COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at San José State University requires a total of 120 units and is designed to develop advanced Spanish language skills along with strong cultural, literary, and linguistic knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world. The program combines university general education requirements, college-specific requirements, major preparation, major coursework, and elective units to provide a well-rounded academic experience. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or higher to meet graduation standards.The degree includes 25 units of Core Lower Division General Education, with some units potentially satisfied through major coursework, along with 6 units of American Institutions requirements that may overlap with GE courses. Upper Division General Education consists of 6 units, with partial fulfillment possible through major-related courses. Students must also complete 2 units of Physical Education and the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement, which may be satisfied through FORL 100W. Additionally, the College of Humanities and the Arts requires 3 lower-division units and 2 to 4 upper-division units outside the major to ensure academic breadth. University electives account for 12 to 14 units and must be selected with advisor approval.Major preparation includes 20 units of intermediate Spanish and language foundation coursework. Students typically complete SPAN 25A and SPAN 25B or equivalent heritage language courses such as SPAN 20A and SPAN 20B, depending on placement. A required 12-unit foreign language component may also be included as part of language development. The major requirements total 42 units and focus on advanced Spanish language proficiency, culture, literature, linguistics, and communication. Core courses include advanced Spanish grammar, culture studies, phonology, morphology, syntax, and literary analysis. Students also choose literature courses covering Spanish, Hispanic American, and broader Hispanic traditions, along with electives in conversation, translation, linguistics, or career-focused Spanish topics. Overall, the program is structured to build fluency, critical thinking, and cultural competence for careers in education, translation, international relations, and related fields.