Bachelors Degree in Spanish

With three different Bachelor of Arts degrees to choose from, our department gives you a variety of choices to tailor your BA to your future dreams.

Language, Literature, and Culture

If you loved learning Spanish in high school or have a passion for languages, the Spanish BA in Language, Literature, and Culture is your gateway to the world. This program will help you connect with people and cultures on a deeper level, allowing you to experience the essence of places and communities around the globe. Whether you’re pursuing a career in education, business, healthcare, or the arts, this degree equips you with the skills to excel and thrive in an interconnected world.

Secondary Foreign Teaching Licensure

Do you dream of inspiring the next generation as a high school Spanish teacher? The Spanish BA with Secondary Foreign Teaching Licensure combines your passion for the language with a teaching license through the School of Education. You’ll be fully equipped to teach Spanish in grades 9-12, shaping young minds while sharing your love for language and culture. This program provides you with the skills, credentials, and confidence to lead a classroom, ensuring you’re ready to make a difference in students’ lives and build a meaningful, impactful career in education.

International Language and Culture for the Professions

Take your career to the next level with a Spanish BA tailored for the professions. This program prepares you to succeed in business, healthcare, law, finance, translation, or any global field where bilingual skills are in high demand. Whether you’re working with clients in international business, translating legal documents, or navigating multicultural teams, this degree opens doors to countless opportunities while increasing your earning potential. Perfect for those pursuing careers in international travel, medical fields, or even union leadership, this major empowers you to thrive in diverse environments and make a real impact, wherever your path leads.

Study in Spain

CU Denver offers you a transformative journey with Venga, Vale, Vamos, a one-month, six-credit immersion program in Valladolid, Spain. You’ll live with a welcoming Spanish host family while attending classes at the prestigious Universidad de Valladolid, founded in the 13th century. Through daily Spanish language courses and cultural exploration, you’ll deepen your skills in speaking, reading, writing, and listening while gaining unique insights into contemporary Spanish life. You’ll enjoy guided weekend excursions to iconic cities like Segovia, Salamanca, and Ávila, and discover Valladolid’s vibrant dining, nightlife, and scenic countryside. A hybrid course with your CU Denver professor will prepare you to adapt to life abroad and guide you through cross-cultural activities, journaling, and reflection assignments. By the end of the program, you’ll have a complete portfolio showcasing your language skills, personal growth, and intercultural learning—an invaluable tool for your future academic and professional endeavors.

Your fluency in a second language isn't just a skill—it's a passport to a world of extraordinary professional opportunities.

By mastering another language, you're not just learning words and syntax; you're unlocking doors to global careers. Your linguistic and culturally responsive prowess becomes a powerful career asset, giving you a competitive edge in today’s increasingly interconnected world. Your language skills transform you into a versatile, culturally intelligent authority who can bridge communication gaps and navigate complex international environments. 

• Education and Teaching: From secondary classroom instruction to university-level language programs, teaching offers a dynamic platform to share your passion while shaping future global communicators. 
• International Business and Diplomacy: Your language and cultural awareness skills become a critical asset in multinational corporations, international trade, diplomatic corps, and global consulting firms. Combining language with business administration, economics, or political science can position you as an invaluable intercultural communication specialist. 
• Translation and Interpreting: Specialized fields like legal, medical, and technical translation offer lucrative career paths. Joint specialty in fields like law, healthcare, and linguistics can transform you into a high-demand professional translator. 
• Healthcare and Social Services: Bilingual professionals are urgently needed in hospitals, community health centers, social work agencies, and counseling services. 
• Government and Public Service: Opportunities abound in federal agencies, immigration services, homeland security, and international development organizations.  
• Media and Journalism: Global news organizations, international broadcasting networks, and digital media platforms seek multilingual storytellers who can report across cultural boundaries. 
• Tourism and Hospitality: Your language expertise is gold in the travel industry, from international hotel management to destination marketing and cultural tourism.  
• Legal and Criminal Justice: Law firms, courts, and criminal justice systems increasingly need bilingual specialists who can navigate complicated linguistic and cultural landscapes.  

Your language skills aren't just about communication—they create connections, bridging cultures, and transform your career.

The Modern Languages Department offers three tracks for the Spanish Major

You have the option of one of three separate BA degrees,

• Language, Literature and Culture
• International Language and Culture for the Professions
• Secondary World Languages Licensure

Each BA has differing focuses for how you will learn Spanish and the culture.

Language, Literature and Culture: 36 credit hours  

The Spanish BA in Language, Literature, and Culture readies you to speak, read, write, and understand Spanish. You will think critically, and explore your cultural awareness.  Course topics include:

• Phonetics
• Literature
• Culture and Civilization

You will also be able to choose from certain courses in related fields such as linguistics, Latin American studies, Comparative Literature and the like.

