BA in Spanish Language and Area Studies

The BA in Language and Area Studies is designed for students with a strong interest in a region of the world and in a language of that region. The program, jointly designed and administered by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the School of International Service (SIS), builds on the strengths of the CAS Department of Language and Foreign Studies (LFS) and the SIS field of Comparative and Regional Studies.

This innovative program achieves a balance between humanities and social sciences courses, combined with an advanced level of foreign language study. American University is one of only a few institutions in the country which provide a degree with such combined program depth in both area studies and foreign languages. The Language and Area Studies degree program responds to the national need for foreign language skills in the global village for effective communication and improved international understanding.

Admission to the Program

To be considered for freshman admission, an applicant should have earned at least a 3.00 average in secondary school. Students from other regionally accredited collegiate institutions, and students in other programs at American University who have completed the freshman year, should maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) to be considered for transfer to the program.

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours
• Six credit hours of college writing
• Three credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination

General Education Requirements

• A total of 30 credit hours, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

A total of 51 credit hours with grades of C or better, as outlined below.

Course Requirements

See AU Registrar Schedule for current offerings.

Foundation Courses (9 credit hours)

• SIS-105/SIS-105G World Politics 3:1 (3)
• One intercultural communication course from the following:

  SIS-140/SIS-140G Cross Cultural Communication 3:1 (3)
  SIS-340 Foundations of International Communication (3)
  SIS-341 Intercultural Communication (3)
  

• One comparative politics course from the following:

  GOVT-130/GOVT-130G Comparative Politics 3:1 (3)
  GOVT-231 Third World Politics (3)
  GOVT-232 Politics of Industrial Societies (3)
  

Foreign Language Course work (18 credit hours)

• A total of 18 credits of course work in a single foreign language at the 300 level or above
• Demonstration of proficiency in the appropriate foreign language:
  

  As a requirement for completing the degree, Language and Area Studies (LAS) majors must demonstrate proficiency in the foreign language associated with their area of focus. This language proficiency will be demonstrated by achieving a B (3.00) average or better for all course work in the foreign language taken in the Department of Language and Foreign Studies.

Area Studies

(Part 1) Fifteen credits with 12 credits at the 300 level or above of course work in humanities courses, including 3 credits from the Department of History (HIST-xxx), and an additional 3 credits of course work with a strong historical component from the following (other appropriate area studies courses may be substituted with the approval of the major advisor):

• HIST-241 Colonial Latin America (3)
• HIST-242 Latin America Since Independence (3)
• HIST-340 Latin American Studies (topics) (3)
• LFS-210/LFS-210G Latin America: History, Art, Literature 3:2 (3)
• SPAN-356 Spanish Topics (3) includes topics such as the social scene in Latin America, regionalism in Latin America, Mexican culture, Latin American film, religion and violence, Hispanics in the United States, the Latin American short story, Popular Culture in Latin America, Theatre in Latin America, and Post-Dictatorial Literature.
• SPAN-357 Introduction to Latin American Literature (3)
• SPAN-358 Introduction to Spanish Translation (3)
• SPAN-359 Advanced Spanish Translation (3)
• SPAN-450 Spanish Civilization I: Spain (3)
• SPAN-491 Spanish Internship: Proyecto Amistad (2-6)
• SPAN-554 Classics of Latin American Literature (3)
• SPAN-559 Colloquium on Latin America (3) includes lectures, reports, and critical discussions cultural trends, political and economic problems, and international relations of Latin America.

(Part 2) Six credits of course work in social science courses, selected from the following (other appropriate area studies courses may be substituted with the approval of the major adviser)

• ANTH-339 Culture Area Analysis: Mexico and Central America; South America (3)
• ECON-351 Comparative Economic Systems (3)
• ECON-361 Economic Development
• ECON-318 Economic History
• ECON-555 Economic Development of Latin American (3)
• GOVT-432 Political Institutions and Processes in Selected Countries: Mexico (3)
• GOVT-532 Political Institutions and Processes in Selected Regions: Central America; Latin America (3)
• HIST-241 Colonial Latin America (3)
• HIST-242 Latin America Since Independence (3)
• HIST-340 Latin American Studies (topics) (3)
• SIS-276 Contemporary Latin America (3)
• SIS-337 International Development (3)
• SIS-577 International Relations of Latin America I (3)
• SOCY-531 Regional Studies in Social Change: Latin America (3)
• LFS-210/G Latin America: History, Art, and Literautre

Senior Capstone (3 credit hours)

Students should enroll either in an SIS comparative seminar or in an approved topics or seminar course in Language and Foreign Studies.

Other Options

• Students may, where appropriate, and with the Undergraduate Advisor’s approval, select special topics courses to fulfill requirements.
• Student may also apply up to 3 credit hours toward the major from an approved internship or Cooperative Education Field Experience.
• Study abroad course credits may be used toward the major with the approval of Undergraduate Advisor

University Honors Program

Students in the University Honors Program have the opportunity to graduate with University Honors in the major. To do so, students complete 12 hours of advanced-level Honors work in the department and, upon departmental recommendation, graduate with University Honors in the major. The department's Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. See the University Honors Program for details.