Bachelor of Arts

Spanish

Major | Minor

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Students holding flags from Hispanic countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

Connect with people in one of the world’s most spoken languages

Build real fluency, understand Hispanic cultures and open doors close to home and around the world.

At Goshen College you gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures, both global and local, and prepare for work that depends on cross-cultural communication.

Spanish pairs with almost anything: education, healthcare, social work, international relations, or business and expands what you can do in each. Small class sizes mean you work closely with passionate faculty, have real conversations and get personalized feedback in a program that welcomes students of every background and meets you wherever your Spanish is now.

  • HSI
    Goshen College is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (U.S. Department of Education, 2023)
  • #5
    most globally-minded college in the U.S. (Christian Science Monitor)
  • 60+
    students complete SST in a Spanish-speaking country each year
    People smiling to the camera at International Student Club Coffeehouse 2023

    Is Spanish right for you?

    If you want your work to connect you with people, Spanish opens that door. The skill is also in demand in caring and community-facing fields. Goshen Spanish graduates become bilingual teachers, immigration advocates, social workers, community outreach coordinators and healthcare navigators. They also work as translators and interpreters, diplomats and foreign service officers and international business professionals.

    You won’t build that fluency alone. The classes are small, and the faculty are passionate. You’ll have real conversations and personalized feedback. You’re known by name and supported as you grow, whether you arrive with no Spanish or native fluency. It’s a program rooted in connection.

    What you’ll study

    • Language & Fluency: 
      • Build practical fluency to communicate confidently in one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, growing from wherever your Spanish is now
    • Literature & Culture:
      • Develop a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures, both global and local, through coursework in literature and culture
    • Linguistics & Individualized Study: 
      • Study how the language works through linguistics, with opportunities for immersion and individualized study. The major goes deep; the minor is an easy, high-value add to almost any degree

    View the complete program requirements in our catalog.

    Program Requirements

    Learning that goes beyond the classroom

    At Goshen, learning Spanish happens with real people. You can study abroad in Spanish-speaking countries through the Study-Service Term, take part in service projects and community partnerships in nearby Latinx communities and intern with local organizations and international NGOs.

    Closer to home, you’ll practice through interactive cultural experiences, conversation partners, and language tables, supported by language-learning labs and multimedia resources. A diverse campus with international events and speakers is another plus. There’s always a way to use your Spanish, on campus and off.

    • The community I formed while at Goshen College is one of the things I value most from my time there. Being at a smaller school gave me the opportunity to participate in many groups and make connections in different places including cross-country, orchestra, classes, EcoPax environmental club and hanging out in the dorm connector as a first-year student. Since graduating, I am continually grateful to have past professors I can ask for career advice or references, teammates who will travel several states to reunite and run a road race and friends who care about their relationship with me and the people and world around them.

      Alena Miller '23

      Goshen College Alumni

    Paying for Goshen

    Students pursuing Spanish may be eligible for language and academic scholarships. Goshen College also offers financial support for off-campus study and international experiences. To see your own price after aid, run the net price calculator or explore your options at the financial aid and scholarships pages.

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    Common questions about Spanish

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