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.
Bachelor of Arts
Spanish
Major | Minor
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.
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.
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.
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.
Common Questions About Spanish
No, The program meets you where your Spanish is now and helps you build real fluency, whether you’re starting fresh or already speak Spanish at home. Small classes, real conversations, personalized feedback and conversation tables mean you grow with support rather than on your own.
Spanish opens doors in community-facing fields: bilingual teacher, immigration advocate, social worker, community outreach coordinator, healthcare navigator, translator or interpreter, diplomat or foreign service officer and international business professional. Spanish strengthens almost any major.
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. On campus, interactive cultural experiences, conversation partners and language tables keep you using the language.
Yes, Heritage and already-fluent speakers move into advanced coursework and cultural studies rather than repeating introductory language classes. Faculty work with you individually to make sure your coursework matches your actual starting point.
With 91% of classes under 30 students, you get far more individual speaking time and direct correction on your pronunciation, grammar and fluency than in a large lecture-style language class. Professors know exactly where your Spanish is strong and where it needs work, so feedback is tailored to your journey towards building fluency.
Cristobal Garza Gonzalez
Associate Professor of Spanish
Terry Martin
Associate Professor of Spanish
