfill GPAC requirements in more than one category.

Courses taken in fulfillment of G-PAC requirements may also be counted toward majors or minors. Transfer courses taken prior to, but not after, admission to George Washington University may count toward the University General Education Requirement and G-PAC, if those transfer courses are equivalent to GW courses that have been approved by the University and the College.

Lists of approved courses in the above categories are included on each undergraduate major's page in this Bulletin.

In addition to the general requirements stated under University Regulations, in order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors in Spanish and Latin American languages, literatures, and cultures, candidates must have attained a minimum 3.75 GPA in the major and a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. By the end of their junior year, qualified students may be invited by the Director of the Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures program to write an honors thesis. Students writing an honors thesis complete SPAN 4919 Honors Thesis Research in the fall of their senior year and SPAN 4920W Honors Thesis in the spring of their senior year.