Spanish

Why study Spanish?

Students who study Spanish will learn the language on an internationally diverse campus where they will meet students from all over the world, including many Spanish-speaking countries.

  • Spanish majors join a community of active and motivated students who study away in diverse settings and actively engage in service to the community.
  • Students gain access to a robust Spanish literary tradition and the opportunity to communicate with speakers of the 21 nationalities in their native language.
  • Spanish remains one of the most spoken languages globally, and the second largest population of speakers worldwide live in the United States.

Seville, Spain

Languages, Literatures & Cultures at AU

Course Descriptions

Major Map

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Latest News

Augustana understands the value and impact that historically marginalized people have on communities all over the world — recognizing that this university would not be the place it is without these students, faculty and staff. For Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month — which is celebrated from Sept. 15, through Oct. 15 — Augustana is featuring Dra. (Doctora, or Doctor in Spanish) Pilar Cabrera Fonte, associate professor of Spanish.

Augustana University student Olivia Bertino ‘23 is a journalism, Spanish, business administration and marketing quadruple major from Omaha, Nebraska. She is interning this summer at Levitt Sioux Falls — part of a national network of outdoor Levitt music venues dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities through free summer concerts.

At Augustana, opportunities for student research are plentiful — from the Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium and Ralph and Susie Wagoner Student-Faculty Research Award to the Augustana Research Institute (ARI) and Civitas Honors Program vocation projects. What sets AU apart from other universities, though, is the caliber of research performed by undergraduate students which often rivals graduate-level research.

Highlights

riding camels

Careers

A national shortage of foreign-language teachers means students should consider combining this major with the teacher education program for a rewarding, in-demand career opportunity.

Additional careers for graduates in Spanish include social worker, diplomat, airline assistant, interpreter, media specialist and health care worker.

Hands-On Learning  

Internship opportunities include:

  • Avera or Sanford Health
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation
  • Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church
  • Sonia Sotomayor Elementary (Spanish immersion) and other Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) classrooms
  • Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Center for New Americans
  • Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls

As seniors, students should consider applying to a post-graduate English teaching assistantship in a Spanish-speaking country.

Spanish students study away in:

  • Cuba — focusing on race, gender and revolution with AU faculty
  • Spain and Morocco — focusing on religion, culture and environment with AU faculty
  • Spain — at the Universidad de Sevilla
  • San Jose, Costa Rica — at Universidad Veritas
  • Any Spanish-speaking nation such as Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Spain or Morocco for a semester or year

Courses & Organizations

Beyond beginner and intermediate classes, the Spanish major features topic-based advanced courses in conversation, composition and literature.

Spanish majors often participate in:

  • La Unión Hispana
  • Augustana International Club
  • Serving and Learning Together (SALT) Teen Town
  • Peer mentor program
  • Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society