Frequently Asked Questions

I had a few semesters of a foreign language is High School, where do I start in college?


If you had a few years of Spanish in High School and feel you are significantly above entry level, you may decide to take the CLEP test. According to your score, we will place you in a course commensurate with your proficiency. Or you may decide that you need to refresh your memory and start with Elementary Spanish I (Spanish 1, or SPA1013).

What kind of job opportunities do I have after I graduate with a Spanish major?


An ever increasingly number of companies values employees with a knowledge of the Spanish language, which grants access to one of the fastest-growing markets on the planet.

In fact, if you speak Spanish you may be able to communicate with almost 500 million people in several different continents around the globe! It is not hard to imagine the multiplication of employment opportunities accessible to you.

Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and English. Nearly 500 million people speak Spanish, and it is the native language to approximately 350 million people in 21 countries. There are currently 39 million Hispanics living in the United States, constituting 12.5% of the U.S. population. About 29 million U.S. residents ages 5 and above speak Spanish in the home, or 1 out of every 10 U.S. residents. The U.S. Census Bureau projects a rise in the Hispanic population within the United States up from 39 million to 49.3 million by 2015 and an estimated buying power of upwards of the amount of $926 million by 2007. Such dramatic increase in the number of those who speak Spanish within the United States has increased the demand for Spanish media: newspapers, television, radio and magazines - all with a significant impact on the job market.

Hispanic culture has international impact as well and continues to have a global influence on architecture, the fine arts, the plastic arts and literature. Literary figures such as Miguel de Cervantes, Gabriel García Márquez, and Octavio Paz are staples of the Spanish literary canon and renowned Spanish artists such as Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, Dalí, and Picasso created masterpieces recognized around the world. Antonio Gaudí changed the face of architecture, and Latino culture introduced the world to a wide variety of rhythms and dance via songs of Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata, Flamenco, Tango, etc.

How many courses do I need to be a Spanish major? Which ones?


The total number of hours to be completed by a Spanish major is 30. The following courses are required:
  The next group of courses includes electives:

*    Prerequisite: SPA 2033
**   Prerequisite: SPA 2043
***  Prerequisite: Completion of 3 hours of Spanish at or above the 3000-level
¹    also referred to as Spanish 3 and 4 in the 2008/2010 Course Catalog

Elementary level Spanish courses (SPA 1013 and 1023, or Spanish 1 and 2) do not count toward the Spanish major in the B.A. program. Also, students not earning credit in SPA 2033 and/or SPA 2043 (Intermediate Spanish I and II) must take an additional 6 hours of electives.

In order to receive a degree with a major in Spanish, a student must complete a minimum of 6 semester hours of upper-division (3000 or above) work with a grade of "C" or better in Spanish at Henderson State University, regardless of the number of hours of transfer credit.

When can I take these courses?


These courses are generally offered on a rotation. With the exception of Elementary and Intermediate Spanish, which include a trailer section each semester; and Advanced Conversation and Composition, offered every semester - many courses are available once every two years. Students should keep this in mind and plan ahead to make sure they can enroll in all the courses in which they are interested.

Are there any other requirements for Spanish majors?


Actually, students are also required to take both HIS 1013 (Civilization to 1660) and HIS 1023 (Civilization since 1660), both of which may be applied to the Social Science General Education requirement.

How many courses do I need to be a Spanish, French, or a German minor?


To be a foreign language minor, students must complete 15 hours with a grade "C" or better, 3 hours of which must be 3000-level or above.

Can I study abroad? Do I need to be a foreign language major to go?


Henderson State University established a partnership with the Universidad del Pacífico, in Santiago, Chile, to allow students from HSU to spend a whole semester studying abroad. Students of any major can go, providing that he or she possesses an intermediate level of proficiency in Spanish. Click here for details.

What are the requirements to enroll in intermediate or upper level courses?


For Intermediate level courses, the prerequisite is the completion of both Elementary level courses. In the case of upper-level courses, the prerequisites may vary, as shown above. Please refer to the Course Catalog for more thorough information.

I am a native of a foreign language. Can I get credit for it? Am I exempt from taking foreign language courses? What if I already took several years of a foreign language in High School?


Students entering Henderson State University with two or more years of high school foreign language courses or who have other significant background in foreign language need to take the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) test in order to earn university credit. CLEP tests must be taken before the student enrolls in a college course in the respective language.

I want to be a foreign language teacher. Which courses do I need to take?


In addition to the requirements listed above, students seeking Spanish teaching licensure must take Special Methods of Teaching Spanish (SPA 4873) and complete the Professional Education Curriculum for Secondary Teachers.

What are the minimun requirements for Teacher Certification?


Licensure requirements are determined by the Arkansas Department of Education. Students should consult the Teachers College and/or the ADE directly for current regulations and requirements.

Which foreign language courses can I take in the summer?


In each of the five week summer sessions, students may take Intensive Elementary or Intensive Intermediate Spanish. Each session comprises two semesters of lower level courses, either Elementary I and II or Intermediate I and II (SPA 1146 and SPA 2156, respectively.