Program Overview

The Spanish Department at High Point University helps students develop the skills needed for a successful professional career, both domestic and abroad. The program provides students an in-depth look into the Spanish-speaking cultures of Spain, Latin America and the United States.

A Focused Curriculum

The Spanish program at High Point University is committed to helping students develop the skills needed for effective communication in Spanish. The faculty uses Spanish in class, creating a natural environment in which students hear, speak, read and write Spanish. The faculty has been intentional in creating an up-to-date curriculum. Students move from language courses that help them develop the skills needed for effective communication to content-based courses.

Our professors strive to prepare students to be effective members of the global community by helping them develop an international outlook. Therefore, the study of culture is emphasized throughout the curriculum. Once the students have acquired their language skills, the curriculum moves to preparing students for careers in the international arena, while giving them a solid foundation in the cultures of the Hispanic world.

In addition to traditional courses in literature, conversation, grammar, reading, composition and civilization, students can take courses in film, current events, business Spanish and Spanish for the medical professions. In all of the courses, instructors incorporate a wide variety of technologies.

The majority of the students in our program combine their Spanish major with other disciplines, the most popular being Spanish Education. One hundred percent of our graduates with a Spanish Education certificate are working in the high school system. For example, Katelyn Rhodes, a 2011 graduate in Spanish and Education, is currently teaching Spanish at Southern Guilford High School. Brooke Hayworth, who graduated in 2007 with a degree in Spanish with K-12 certification, is now teaching Spanish at Ledford High School in Davidson County. And Jairo López, a 2008 graduate, is currently teaching at The Middle College at Guilford Technical Community College.

Other students go directly into the workforce. Eric Fortin, a 2011 graduate with majors in Spanish and Finance, is currently working at Emerging Global Advisors, where he uses his Spanish to advise investors in the Latin American market. Rachel Davis, who graduated in 2009 with degrees in Spanish and International Studies, joined the AmeriCorps NCCC program where she was able to travel on the East and Gulf coasts doing relief work and teaching ESL. Currently she is back in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she works for the city’s Parks and Recreation and ESL Departments.

Another route for our graduates is to work abroad using their cultural and language expertise. For example, Gabriel Alison, a 2006 graduate with degrees in Spanish and Human Relations, traveled to Spain, Korea, Argentina, and Brazil, where he taught English. He is currently working in Seoul as Writer, Editor & Global ELT Marketing Assistant at e-future. Seon McLaughlin completed her master’s degree in Teaching Elementary Education in December 2011 and now she will be going to China for 15 months to teach English for the Disney English company.

Finally, some of our graduates choose to pursue graduate work in their second area of expertise. For example, KiYonna Brown, a 2009 graduate with majors in Spanish and Human Relations, just finished an MBA and MA program in Healthcare Administration at Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kara Williams, who graduated in 2008 with a major in Spanish and the prerequisites for Nursing School, is currently completing a BSN Program at Duke University School of Nursing.

B.A. Spanish Course Requirements

Requirements for a B.A. in Spanish (39 credits):

• Core:
  SPN 2020 Intermediate Spanish II
  SPN 2130 Hispanic Cultures: Intermediate Readings and Conversation
  SPN 2140 Grammar Review (2 credits)
  SPN 2090 Pronunciation
  SPN 3000 Advanced Conversation
  SPN 4010 Advanced Grammar and Composition
  SPN 4990 Senior Seminar
  SPN 3030 Spanish Culture and Civilization or SPN 3040 Spanish-American Culture and Civilization

• One course selected from:
  SPN 3050 Hispanic World Today
  SPN 3150 Hispanic Culture through Film
  SPN 2881 Special Topics in Culture and Language

• One course selected from:
  SPN 3020 Contemporary Hispanic Literatures
  SPN 3060 Hispanic Short Story
  SPN 3230 Literary Genre in Latin American Literature
  SPN 3881 Special Topics in Literature

• One course selected from:
  SPN 3210 SPN Lit I: The Birth of the Spanish Nation
  SPN 3220 SPN Lit II: Centrism and Diversity in Contemporary Writers
  SPN 3240 SPN-American Lit I: In Search of an Identity
  SPN 3250 SPN-American Lit II: Voices of the Writers
  SPN 3260 Caribbean Literature: Images of a Region

• Note: The major requires 35 credits if a student begins at a level higher than SPN 2020.

Students will be advised in electing additional courses that will complement their career goals.