Sample Courses:
  • SPN-300T. Love in Andalusia. A broad look at concepts of love in Spanish literature from the courtly to 20th-century erotica, featuring such authors as Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Garcia Lorca, Paloma Pedrero and Lucia Etxeberria.
  • SPN-332. An Introduction to Afro-Hispanic Literatures and Cultures. Selected readings on the black experience in Latin America and African diaspora literature particular to Spanish-speaking regions.
  • SPN-350. Visions and Voices: Chicana Icons from Myth to Matte. The historical significance of La Virgen de Guadalupe, La Malinche and Frida Kahlo in dialogue with feminist reappropriations of their iconic value in contemporary literature, art and culture.
  • SPN-375. Dreams, Mirages and Delusions in Peninsular and Latin American Fiction. The complex relationships between author, character and audience and explores representations of reality through the subconscious, the magical real and the unreal.
  • SPN-400. Crossing Borders: A Study in Mexican and Chicano Literatures. An overview of Mexican and Chicano societies through literature and film dealing with Northern Mexico and the Southwestern U.S.
  • SPN-403. The “Second Sex” in Latin America: Women's Writing in the 20th Century. How female writers have expressed their struggle against powerful patriarchal systems and continue to work toward gaining an equal voice in the literature of the Americas.
  • SPN-417. Death and Revenge in the Southern Cone. The literature of the Dirty War in Argentina, Uruguay and of the early years of the Pinochet regime in Chile through analysis of narrative, theater and film.
  • SPN-432. Islands Adrift: Race, Politics and Diasporas in the Hispanic Caribbean An introduction to the literatures and cultures of Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
  • SPN-100-101-102. Basic Spanish I, II and III. Language and culture through listening, speaking, reading and writing.
  • SPN-200-201-202. Intermediate Spanish I, II and III. Intensive and accelerated grammar review and vocabulary growth; further development of conversation and writing.
  • SPN-203. Advanced Spanish. Further development of composition and writing skills.


After Union:
After Union
  • Spanish and ESL Teacher, Chappaqua Central Schools
  • National Sales Consultant, Columbia Management
  • Editorial Assistant, Pearson Education
  • Research Assistant, National Institute of Health
  • Spanish Teacher, School of the Holy Child
  • Session Assistant I, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Operations Analyst, Citibank
  • Emerging Markets Expert, Mirae Asset Global Investments LLC

Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Spanish is the third most-spoken language among the more than 5,000 languages spoken in the world today. The U.S. Bureau of the Census has predicted that the number of Spanish language speakers in the U.S. will surpass the 100 million mark by 2050.

There are many reasons to study Spanish that are related to these demographic changes, but there is also the richness of the language and literature, with masterworks by such artists as Cervantes, Lorca, Neruda, Màrquez and Borges.

As a Spanish and Hispanic Studies major, you will enjoy an exciting journey through Spain, Latin America and the U.S. Latino communities through an array of exceptional course offerings. You will study with a diverse group of faculty members whose research interests infuse their classroom teaching. They engage students in lively discussions, consistent development of written linguistic skills, deep critical questioning and creative thinking, and a broadening awareness and understanding of cultural diversity.

Opportunities for terms abroad in Spain and Argentina will also greatly further your knowledge of Spanish language, literature, culture and politics. The Union College Spanish Club promotes the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through films, lectures, social gatherings, cooking classes and the weekly Spanish Table.

In addition to being an engaging academic pursuit, the Spanish and Hispanic Studies major will open up doors after Union. You’ll be able to tap into a large array of career possibilities, including law, government, public policy, publishing and the health professions.