Frequently Asked Questions

• Why study Spanish?
   
• I’ve never taken Spanish before, would I have enough time to major if I start with elementary Spanish during my freshman year?
   
• What level of proficiency do I need to be able to study abroad?
   
• Is it difficult to complete a double major with Spanish as one of the two fields?
   
• What do I need to do to graduate with Honors in Spanish?
   
• I know the senior essay is optional but I would like to write one. How do I best prepare for it?

Why study Spanish?

• SPANISH can no longer be considered a foreign language in the U.S. In fact, it is spoken by an estimated 45 million in this country. By 2050, we will have the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, after Mexico. There are more Spanish speakers in this country than there are speakers of Chinese, French, Hawaiian, and the Native American languages combined.
   
• Some 450 million people in the world speak SPANISH in twenty-one nations and several allied territories. It is the third most widely spoken language, after Mandarin and English. Global internet usage statistics also show Spanish as the third most commonly used language on the Internet.
   
• SPANISH is the language of notable writers such as Miguel de Cervantes, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Isabel Allende and Jorge Luis Borges; artists such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Eduardo Chillida; film makers like Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Iñárritu; musical figures such as Pablo Casals, Gustavo Dudamel, Gloria Estéfan, Celia Cruz, and Enrique Iglesias. There is also Pope Francis!
   
• Studying SPANISH will significantly enhance your educational and professional opportunities. There is a crucial demand for Spanish speakers in all fields, including medicine, law, business, the arts, government, education, and social research among many others…

I’ve never taken Spanish before, would I have enough time to major if I start with elementary Spanish during my freshman year?

While it is challenging, it is possible to complete a major even if you’d never had Spanish before coming to BMC. You should plan on going abroad during your junior year; and during at least one semester, you may need to take as many as three Spanish courses. Another possibility would be to take a summer course, chosen in consultation with a Spanish adviser, at an accredited institution. 

What level of proficiency do I need to be able to study abroad?

Most study abroad programs require you to have the equivalent of four semesters of Spanish (or Intermediate-level proficiency) as a prerequisite. Students who begin Spanish during the freshmen year generally achieve this level by the end of their sophomore year. Other students do so even sooner.

Is it difficult to complete a double major with Spanish as one of the two fields? 

No. Many of our students double major with disciplines such as Math, Physics, History, Growth and Structure of Cities, Economics and other languages. The fact that we do not require a senior thesis or essay makes it easier for students to complete two majors.

What do I need to do to graduate with Honors in Spanish?

In order to receive Honors in Spanish, you have to have a GPA of 3.7 in the major. In addition, you are required to write a senior essay, with the approval of the Department, during the spring semester of your senior year. 

I know the senior essay is optional but I would like to write one. How do I best prepare for it?

In order to write the senior essay, you need to submit a proposal during the fall semester of your senior year. Once the proposal is approved by the Department, you will be assigned a director. In addition to their content, most of our advanced courses have a strong writing component that should prepare you adequately to write the senior essay.