Courses and Requirements

Academic requirements and courses are available in the Vassar College Catalogue.

The curriculum in Hispanic Studies offers instruction in 1) the skills required to comprehend and communicate in Spanish and 2) the cultures and literatures of the Spanish-speaking world. Except for the occasional bilingual seminar on Latino/a Studies, our courses are taught in Spanish.

Every year the department hires a recent university graduate from Spain or Latin America to serve as the Spanish language fellow. The language fellow directs the conversation sessions of our intermediate-level language classes, hosts the weekly Spanish table in the student dining hall, offers individual tutoring, and assists with the department’s cultural activities, such as film festivals and social gatherings. Tutoring is also provided by the academic intern, a senior major selected by the department.

Virtually all Hispanic studies majors and correlates spend at least one semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country. Many majors elect to combine their interest in Spanish language and culture with a second major in another academic department or multidisciplinary program; recent double majors include anthropology, art history, biology, economics, English, history, psychologic science, and other foreign languages. Our graduates have earned advanced degrees in Spanish, comparative literature, international studies, social work, education, law, and medicine or have pursued careers in business, social agencies, the arts, publishing, and teaching.