SPAN-BA - Spanish (BA)
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Program Overview
Studying Iberian and Latin American cultures at Stanford means engaging in a deep and compelling exploration of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America (including Brazil), and Latinx communities in the United States. To train students as experts in these areas, the department balances an emphasis on literary studies with philosophical, historical, and social approaches to cultural issues. Given the focus on critical thinking, open discussion, and close textual analysis, undergraduate majors are provided excellent preparation for many professional fields, including business, education, international relations, law, and medicine.
This program is designed for students who want to gain fluency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing Spanish while developing a contextualized understanding of the language through linguistic and cultural study. This degree emphasizes the critical use of the language in a global perspective. Spanish appears on the official transcript and diploma.
All coursework must be done in Spanish. If a class is taught in a language other than Spanish, then written work (e.g., final papers) must be completed in Spanish. SPANLANG101 The Structure of Spanish and SPANLANG102 Composition and Writing Workshop are highly recommended.
Students declare their major in Spanish through Axess. Students should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss appropriate courses and options within the major and to plan a course of study. The major is administered through the DLCL undergraduate student services office in Pigott Hall, Room 128.
Preparing for the Major
Students declare their major in Spanish through Axess. Students should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss appropriate courses and options within the major and to plan a course of study. The major is administered through the DLCL undergraduate student services office in Pigott Hall, Room 128.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Students must complete a total of 60 units for the major.
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Additional 100- or 200-level ILAC courses. If the course is taught in a language other than Spanish, written work must be completed in Spanish, as appropriate.
Up to 15 units of pre-approved coursework from Stanford study abroad programs in Santiago or Madrid are listed on the BOSP website as pre-approved ILAC classes. A course abroad taught by a core member of the ILAC faculty does not count against this limit.
Up to 5 units of pre-approved coursework from outside ILAC. AP credit is not accepted.
Up to three courses of SPANLANG at the second year level or above, excluding conversation courses. “Spanish Through” courses do not count against this limit.
In addition to the course requirements for the major, students must also take an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish two quarters before degree conferral through the Stanford Language Center.
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Must be taken for at least 4 units.
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The Capstone course is designed as a culmination of the major while reflecting the nature of the discipline and the role of the Spanish language in society. Topics vary per year. It is open to other students, except frosh and sophomores. Majors should take the course for at least four units.
Students majoring in any DLCL department (i.e., Comparative Literature, French and Italian, German Studies, Iberian and Latin American Cultures, and Slavic Languages and Literatures) who have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or above and who maintain a 3.5 (GPA) in their major courses, are eligible to participate in the DLCL’s honors program.
Declaring Honors
Prospective honors students must select a senior thesis advisor from among their home department's regular faculty by May 1 of junior year. During the Spring Quarter, they should also meet with their department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies.
By the end of Spring Quarter, students must submit the Honors application form. This includes a unit distribution plan to accommodate the program, thesis outline or summary, preliminary reading list, unofficial transcript confirming they meet GPA requirements, and confirmed approval from both their primary advisor and second reader. Once a student submits their application, a notice will be sent to the advisor and reader listed in the application. They will confirm their acceptance of the responsibilities of the committee through an approval process workflow. The completed application is submitted to the DLCL Undergraduate Student Services Officer.
Once approved by both the department and the DLCL Undergraduate Student Services Officer, students will formally request honors through Axess.
Honors theses vary in length and approach depending on topic, historical scope, and methodology. They may build on work begun in coursework but must show enhanced comparative or theoretical depth. Quality, not length, is the primary criterion. Most honors theses range from 40 to 90 pages, excluding bibliography and notes.
Honors students are strongly encouraged to apply to Bing Honors College (BHC), a two-week summer program that helps students develop their projects before senior year. Applications must be submitted through the Bing Honors College program website. Please note: the DLCL does not have a specific College, so reach out to the DLCL SSO for additional instructions for enrolling in the program.
Program Requirements
To earn honors, students must complete a minimum of 9 units (as outlined below) and submit a thesis. Honors theses are due to the primary advisor no later than 5:00 PM on May 15 of the senior year. A thesis that receives a grade of A- or higher qualifies the student for honors at graduation.
1. Autumn Quarter of the senior year (required): DLCL189A Honors Thesis Seminar (3-4 units S/NC) Taught by a DLCL appointed faculty member, this course focuses on researching and writing the honors thesis.
2. Winter Quarter of the senior year (required): DLCL189B Honors Thesis Seminar (3-4 units S/NC) Conducted under the primary thesis advisor, the focus is on writing and revising the thesis draft. Each Independent Study course requires a minimum of two meetings with your primary advisor.
3. Spring Quarter of the senior year (required): DLCL189C Honors Thesis Seminar (3-4 units, letter grade) Each Independent Study course requires a minimum of two meetings with your primary advisor. Students enroll with your primary thesis advisor and present their thesis at the annual Honors Colloquium, held between May 15 and May 30th. The grade for 189C reflects the grade for the thesis and is assigned by the primary advisor, with input from the second reader. Students finalize and submit the thesis to their thesis advisor and the Student Services Officer by May 15 at 5:00 p.m.
The honors thesis in the DLCL embodies Stanford's commitment to excellence in coursework and research. It serves both as a student’s intellectual legacy and as part of the University's scholarly record. Far more than a final paper, the honors thesis reflects original, rigorous research that contributes to broader academic conversations and showcases the intellectual vitality of the discipline.
For these reasons, DLCL honors theses will be visible to future scholars researching similar questions through full online access through the Stanford Digital Repository (SDR) and may be used as course materials for future Stanford honors preparatory courses. A printed copy may also be kept in DLCL spaces. Students who wish to limit the access or sharing formats may do so by submitting a restriction request form to the DLCL Student Services Officer.
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