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Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Spanish and Hispanic Studies

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A Cross-cultural Exploration

Embrace the Colleges’ commitment to global citizenship with a major or minor in Spanish and Hispanic studies. The program provides cultural and linguistic training and immersive experiences in a variety of relevant areas such as professional development, literary analysis, bilingual education and intercultural awareness. Working closely with a faculty mentor, you’ll choose a path of courses catered to your interests and explore opportunities for study abroad and internships.

Faculty & Students Scholars & Guides

Caroline Travalia and Carolyn Girard

Caroline Travalia, Associate Professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies, Carolyn Girard ’22

Carolyn, a Spanish major and bilingual education and educational studies minor, first began researching course materials as a Teaching Assistant for “Spanish for the Professions.” When Associate Professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies Caroline Travalia decided to write a textbook on the subject, Carolyn was the perfect candidate to help author the book. The professor-student team worked together to develop a proposal and sample chapter for the future textbook Manos a la obra: el español profesional para trabajar con la comunidad.

Learn More About This Collaboration Spanish and Hispanic Studies News

Experiential Education Bringing the World to You

experiental learning

Work with local schools as part of Geneva 2030 or learn traditional dances at the Intercultural Affairs Center.

At Hobart and William Smith, learning goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. You’ll gain high-impact practical experience that deepens learning and opens doors.

Explore and Experience at the HWS Centers
Global Education

No Borders: Global Education

Study Arabic influences in Spanish literature in Seville or how the ecological environment is shaped by human behavior in Argentina.

Wherever you go, our top-ranked global education program will allow you to apply classroom knowledge, develop cultural understanding and build global connections that expand your personal capacity and sense of purpose.

Study Abroad Options
Global Education

Belonging, Diversity and Equity

In Spanish and Hispanic studies, you’ll experience a diverse collection of ideas, voices and backgrounds. A sampling of courses that further the Colleges’ commitment to belonging, diversity and equity include:

  • SPN 204 Bilingual Realities considers the linguistic and cultural practices of Latinx communities.
  • SPN 225 Hispanic Media offers a cultural introduction to the diverse communities of the Spanish-speaking world, including the Hispanic/Latinx community in the U.S.
  • SPN 344 Rutas Literarias is a survey of Peninsular literature that focuses on the texts and authors that unfold cultural and social issues throughout Spain’s history, with an emphasis on the Spanish Civil War, its impact, and the post-conflict memory.

  • SPN 231 Spanish for the Professions

    Explore the vocabulary and cultural implications of using Spanish in a variety of professional careers.

  • SPN 385 Sounds of Spanish

    Introduce yourself to the mechanics of native sound production in studying the basic concepts of Spanish phonology and phonetics.

  • BIDS 286 Gender, Nation, Literature in Latin America

    Examine the relationship between gender and national cultures in Latin America, from independence to World War II.

  • SPNE 210 Topics in Bilingual Education

    Explore the philosophies, approaches, and practical applications of foreign language teaching in general and Spanish-English bilingual education.

  • SPN 316 Voces de Mujeres

    Discover the strategies used by modern female writers and artists to express themselves, comment on the condition of women, and foster feminist social change in Spain and Latin America.

Spanish and Hispanic Studies Courses and Curriculum Faculty Directory

Alum Impact A Master’s in Madrid

Andres Lopez ’21

A Spanish and Hispanic studies course on “Don Quixote” launched Andres’s interest in Spanish literature. Thanks in part to the Spanish and Hispanic studies faculty, he is now working on a master’s in Spanish through Middlebury College’s program in Madrid, Spain.

 

Read Andres’s story Meet More Recent Grads

Companies that employ our graduates:

  • Bozzuto
  • Thyseen Krupp
  • Merrill Lynch
  • University of Florida – Gainesville
  • Good Morning America
  • Fox News Network
  • Hearst Magazines International
  • The Hispanic Society of America
  • Thomson West
  • Tufts University
  • United States Justice Department

Universities where our students are studying

  • Columbia University
  • Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Syracuse University
  • Middlebury College
  • University of Virginia
  • SUNY Albany Upstate Medical School
  • Georgetown University
  • Adelphi University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Delaware

  • University of Rochester
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Texas at Austin