Jul 20, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Bulletin

Global Languages and Cultures, Spanish Studies Track, B.A.

The Global Languages and Cultures major is designed for students who are interested in increasing their language and cultural competency while preparing themselves for careers in today’s global marketplace.

Through the Global Language and Culture study component, students will achieve intermediate high/advanced low level of proficiency while becoming familiar with historical and contemporary global issues from a cultural, linguistic, and literary perspective.

Through the Specialization component, students focus their studies on topics that combine their knowledge of French or Spanish with classes both within and outside of the department. This innovative, interdisciplinary major provides solid preparation for graduate study and a wide variety of careers at home and abroad.

Students pursuing the B.A. in Global Languages and Cultures will complete a minimum of eight classes in three areas (Foundation Requirement, Global Languages and Cultures Study, Specialization) and participate in one Applied Learning Experience (1 credit) for a total of 33-37 hours (depending upon placement). Beyond 301, there are no specific requirements. Students will choose from the 300- or 400-level courses offered by the department to complete their program. The specialization courses may be taken inside or outside of the department, depending upon the specialization chosen.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, all students will be proficient in the following skills:

1. Written and Oral Communication in the Major

Information and Digital Literacy in the Major

Effectively communicate in the target language both orally and in writing in the three areas of interpersonal communication, interpretative communication, and presentational communication.
Demonstrate understanding of the spoken and written target language in a variety of registers and through different means of presentation.
- Introduction: [LANG] 300, 301
- Reinforcement / Mastery: [LANG] 300- or 400-level course

2. Reading and Listening: Culture, literature and linguistics

Be familiar with major works, genres, theoretical concepts, and historical periods in the broad spectrum of linguistics, literatures and cultural production in the target language.
Demonstrate the ability to closely read and critically analyze elements of cultures, achieved through the study of such topics as literature, linguistics, cinema, history, the arts, etc. in the target language.
Demonstrate understanding of the spoken target language in a variety of registers and through different means of presentation.
Distinguish among dialects, social contexts, and historical periods in countries where the target language is spoken.
Demonstrate a basic understanding of linguistic concepts of the target language.
- Introduction: Culture/Literature: [LANG] 213
- Reinforcement / Mastery: Culture/Literature: any [LANG] civilization or literature course
- Linguistics: Any [LANG] linguistics course

3. Critical Thinking in the Major

Leadership and Collaboration in the Major

Have command of the appropriate research tools and techniques for critical analysis of cultures, achieved through the study of such topics as literature, linguistics, cinema, history, the arts, etc. in the target language.
Demonstrate the ability to apply the target language in a participatory way that enables the student to use their skills in a collaborative way in a global society.
- Introductory: [LANG] 301
- Reinforcement / Mastery: Any [LANG] 300- or 400-level course

4. Integrative and Applied Learning

Demonstrate the ability to apply the target language in a participatory way that enables the student to use their skills in a collaborative way in a global society via internships, volunteering, and/or study abroad in an immersion program.

General Education Requirements (30-40 Credits)

Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 33-37

Foundation Requirements (5-9 credits)

All students must complete the following two courses or demonstrate proficiency as determined by the department.

If you took SPAN 102 - Elementary Spanish II at Geneseo OR placed into 213 via the placement exam score:

SPAN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture and Communication Credit(s): 4 + LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages Credit(s): 1 (pre or co-requisite)

If you took SPAN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture and Communication at Geneseo OR placed into 301 via the placement exam score:

SPAN 301 - Oral and Written Communication Credit(s): 4 + LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages Credit(s): 1 (pre or co-requisite)

Global Languages and Cultures Study (16 credits)

All students must take four courses, 16 credits of language and culture study, in a single language, French or Spanish.

Any four (4) courses FREN OR SPAN courses at the 300 or 400 level.

Specialization: Spanish Studies (12 credits)

All students must select one area of specialization that meets the 12-credit requirement. For example: 3 courses at 4 credits or 4 courses at 3 credits.

Major in Global Languages and Cultures with Specialization in Spanish Studies: all 12 credits in continued study of Spanish. Course offerings: Any SPAN 300- or 400-level courses.

Applied Learning Experience (1 credit)

All students must complete one of the following before graduation:

Study abroad: To fulfill this requirement, the student will need to submit a self-reflective essay in Spanish or French (approximately 3-4 pages, typed) discussing how the study abroad experience went, what they thought about the program, what was learned, what personal and academic growth occurred, etc. The self-reflective essay must be submitted to a designated departmental faculty member within one month after the completion of the study abroad program.
Opportunities at Geneseo or in the community: In consultation with their advisor, students will participate in an activity in which they are using French or Spanish in an impactful way. Some examples could be, but are not limited to: Language-based service learning, internships, conference presentations (such as G.R.E.A.T Day), or faculty-mentored, independent undergraduate research.

Minimum Competence Requirement

A grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses: all 300- and 400-level courses in fulfillment of the requirements for the major.

Department Writing Requirement

During their Junior year, students will write a 500- to 600-word essay in the target language under examination conditions. Students will have 2 hours to write on a topic provided at the time of the examination. Students may use bilingual dictionaries and/or dictionaries of the target language. Written proficiency must be at or above the Advanced Low Level of Proficiency as described in the Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. To take the exam, students must enroll in SPAN 401. NOTE: The exam can only be attempted once per semester.

Sample Course Map

Global Languages: Spanish Track

First Year
- Fall - 16 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 101 or 102 or 213 or 301. Credit(s): 4. Co-req. LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages - Credit(s): 0
  - WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) - Credit(s): 4
  - Natural Science with lab - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: CGC - Credit(s): 3 (this could be met via 213)
- Spring - 14 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 102, 213, or 301 - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: CAI - Credit(s): 3
  - Global Society: WCV - Credit(s): 4 (this could be met via one of our civ courses in non-Western)
  - Math or Quantitative Methods - Credit(s): 3
Second Year
- Fall - 16 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 213, 301, or 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Global Society: SST - Credit(s): 3
  - Global Society: DPP - Credit(s): 3
  - Elective - Credit(s): 3
  - Elective - Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 11
Third Year
- Fall - 15 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit1(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Elective - Credit(s): 3
- Spring - 15
  - Study Abroad - Credit(s): 16 OR
  - SPAN 300-level (* see above) - Credit(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Elective - Credit(s): 3
Fourth Year
- Fall - 14 Credit Hours
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 6
- Spring - 15 Credit Hours
  - Integrated & Applied Learning - Credit(s): 4
  - SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
  - Electives - Credit(s): 7

Total Credit Hours: 120

Note: Variation in the order of courses is possible, depending upon prerequisites. Consult course information in the bulletin or your academic advisor to customize your eight semester plan.

KEY - Participation in a Global Society (PGS)

Attributes:

Sub Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
DPP	Diversity, Pluralism, Power
WCV	World Cultures & Values
CGC	Contemporary Global Challenges
CAI	Creativity & Innovation
SST	Sustainability

Learning Areas

Abbreviation	Definition
ARTS	Arts
HUMA	Humanities
SOSC	Social Science

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