May 21, 2025  
Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Spanish Language and Literature


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Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences
 
Chair: Paul Firbas
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Victor Roncero-López
 
Office: 1055 Humanities Building
Phone: (631) 632-6935

 

Spanish studies involve language, literature, cultural history, and linguistics as applied to Spain, Spanish America, and Latino communities in the United States. The field combines the humanities and the social sciences to give the student an understanding of the diverse aspects of Hispanic culture.

Because so many facets of North American life-business, industry, commerce, communications media, the arts, science, and technology-have become truly international in scope, many career opportunities exist for persons with language skills and knowledge of other cultures. A student majoring in Spanish could begin preparation for a career in any of these fields as well as in teaching. A student minoring in Spanish could combine such studies with plans for governmental service, international business, the health professions, or a major in another language and literature.

The Department offers a major program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish language and literature and a minor in Spanish. Students wishing to major in Spanish should consult with a Departmental advisor to choose individual programs.

Placement

Entering students who wish to continue the study of Spanish started in high school should consult a departmental advisor to help them choose the appropriate course.

Minor Requirements


All courses in Spanish offered to fulfill minor requirements must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. At least nine credits of upper-division Spanish courses must be earned at Stony Brook to complete the minor.

Completion of the minor requires 18-24 credits, depending on language placement (see note 1 below).

Intermediate Spanish Language Courses:


There are several ways to satisfy this requirement. Please choose one of the four options listed below depending on your proficiency and/or interests:

Elective Advanced Courses (9 credits):


  • THREE other upper-division (i.e., 300-level or higher) SPN courses, one of which must be at the 400 level. S/U graded courses such as SPN 475  and SPN 488  do not count towards fulfillment of this requirement.

Notes:


  1. Students with enough language proficiency to satisfy requirement A will complete a total of 18 credits. Students who need to take SPN 211  and SPN 212  or SPN 214  and SPN 215  will complete a total of 24 credits. Students with Spanish-speaking background can begin the Minor by taking SPN 213  or SPN 310 , depending on their Spanish written proficiency.

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