Alvin F. Sherman, Jr., Chair
3190 JFSB, (801) 422-2837
College of Humanities Advisement Center
1175 JFSB, (801) 422-4789
Admission to Degree Program
All degree programs in the Department of Spanish and
Portuguese are open enrollment. However, special limitations
apply for teaching and translation majors.
The Discipline
The Spanish and Portuguese romance languages and literatures
dominate the Iberian Peninsula, major parts of Africa, and the
southern portion of the new world from Mexico to the Magellan
Straits. These languages, spoken by over 450 million people in
twenty-one countries, provide a wide spectrum of cultural,
linguistic, and literary variety. Spanish and Portuguese represent
vibrant literature that stands at the forefront of twentieth-century
excellence and innovation, a linguist's paradise of dialects, rapid
change, and development.
Such breadth—plus some 35 million speakers within the
borders of the United States itself—gives multiple opportunities
for developing skill in the spoken language, as well as in listening,
reading, writing, and translation. Studying the Iberian roots of this
large and important part of the population and learning about the
people's perception of life also brings greater understanding of
their values and their struggle for identity. A Spanish or
Portuguese major makes for a demanding, intriguing, and
pleasurable experience.
Career Opportunities
The field of teaching has always provided good employment
opportunities for Spanish majors. In addition, opportunities for
both Spanish and Portuguese have been found in government
service (translation, U.S. State Department, CIA, FBI, Border
Patrol, Peace Corps, NSA, USIA), business, social work, airlines,
banking, etc. Many majors go on to professional schools (law,
medicine, dentistry, business, etc.), where a liberal arts
background is advised. For employment in fields other than
teaching, a strong minor or a second major in the employment
area is strongly encouraged. Teaching majors are required to
complete a teaching minor.
General Information
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese strongly recommends
that StDev 317, a 1-credit-hour course, be taken at the end of the
sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year. Because
liberal arts degrees provide preparation in a variety of useful
fields rather than a single career track, this course is
recommended to help liberal arts students focus on specific
educational and occupational goals and to identify the career
options or educational opportunities available to them. The course
will introduce them to the resources needed for accessing
information about graduate schools, internships, careers, and
career development. Students will learn basic employment
strategies, including the steps necessary for obtaining
employment related to their own specialty.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in
addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following
university requirements:
- The university core, consisting of requirements in general and
religious education. (See the University Core section of this
catalog for details. For a complete listing of courses that meet
university core requirements, see the current class schedule.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours in residence
- A minimum of 120 credit hours
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
| BA |
Portuguese |
| BA |
Spanish |
| BA |
Spanish Teaching |
| BA |
Spanish Translation |
| Minors |
Portuguese
Spanish
Spanish Teaching |
Students should see their college advisement center for help or
information concerning the undergraduate programs.
Graduate Programs and Degrees
| MA |
Portuguese |
| MA |
Spanish |
| MA |
Language Acquitsition (Spanish and Portuguese) |
For more information see the BYU 2006–2007
Graduate Catalog.
General Information
Spanish Resource Center
164 University Parkway Center, (801) 378-8107
E-mail: spanish_resource@email.byu.edu
The Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain, in connection
with the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Center
for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling (CITES),
operates the Spanish Resource Center (Centro de Recursos). The
purpose of the center is to provide an ample supply of books,
computer programs, and didactic materials, both printed and
audiovisual, related to the teaching of Spanish language and
literature. Researchers, professors, students, educational
institutions, coordinators, administrators, and in general all those
who may be interested in the knowledge and promotion of
Spanish are welcome. To increase the prestige of the Spanish
language academically as well as socially, the Spanish Resource
Center
- sponsors workshops, seminars, and work groups on topics
related to teaching Spanish and researching linguistics and
literature;
- organizes conferences, film series, recitals, and cultural
activities in general that relate to the Spanish language and
culture; and
- promotes and participates in all initiatives that are deemed
appropriate and that favor acquisition and use of the Spanish
language by students at different educational levels.
Foreign Language Student Residence
The Foreign Language Student Residence provides live-in opportunities
for students in Spanish and Portuguese. A twenty-four-hour-a-day
Spanish or Portuguese rule assures participants intensive
use of the language, under the direction of native speakers.
See the department secretary at 3190 JFSB for information.
Language Skills Development
A program to improve and monitor all language skills at each
level of course work has been developed by the department, and
a final oral proficiency examination is required of all graduating
seniors. Writing skills in Spanish or Portuguese courses will
advance from writing exercises and short messages in 100-level
courses to original short themes in 200-level classes. Papers in the
language at the 300-level and more extensive research and
vocabulary and full control of structures at the 400-level will
complete the program.
Minor, Double Major, or Approved Supporting Course Work
Required for Spanish or Portuguese Majors
All Spanish and Portuguese majors are required to complete
either a minor (from any department in the university), 15 hours
of approved supporting course work, or a double major.
Nonteaching majors who do not wish to complete a formal
minor may substitute at least 15 hours of courses from among the
following related fields: a second modern foreign language
(upper-division courses only), Latin, Greek, English (beyond the
GE requirement), linguistics, classical civilization, Latin American
history or geography, Spanish/Portuguese history or geography,
humanities, archaeology of Spain/Portugal or Latin America,
comparative literature, or other areas approved by the department
chair.
Nonteaching and nontranslation majors also may meet their
minor requirement by completing 15 additional hours consisting
of elective Spanish/Portuguese courses or (strongly recommended)
a combination of Spanish/Portuguese electives and interdisciplinary
work. In all cases these courses must form a coherent program
and must be preapproved by the department chair.
A double major is an acceptable alternative to a minor.
Foreign Residency
The department strongly recommends that all majors participate
in an extended (at least two continuous months) and intensive
language and culture experience in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking
country or area.
A student should complete this requirement by:
- Residency abroad (may include a Spanish or Portuguese LDS
mission, attendance at a foreign university, an advanced
exchange program, or similar intensive foreign residence).
- Participating in BYU Study Abroad Programs in Spain,
Portugal, or Latin America.
- Participating in individual or group-arranged internship
programs abroad as approved by the department.
Students unable to participate in one of these programs must
spend at least one year (two semesters) in the Foreign Language
Student Residence, pledging to use only Spanish or Portuguese
within the residence. Prerequisite to this experience is Span/Port
201 or its equivalent; any exceptions must be approved by the
department. For further information contact the department
secretary or the Foreign Language Student Residence Office, 3086
JFSB, (801) 422-3765.