This degree can be completed online, on-campus, remotely, or through our HyFlex courses. 

International Language and Culture for the Professions: 30 credit hours  

Dreaming of a career that spans borders in business, government, or the private sector? The Spanish BA in International Language and Culture for the Professions gives you the best of both worlds—Spanish coursework combined with business classes to set you up for success. Course topics include:

• Spanish for International Business
• Language skills and theory
• Spanish for the professions
• Contemporary Culture and Institutions

You will also have courses outside the departement such as economics and mathematics.

Secondary World Languages Licensure: 33 credit hours 

Want to teach high school Spanish and can’t wait to get started? This is the path for you. With licensure through the competitive UCTE program in CU Denver’s School of Education and Human Development bundled into this plan, you’ll get a head start on your way to your classroom career. Course topics include:

• Phonetics
• Literature
• Culture and Civilization
• Methods for teaching languages

You will also have courses in cultural divesity, responsive classroom communities, understanding (dis)Ability in the classroom, among others.

In addition to the BA specific courses, you will take courses in the CU Denver Core and CLAS Core to round our your education.

CU Denver Core: 34-40 Hours 

You’ll be educated in

• English and mathematics
• international and cultural diversity perspectives
• arts and humanities
• behavioral, physical, and social sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Science Core—15 Hours 

These courses give you a better understanding of the issues and skills you need to succeed.

Topics include:  

• Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning 
• Psychology 
• Writing for the Sciences 
• Public Health

Double Majors

You, like many of our students, may be interested in a double major. Common combinations include: 

• International Business
• Psychology
• International Studies
• Biology

Available Minors 

We recommend these minors as excellent extensions of your bachelor degree. These minors are available to those getting any Bachelor's degree including your Spanish BA.

French Minor

Boost your personal brand and expand your career options with a French minor. Equip yourself and thrive in industries from fashion, art, finance, tech, to diplomacy while seamlessly engaging with English and French-speaking audiences across the globe.

Learn more about about minoring in French  

Linguistics Minor

If you’re curious about how language shapes our identities, opportunities, and the world around us, a linguistics minor will help you uncover the hidden patterns in human communication—opening doors to careers in marketing, tech, education, speech pathology, and beyond.

Learn more about about minoring in Linguistics  

Chinese Studies Minor

A minor in Chinese Studies prepares you to enter one of the world’s largest emerging markets with language skills, cultural expertise, and interdisciplinary knowledge—spanning from business, history, politics, to philosophy—and study abroad opportunities along the way to ready you for a career in tech, marketing, international business, or other exciting possibilities.

Learn more about about minoring in Chinese Studies  

Certificates add to your education

Certificate in Chinese for International Business

You're not just learning a language—you're unlocking a global superpower. With 1.35 billion native speakers spread across the world, this certificate creates a direct route to navigate the dynamic landscape of international trade. Where others see barriers, you’ll forge bridges with unique understanding of the intricate negotiation rhythms of a culture home to tech giants, massive consumer markets, and groundbreaking innovations. Position yourself at the cutting edge, where language meets opportunity. Your ability to navigate Chinese business culture becomes a powerful professional differentiator. Don't just study Chinese—become fluent in both the language and cultural nuances driving 21st century commerce. 

Learn more about the Certificate in Chinese for International Business

Certificate in Spanish for International Business

Prepare to thrive in today’s global economy with the Certificate in Spanish for International Business, designed to amplify your ability to connect in diverse, Spanish-speaking markets. With over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide and the U.S. emerging as the second-largest Spanish-speaking country by 2060, proficiency in Spanish is a strategic advantage. Develop your cultural communication skills by speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on professional vocabulary and intercultural understanding in international business. Gain the linguistic and cultural insight necessary to navigate global business environments, build stronger partnerships, and foster trust with Spanish-speaking clients and colleagues.  

Learn more about the Certificate in Spanish for International Business

Certificate in Spanish for the Healthcare Professions

Enhance your healthcare career with the Certificate in Spanish for the Healthcare Professions, a vital credential that primes you to bridge language gaps and advance equity in patient care. Language is a cornerstone of effective healthcare, yet research identifies stark disparities patients with non-English language preferences face, from simple miscommunications to poor clinical outcomes. As the Hispanic population in the U.S. grows to an estimated 27.5% by 2060, the demand for bilingual healthcare professionals has never been greater. Develop your knowledge in Spanish through targeted practice in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture, with a focus on specialized medical vocabulary and intercultural communication. If you’re looking to ensure equitable, culturally sensitive care for Spanish-speaking communities while building your expertise in inclusive healthcare practices, this is the certificate for you. 

