Spanish

  • BA
  • Major
  • Minor
  • Teacher Certification
Professor Maria Jose Garcia Vizcaino with two students in an audio booth for a Spanish Audio Description and Translation class.

Bienvenidos to the Spanish program at Montclair State University, an exciting intellectual, personal and professional adventure that offers multiple possibilities for future careers and cultural enrichment. The Spanish major combines core courses in literature, culture, and linguistics with a wide variety of electives including business, translation, and film. 

Why study Spanish at Montclair State University? The Spanish program prides itself on offering students multiple courses of study, careful mentoring by devoted faculty, enriching cultural activities and a nationally recognized chapter of the Hispanic Honor Society. 

Here are some top reasons to study Spanish at Montclair State University:

  • You can choose from among three possible Spanish majors, two combined degrees, two minors, an undergraduate certificate program in Spanish translation, and five graduate programs.
  • The Spanish faculty, eminent Hispanists representing six different nationalities, is committed to offering exciting courses in literature, cultural studies, film, Hispanic linguistics, translation, and interpreting.
  • The Spanish faculty provides mentoring for all Spanish majors and minors, guiding them with care through their undergraduate studies and beyond, and celebrating their achievements and successes in our department newsletter and reception for graduates.
  • Students will have the opportunity to meet writers, film directors, actors, and visiting lecturers from many countries of the Hispanic world.

Concentrations and Minor

This program offers students a wide array of courses in Spanish that examine topics such as culture, translation, audio description, literature, film, theatre, linguistics, grammar and composition, business, Spanish in the United States and Latin American and Latino Studies. 

The program consists of two required and eight elective courses, and provides students with flexibility to pursue coursework that aligns with their own goals. It is also an ideal component of a double major that enables students to combine the bilingual/bicultural marketability of a Spanish major with another area of professional interest. 

See the curriculum.

The concentration in translation is designed to enhance the preparation of Spanish majors who are considering careers in diplomatic service, business, social service or law or who have an interest in literary translation. Students take four courses (12 credits) from among the following: audiovisual translation, subtitling, audio description, medical translation, legal translation, and literary translation. Students will be offered opportunities to put into practice the contents of those courses by engaging in real-life projects on accessibility and translation for the Spanish-speaking communities in the NY/NJ area. 

See the curriculum.

Two core courses, SPAN 145: Spanish Language Review through Literature, Culture and Film and SPAN 242: Spanish Composition and Stylistics, form the basis of this 18-credit minor. To complete the degree students select four additional courses from an extensive list of electives. 

See the curriculum.

Interested in teaching Spanish?

Spanish with Teacher Certification in Elementary School Teacher in Grades K-6 

This BA combines certification as an elementary school teacher (Grades K-6) with a Spanish major. Students who pursue certification in Elementary Education must apply and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. 

See the curriculum.

Spanish with Teacher Certification in Spanish (Preschool-Grade 12) 

This BA prepares students for careers as certified P-12 Spanish teachers in New Jersey by combining a Spanish major with required teacher education coursework. Students who pursue P-12 certification must apply and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. 

See the curriculum.

Spanish (B.A.) (Combined B.A./M.A.T. with Teacher Certification in Spanish (Preschool-Grade 12) and Teacher of Students with Disabilities) 

A Combined Degree program enables undergraduate students to enroll in graduate courses in their senior year, which can be counted towards the completion of both their Bachelor's and Master's degree requirements. The ability to take these "swing courses" allows students to earn both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a shortened period of time, typically within five years. 

The Combined Degree with Dual Certification program is a 5-year program that leads to teacher certification in Spanish (grades P-12), teacher certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities, a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree. Interested students must apply to and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program as an undergraduate. Students must successfully complete the undergraduate portion of the program in order to be admitted to the Graduate School and complete the one-year master’s portion of the program. 

See the curriculum.

Career Opportunities

The careers of the future rely on adaptability, creativity, critical thinking and global understanding more than anything else. A degree from the Department of Spanish and Latino Studies is the key that will open doors and make you more marketable worldwide.

Our flexible, tailor-made programs provide high surrender value and offer a quick return in the form of transferable skills, easily applicable to today and tomorrow’s ever-changing jobs. Majoring in Spanish can open doors to a wide range of careers, including:

Teacher
Journalist
Publisher

Subtitling
Voice-over Actor
Audio Transcripter

Medical and Legal Translator
Court Interpreter

Want to learn more about career opportunities for students learning world languages? Check out the new Montclair CHILL (Career Hub for International Language Learning), where students can explore career applications for their languages at any point in their college experience.

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Questions? We're Here to Help.

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Undergraduate Admissions Office

Whether you’re looking to begin an application, have questions about transferring to Montclair or trying to check your application status, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is pleased to help you in any way we can.