Contemporary Spanish, Minor

Program Description

The Minor in Contemporary Spanish at Sul Ross State University is a 18-20 hours program designed for students who want to develop intermediate Spanish language skills while engaging with the modern cultures and current issues of the Spanish-speaking world. The program emphasizes real-world communication and cultural fluency through topics such as media, migration, identity, healthcare, and social change across Latin America, Spain, and U.S. Latino communities.

Courses highlight the dynamic and global nature of the Spanish language, preparing students to use Spanish confidently in professional and intercultural settings. Whether pursuing careers in healthcare, education, business, public service, or international fields, students will gain practical tools to communicate effectively and respectfully with diverse Spanish-speaking populations.

Program Requirements: 

SPAN 1411 Beginning Spanish I or equivalent

SPAN 1412 Beginning Spanish II or equivalent

SPAN 2311 Intermediate Spanish I or equivalent

SPAN 2312 Intermediate Spanish II

SPAN 3309 Contemporary Spanish Language for Global Contexts

Note: SPAN 1411and SPAN 1412 can be waived through a placement exam and be substitute by any 3000 or 4000 level courses or they students can take a Clept examination.

SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412, and SPAN 2311 can be substitute by SPAN 1413, SPAN 1414, and SPAN 2313

Electives

Any Spanish 3000 level course or 4000 level course

Student Learning Outcomes:

By completing this minor, students will be able to:

• Communicate effectively in spoken and written Spanish in global, professional, and intercultural contexts

• Students will be able to read, analyze, and interpret authentic Spanish-language texts from contemporary sources-such as news media, essays, short fiction, and digital content-and demonstrate comprehension through written or oral responses in Spanish.

• Analyze and discuss contemporary issues relevant to Spanish-speaking societies

• Apply cultural knowledge to engage meaningfully with Spanish-speaking communitiesUse Spanish confidently in modern media, digital platforms, and cross-disciplinary fields.

• Use Spanish confidently in modern media, digital platforms, and cross-disciplinary fields