This certificate, one of two stackable credentials toward the BAS in Justice, Allyship, Diversity, and Equity, provides you with the tools you need to support a more diverse group of patients, now and in the future.

Learn more about the Certificate in Spanish for the Healthcare Professions

Certificate in Medical Spanish for Beginners

Step into a more patient-centered approach to healthcare with the Medical Spanish for Beginners Certificate. This program is designed for students with no prior Spanish experience, prepping you with essential language skills to create meaningful rapport with your patients. You'll build confidence as you learn how to greet patients, ask and answer basic questions, and communicate effectively in Spanish—all while fostering a sense of comfort and trust. Starting with the fundamentals and greetings, you'll progress to elementary medical vocabulary tailored to real-world healthcare settings. Along the way, you'll also explore cultural nuances to enhance your ability to offer compassionate, patient-oriented care. This certificate is your first step toward breaking language barriers and providing more inclusive, effective healthcare. 

Learn more about the Certificate in Medical Spanish for Beginners

Get your Master's in Spanish by combining your BA with our MA program.

The Combined BA/MA (4+1) program in Spanish provides a coherent, cumulative educational experience that prepares you for either immediate entry to a master’s level career, or for continued study in a PhD program after completion of your Master’s. The BA/MA application process is competitive, as the program is designed for highly qualified students who have the scholarly and linguistic competencies necessary for an expedited program.

Benefits include

More career opportunities. Some career paths require that job candidates hold advanced degrees. Completing the BA + MA program allows you to apply for higher level positions more quickly, providing an advantage in a competitive job market. 

Saves time. Combining the BA and MA programs allows you to complete your undergraduate and graduate studies quickly, typically within five years instead of six or more.

Cost. A shorter timeline to MA completion means less tuition, fees, and related educational expenses.

Teaching assistantships. The Department of Communication may offer you, as a qualified MA student, research or teaching assistantships. Combining the BA and MA degrees may allow you to access these opportunities.

Faculty. Combining the BA and MA degrees allows you to continue to take courses at the graduate level from the same familiar, award-winning, and caring faculty members.

Learn more about the CU Denver Masters of Arts in Spanish

Learn more about adding an MA in Spanish through our 4+! program

Student Learning Outcomes and Goals for the Bachelors in Spanish

• During their final semester, graduating seniors must participate in an Oral Proficiency Interview and a Written Outcomes Assessment with their major advisor. The written assessment may be fulfilled by submitting a previously written paper in Spanish to your advisor. Students must contact a departmental advisor to schedule their language proficiency test. 
• Students should gain the linguistic proficiency to speak and understand Spanish, including the ability to engage in intellectual discussion in academic settings using correct pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. 
• Students should master the ability to write modern Spanish with sufficient fluency and accuracy to produce a coherent analytical essay. 
• Depending on the major track the following will apply to the goals and outcomes: 
  • Students should master the basic terms and skills needed to analyze both themes and forms of literary works. 
  • Students should master at least one genre or period of Spanish Literature and of Spanish-American Literature. 
  • Students should gain an understanding of Spanish phonetics, including the classification of sounds and how they are affected and change according to their phonetic environment and region. 

Tuition

The cost of tuition  is different for in-state and out-of-state students. See the link for the current table of rates.

Residents of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states may qualify for reduced tuition rates. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program requires students to maintain current residency in WICHE state until degree completion. 

Learn about the WUE program 

Scholarships

Each year, CU Denver undergraduate students are awarded over $30 million in scholarships from institutional, local, state, and national sources. Learn more, and apply here. 

Other opportunities

The department of Modern Languages and other departments have paid positions (both in the work-study program and outside of it) which may include jobs as graders, teaching assistants, and learning assistants. Please expect to have to apply. Learn more here.

Admission Requirements 

If you are an incoming freshman to CU Denver (in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants), you can apply through either the Common Application or the Milo Application. Transfer students will need to submit the Milo Application.  

Incoming first-year students 

CU Denver requires that students complete the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR). You will not have to meet all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) for admission, but you will need to complete CU Denver coursework by graduation. 

Transfer Students 

We have strong connections with other four-year and community colleges. If you have completed more than 24 hours of transferable coursework, you will be evaluated for admission on the basis of your college GPA without regard to your high school performance. If you have fewer than 24 hours, you will be evaluated based on both your high school and college GPAs. For more information and to plan your transfer, see transfer admissions in the admissions office. 

International Students 

You will need to begin your application through the Office of International Affairs. They will help you manage your application process. 

Apply to CU Denver

Application deadlines

Spring

Domestic Application: January 1 
International Applications: Priority is September 15, and Final is October 15

Summer

Domestic Applications: May 15 
International Applications: Priority is January 15, and Final is March 15 

Fall

Domestic Applications: August 1
International Applications: Priority is March 15, and Final is May 15