Students who entered Johns Hopkins in the current academic year should refer to the current Academic Catalog for a current list of requirements. Students who entered Johns Hopkins University in a previous academic year should refer to the catalog of that academic year.

Majoring in Spanish

The Spanish section offers a major in Spanish with the possibility to specialize in Spanish for the professions. The major requirements consist of nine (9) courses beyond the 210.212 Intermediate level, as explained below:

Prerequisites

  • 210.212 Intermediate Spanish II or equivalent placement

Requirements

  • Successful completion of nine (9) courses, including:
    • 210.311 Advanced Spanish I, or an additional 215.xxx course
    • Four (4) courses numbered AS.215.2xx – AS.215.4xx or AS.210.3xx-AS.210.4xx (taught in Spanish)
    • Three (3) courses numbered AS.215.2xx – AS.215.4xx
    • One (1) course numbered AS.215.4xx
  • One (1) course taught in English may be counted towards the major requirements. The MLL-ENGL POS-Tag can identify courses taught in English.
  • Students must take five (5) of the nine (9) courses required for the major at the Homewood JHU campus.

Native speakers should consult with the Spanish major adviser.

We strongly recommend that Spanish majors study abroad.

Students wishing to transfer credit from language courses taken elsewhere should contact Loreto Sánchez-Serrano for approval. You will be required to take the departmental placement test proctored upon returning to Hopkins as part of the credits’ transfer requirements.

Spanish for the Professions Track

Students may specialize in Spanish for the professions by taking three (3) of the following courses in order to fulfill part of the requirements of the Spanish major:

One (1) course from the following:

  • AS.210.314 Spanish for International Commerce
  • AS.210.313 Medical Spanish
  • AS.210.315 Spanish for International Relations
  • AS.210.318 Spanish for Engineering
  • AS.210.319 Spanish for Public Health

As well as both of the following:

  • AS.210.411 Contacts and Contrasts in Spanish for the Professions, and,
  • AS.210.412 Community-Based Learning – Spanish Language Practicum

Spanish Honors

To receive honors in Spanish, you must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and a GPA of 3.7 or higher in the major.

Minoring in Spanish

The Spanish section offers two minors: Spanish language and Hispanic culture, and Spanish for the professions. The minor requirements consist of six (6) courses beyond the 210.212 Intermediate level, as explained below. All courses must be taught only in Spanish to count toward the minor. Students minoring in Spanish language and Hispanic culture should contact Dr. Loreto Sánchez-Serrano for advising and junior clearance. Native speakers should consult with the Spanish minor adviser.

We also recommend that Spanish minors study abroad for a semester, a summer, or an intersession. With the approval of the director of undergraduate studies or the director of the Spanish language program, only two (2) Spanish language courses taken abroad (in programs other than Hopkins) or at another institution may be used toward the minor, and only one (1) additional Spanish language course will be approved for credit (but this course will not count toward the minor).

Students wishing to transfer credit from language courses taken elsewhere should contact Loreto Sánchez-Serrano for approval. You will be required to take the departmental placement test proctored upon returning to Hopkins as part of the credits’ transfer requirements.

Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture Minor

Prerequisites

  • 210.212 Intermediate Spanish II or equivalent placement

Requirements

  • 210.311 Advanced Spanish I or an additional 215.xxx or 210.4xx course
  • Two (2) courses from the 215.2xx, 215.3xxx and 215.4xx series or 210.312, 210.316, 210.317 and 210.413
  • Two (2) courses from 215.3xx- 215.4xx series
  • One (1) course from the 215.4xx series

Spanish for the Professions Minor

Prerequisites

  • 210.212 Intermediate Spanish II or equivalent placement

Requirements

  • 210.311 Advanced Spanish I or an additional 215.xxx or 210.4xx course
  • One (1) course from this list:
    • AS.210.313 Medical Spanish
    • AS.210.314 Spanish for International Commerce
    • AS.210.315 Spanish for International Relations
    • AS.210.318 Spanish for Engineering
    • AS.210.319 Spanish for Public Health
  • 210.411 Contacts and Contrasts in Spanish for the Professions
  • 210.412 Community-Based Learning – Spanish Language Practicum
  • One (1) course AS.215.2xx-4xx or AS.210.3xx-4xx
  • One (1) course AS.215.4xx

Majoring in Portuguese

Students can pursue a major in Portuguese as part of dual-language or three-language option in the Romance Languages major. They also have the option to pursue a minor in Latin American Studies with a focus on Portuguese and Brazilian Culture.

Students interested in specializing in Portuguese should complete the requirements below according to their chosen option.

All major requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better and may not be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Portuguese Dual-Language Option Requirements

  • Topics in Romance Literatures (AS.211.400)
  • Language Courses through Advanced I and II (AS.210.391-392)
  • Introduction to Literature in Portuguese (AS 217.302)
  • Three Courses (or equivalent of 9 credits) from the AS.210.3XX-4XX, AS.211.3XX-4XX or AS.217.3XX-4XX series)

Portuguese Three-Language Option Requirements

  • Topics in Romance Literatures (AS.211.400)
  • Language Courses through Advanced I and II (AS.210.391-392)
  • Introduction to Literature in Portuguese (AS.217.302)
  • One Course (or equivalent of 3 credits) from the AS.210.3XX-4XX, AS.211.3XX-4XX or AS.217.3XX-4XX series)

We recommend that Romance Languages majors specializing in Portuguese study abroad, either for a semester, an intersession, or a summer.

Minoring in Portuguese

Minor in Latin American Studies with a focus on Portuguese language and Brazilian Culture

The Latin American studies minor with a focus on Portuguese language and Brazilian culture provides students with advanced training in the Portuguese language and in the diverse cultural and literary aspects of Brazil. The minor also fosters understanding of Brazilian history, popular culture, media, politics, and society.

Students will master key components of the Portuguese language that enable rich and complex expression, such as linking words, idioms, and registers of style, as well as an appreciation of language variation within Brazil.

Requirements

The student must successfully complete Portuguese language courses through the Intermediate level (or equivalent placement test), plus six courses as follows:

  • 4 additional upper-level courses (300 or higher)
    • 2 Portuguese language courses at the Advanced level
    • 2 300-level courses related to Brazilian culture, history, or literature
  • 2 additional courses at any level dealing with Latin America.
  • Note: 3-credit Intersession or Summer session non-language courses offered by JHU may be used to fulfill this requirement.
  • No grade below C- will be accepted for the minor requirement.

The requirements for the concentration are the same as those for the regular Latin American studies minor, except for the thematic content.

We also recommend that Latin American studies minors with a focus on Portuguese language and Brazilian culture study abroad, either for a semester, an intersession, or a summer.