U-SPAN-AB - Spanish (AB)

Did you know that Spanish is the second largest world language as a vehicle of international communication and the third as an international language of politics, economics and culture? Or that about 330 million people in the world speak Spanish as their first language? Or that Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and is expected to be the first language of 50% of the population of the United States within 50 years? Our department sponsors summer study abroad programs (Duke in Spain, Duke in Chile, Duke in Costa Rica, and Duke Intensive Spanish in Alicante) and one semester/year study abroad program (Duke in Madrid). We encourage students to plan early in order to attain an advanced level in Spanish and to work into their study plans the possibility of studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country.

Departmental Graduation with Distinction

Qualified students may apply for Graduation with Distinction. The application deadline is preregistration for the fall semester of the senior year. Students must find an appropriate faculty advisor to oversee the honors project. The thesis may be written in the language best suited to its likely audience, but students pursuing graduate study in a Romance studies field must write the thesis in the language of the area of study. Further information may be obtained from the director of undergraduate studies or the assistant to the director.

Study Abroad

Students are strongly urged to study abroad since this is the best way to achieve language proficiency and to acquire knowledge of a country’s culture. Courses taken abroad count toward the core and/or related courses as follows:

• Department-Administered Programs

  • Duke in Madrid. Major: All courses may be counted toward the major. Credit distribution may vary according to students’ needs, with a maximum of three courses counting toward the core course requirement. For students remaining a second semester, two additional courses may be counted as core courses; the rest may be counted as related courses.

  • Duke in Madrid-Intermediate. Major: Spanish 314A, Gastronomía de España, being equivalent to Spanish 204 and advanced 300 level, counts as one course.

• Duke-Administered Summer Programs (Office of Study Abroad)

  • Duke in Chile. Major: Spanish 315A Language and Culture of Entrepreneurship in Latin America counts as one course credit.

  • Duke in Costa Rica. Major: Spanish 306A, Language, Culture, and Health in Costa Rica counts as one course credit.

  • Duke in Spain. Major: Spanish 439SA Global Spain counts as two course credits.

• Non-Duke-Administered Semester Programs

  • Major: A maximum of two courses per semester may be counted toward the core-course requirement.

• Non-Duke-Administered Summer Programs

  • Major: One course may be counted toward the core-course requirement.

Website: romancestudies.duke.edu/undergraduate/majors/spanish-latin-american-studies