Spanish

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is committed to cultivating a deep and complex understanding of the diverse cultures that we research and teach, from their earliest inceptions on the Iberian Peninsula and in the Americas, to their most current linguistic and cultural manifestations in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The value of this knowledge cannot be underestimated, particularly in light of developments ranging from the economic boom in Brazil, to the profound political and social changes in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Spain, Guatemala, the Caribbean, and Mexico, to the rapidly growing percentage of U.S. citizens of Hispanic heritage in the United States, and especially in Texas.

Beginning in the fall of 2020 and future semesters, students entering the department of Spanish and Portuguese will take coursework to fulfill the Spanish major, or if they are in the 18/20 catalog or prior, the Iberian and Latin American Languages and Cultures major.

Students take courses in Spanish language and Portuguese Civilization or Portuguese language.

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Prospective University of Texas at Austin students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.

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Undergraduates currently enrolled at UT who wish to declare a Spanish major must first meet with a Spanish Academic Advisor. There is no formal application process. For more information, visit the student affairs page on how to declare a major.

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View Spanish major degree plan to view all required courses.

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Spanish majors have the opportunity to study Spanish language, literature and culture, as well as an additional upper-division Portuguese Civilization or Portuguese language course.

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Spanish majors have a passion for the Spanish language, Latin American and Iberian regions, their related diaspora, and their Indigenous, African, and Afro-descendant cultures. They are language learners who seek to develop their skills beyond intermediate proficiency in a foreign language. These students desire a meaningful and thorough immersion in Spanish grammar and writing, literature and culture. Many engage in a study abroad experience, especially the faculty-led programs.

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The mission of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is to educate and train students to develop new knowledge about the languages, literatures and cultures of the Latin American and Iberian regions, their related diaspora, and their Indigenous, African, and Afro-descendant cultures. Our students will acquire the competence to engage in critical discussions of major trends in their field of study, and to apply this knowledge in meaningful endeavors.