The Spanish Language & Cultures Minor enhances graduates' marketability because they have the social, academic, and professional skills needed in a multilingual and culturally competent marketplace. As the second most spoken language in the U.S. and fourth worldwide, Spanish is widely used across industries such as healthcare, business, education, and international relations. Spanish proficiency opens doors to diverse career opportunities. Employers increasingly seek candidates who can engage with Spanish-speaking communities, both domestically and abroad, making a Spanish minor a strategic advantage that differentiates job applicants and enhances their versatility in multicultural environments.
Through SLC coursework, students may participate in service-learning projects and other community immersion experiences to use Spanish in authentic contexts. Students are encouraged to participate in an immersion experience in a Spanish-speaking country. This might be a study-away program for a summer or a semester, an internship, or one of the short-term travel courses to Spain or Latin America taught by Alverno faculty. SLC minor students have studied Spanish in Spain, Chile, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.
Spanish is more than a language. It is a connection to family, culture, community and opportunity. For many heritage speakers, Spanish has always been part of everyday life. A Spanish minor at Alverno helps students build on that foundation by strengthening their academic, professional and formal communication skills. A heritage speaker is someone who grew up exposed to Spanish at home or within their community and may use the language in daily life. At Alverno, heritage speakers are encouraged to see bilingualism as an asset that can be refined, celebrated and applied in meaningful academic, professional and community contexts. Many of Alverno's Spanish minors place into advanced courses, progress more quickly through requirements and deepen the literacy skills they already bring with them. A Spanish minor at Alverno helps students move from using Spanish informally to using it confidently in academic, professional and leadership spaces. For heritage speakers, this minor is about building on what they already know and transforming it into a powerful tool for their future.
Students who earn a Spanish Language & Cultures minor have demonstrated the ability:
Goralski-Cumbajin, Brook, PhD, Assistant Professor of Spanish, Director of Hispanic Student Initiatives, ESL/Bilingual Teacher Education Faculty & Practicum Supervisor, brook.goralski-cumbajin@alverno.edu
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Requirements | ||
| SLC-100 | Bilingual Assessment I | 0 |
| SLC-103 | Beginning Spanish I | 3 |
| SLC-104 | Beginning Spanish II | 3 |
| SLC-203 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| Intermediate Requirements | ||
| SLC-204 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SLC-304 | Spanish Reading, Writing & Conversation | 3 |
| SLC-403 | Advanced Grammar, Composition & Linguist | 3 |
| Advanced Requirements | ||
| Choose one of the following courses | 4 | |
| Spanish for Business & the Profession Professions | ||
| Hispanic Languages, Cultures & Civiliztn | ||
| Latin American Civlizatns & Lit in Span. | ||
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Only needed if student has prior Spanish experience or learning and wishes to assess into a higher level course and receive credit for prior learning.
Students testing out of SLC-103, SLC-104, SLC-203, SLC-204 must complete SLC-304, SLC-403 in addition to one of the following SLC-410, SLC-466 or HUM-356.