» Spanish Program

Spanish ProfessorsHola!

Spanish is widely spoken here in California and throughout the United States.  The Spanish academic program is dedicated to promoting culturally and linguistically competent citizens in our multicultural and multilingual society. It is the largest program in the languages department instructing more than 700 students each academic semester. About 100 students choose Spanish as their major or minor for their undergraduate degree. The professors in the Spanish academic program are dedicated to the communicative approach to language teaching and emphasize student participation in a class size that is limited from 19-23 students for a more personalized education. 

Pictured above (left to right): Professors Hodge, Valenzuela, and Loustau

Degrees Offered:

  • B.A. in Spanish: 33 total credits, 30 of which must be upper-division. 
  • Minor in Spanish: 21 credits, 18 of which must be upper-division.

Spanish Majors at Spanish Play In LA

Pictured: Students in front of the Frida Kahlo Theater in
Los Angeles waiting to see a play in Spanish.

We recognize that each student has a unique background with their experiences in Spanish. Some were born in different countries or have lived abroad for years; some have studied many years in High School and scored high on Spanish AP Exams; others use Spanish on a daily basis at home or at work. Given the special circumstances that revolve around each individual, the Spanish Major and Minor may show flexibility when taking upper-division courses simultaneously, especially Spanish 343 and 326. For a personal consultation regarding the Spanish Major/Minor please contact the department.

Alumni Highlight
Sienna Duran-Kneip, ‘19; Spanish and Economics Major (preparation for studying International Law)
I interned at a law firm in Madrid. I sat in on civil litigation, insurance fraud & bankruptcy trials. I saw first-hand how the legal system works in Spain as compared to the legal system in the U.S.
Alumni Highlight
Javiera Cartagena, '08 Spanish major & Cheverton Award and the Most Outstanding Spanish Major
Javiera is the Manager of Regional Services at SoCal Assoc. of Governments, the nation’s largest metropolitan planning org. SCAG develops long-range regional plans & strategies to help the economy.
Alumni Highlight
Kyle Whatnall,'19 Spanish major
As an Account Exec at a Sports Publication Relations firm, Kyle creates & assists in news/media coverage. Spanish has been a big factor in his job, since he is the only one in the firm who speaks it.

Toggle Section

Sigma Delta Pi

Sigma StudentsOn Friday, November 14, 1919 at the University of California, Berkeley, a junior undergraduate student named Ruth Helen Barnes invited six other students of Spanish to her residence at 2545 Dwight Way to start what would eventually become the largest collegiate foreign language honor society in the U.S.: Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society/La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica. After that initial meeting and less than six months later on Saturday, May 1, 1920, the Society’s first formal induction ceremony took place at founding member Miriam Burt’s home on 1629 Walnut Street in Berkeley, CA. Today, November is celebrated annually as National Charter Month, and May 1 is commemorated as “Día de Sigma Delta Pi”/Sigma Delta Pi Day. Learn more ... 

Pictured above: Spanish majors and minors participate in the initiation ceremony for the National Hispanic Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi.

Sigma Delta Pi Induction Spring 2020
Sigma

About Us


We are a group of committed professors dedicated to assisting individual students in growing both personally and professionally. We will look forward to sharing with you our special and unique connection with the Spanish language and life-long study of its culture. 

Department of World Languages and Cultures
120 DeMille Hall, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866
(714) 997-6843

Study in a Spanish–speaking country!


Students can study abroad for a semester or obtain an internship for the summer earning credits toward course study. Language requirements vary, as some programs do not have any language prerequisite and some require several semesters of college-level Spanish. Some destinations include: (Semester programs) Argentina, Spain, Costa Rica; (Faculty-lead interterm programs) Buenos Aires, Argentina; (Summer programs) Barcelona, Spain; (Intership programs) Spain, Chile.