Major

*Requirements for the Class of 2028 and beyond. If you are a student in an earlier year and have questions about the requirements, refer to degree audit, the department chair, or your major advisor.

The Hispanic Studies major consists of 10 courses designed to develop strong language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and critical thinking skills. The major’s core requirements include HISP 205 Advanced Spanish and HISP 210 Writing Spanish, providing a solid foundation in the language. Students then choose from a diverse array of electives, with the option to fulfill some of these requirements through approved off-campus study programs in Spanish-speaking countries. For their capstone experience, students may select either a seminar option, requiring completion of at least three 300-level Hispanic Studies seminars, or a thesis option, which involves two 300-level seminars and a senior thesis project. This flexible structure allows students to tailor their studies to their individual interests while ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the Spanish language and the cultural productions of the Spanish-speaking world, ultimately preparing them to navigate and engage with an increasingly interconnected global community.

Core

Complete the following courses:

  • HISP 205 Advanced Spanish
  • HISP 210 Writing Spanish
Electives

Complete 5 courses from among the following:

  • At least 1 200-level course from the Hispanic Studies department beyond HISP210:
    • HISP 222 Short Narrative in the Spanish-speaking World
    • HISP 223 Drama and Performance in the Spanish-speaking World
    • HISP 224 Protest and Justice
    • HISP 226 Race and Nation in the Ibero/American World
    • HISP 228 Screen and Media
  • One First Year Seminar offered by the Hispanic Studies department (see catalog for current list of eligible courses)
  • One Short Term course offered by the Hispanic Studies department (see catalog for current list of eligible courses)
  • One course in English offered by the Hispanic Studies department (see catalog for current list of eligible courses)

Students who complete 1 semester of study in an approved off-campus study program in a Spanish-speaking country may receive up to 3 credits towards the 200-level electives requirement. Students who complete 2 semesters of an approved off-campus study program in a Spanish-speaking country may receive up to 4 credits towards the 200-level HISP electives, and 1 credit towards the 300-level seminars required for completion of the elected capstone sequence.  Students are encouraged to speak with their minor advisor regarding course offerings before going abroad, otherwise credit toward the minor is not guaranteed. For more information about recommended programs, see Off-Campus Study.

Capstone Sequence

Complete 1 of the following course sequences:

  1. Seminar Option
    • Complete at least 3 300-level Hispanic Studies seminars (see catalog for current list of eligible courses)
  2. Thesis Option
    • Complete 2 300-level Hispanic Studies seminars (see catalog for current list of eligible courses)
    • Complete 1 of the following courses (for more information about the thesis project, see see Senior Thesis).
      • HISP457 Senior Thesis (fall)
      • HISP458 Senior Thesis (winter)

The 300-level Hispanic Studies seminars for both options must be taken on campus.

Students for whom Hispanic Studies is their only major should choose the Thesis Option in order to fulfill the W3 graduation requirement.

Double majors may select either the Seminar Option or the Thesis Option, provided the capstone or thesis in their other major satisfies the Bates General Education W3 requirement. 

Courses Taken Outside of Bates

Majors are encouraged to gain proficiency in the language through the experience of studying in a Spanish-speaking country. For the major, a maximum of three credits is normally recognized for one semester, and five credits for two semesters of study in an approved program. Students are encouraged to speak with their major advisor regarding course offerings before going abroad, otherwise credit toward the major is not guaranteed. Courses taken at other institutions in languages other than Spanish are not given credit by the department.

Pass/Fail Policy

The use of the Pass/Fail option is restricted to one course within the major but may not be elected for the required 300-level courses.

Other considerations

Only one course from the Latin American and Latinx Studies major may be applied toward the Hispanic Studies major.