University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 (DRAFT) 
    Jul 16, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2024-2025 (DRAFT)

Spanish, B.A.


As the most widely spoken language in the United States after English and the second most widely spoken mother tongue in the world, Spanish offers students immense opportunities. Its rich cultural heritage across three continents plays a key role in the world’s increasingly globalized and multicultural societies. The faculty in Spanish are committed to providing students with the cultural background, critical thinking skills, and communicative proficiency they need to navigate a complex global environment. To that end, the major includes required courses in writing, culture, language, lingusitics, and literature, as well as a variety of electives, including courses in advanced grammar, Spanish for the professions, conversation, film, media, translation, interpretation, and a Spanish service-learning course. Five of the university’s required Silver Core objectives are met in the Spanish curriculum: CO10, 11, 12, 13, and 14. Our program maintains close ties with the University Studies Abroad Consortium, which offers UNR-approved coursework at universities in Spain and Latin America. Students who complete the major pursue careers in any of a great number of fields, including business, diplomacy, education, government, international affairs, law, and medicine, while many opt for pursuing a more advanced degree in Spanish in our department’s graduate program.

 Link to program’s learning outcomes and assessment report:  https://www.unr.edu/assessment/plans/liberal-arts

Contact Information


Department of World Languages and Literatures
241 Edmund J Cain Hall
(775) 784-6055
Spanish advising: WLLSpanishAdvising@unr.edu

College of Liberal Arts Student Center
Thompson Building 101
(775) 682-8745
http://www.unr.edu/liberal-arts/student-resources/academic-advising

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno


Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking  at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements


  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement |  30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 42 Upper-Division Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)


NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course description.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3


B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO2 courses .

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO4/CO4L courses .

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO6 courses .

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses .

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8


Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

II. Additional Silver Core Requirements (18 units maximum)


Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Silver Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV).  Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9


Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO9  courses.

B. Diversity & Equity - CO10


Choose one course. The following recommended SPAN courses can also be used in the major requirement:

D. Ethics - CO12


Choose one course. The following recommended SPAN course can also be used in the major requirement:

E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13


Choose one course; the following recommended SPAN courses can also be used in the major requirement:

F. Application - CO14


Choose one course; the following recommended SPAN course can also be used in the major requirement:

III. Additional College Requirements (6-20 units)


Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.

A. World Language Requirement (0-14 units)


Students seeking this bachelor’s degree must demonstrate proficiency in a world language other than English equal to a fourth semester course level through one of the following options:

  1. complete a fourth semester college course in a world language other than English;
  2. demonstrate proficiency through a means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures including but not limited to minimum standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB), attaining a minimum aptitude on an accredited world language assessment test, or providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction; or,
  3. participate in a study abroad language program pre-approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures to meet the world language requirement. 

Note: Four years of high school world language instruction does not automatically satisfy this requirement.

B. College Breadth Requirement (6 units)


Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in the college shall be required to take, within the College of Liberal Arts, 6 units that are outside the departments in which they major or minor, and that exclude courses taken to fulfill the Core General Education requirements (Core Objectives 1 through 8).

IV. Major Requirements (30 units and an Exit Examination)


In the Spanish major, 30 units are required, all of which must be at the 300-400 level. Twelve of the 30 required units must be completed on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Completion of the Graduation Milestone is also required.

A. Writing Component (3 units)


C. Literature, Film, or Cultural Studies Component (9 units)


D. Major Electives (15 units)


Choose one SPAN 401-499 level course not counted previously (3 units); and

Choose four SPAN 300-499 level courses not counted previously (12 units).

Refer to the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog for a list of eligible SPAN courses.

E. Exit Examination (0 units)


Upon completion of their major coursework, students must take an exit examination. Contact the department office to arrange an exam seating. Students must pass the examination to be eligible for graduation. A note (Satisfactorily Completed Spanish B.A. Exit Examination) will be added to each student’s transcript.

V. Minor Requirements (18-21 units)


Students may complete any minor approved by the University, except that students may not receive credit for both a minor and a major in the same discipline. However, students majoring in Spanish may complete a major (30 units) (Spanish Through the Professions, Media Media Studies, or PackTeach) or minor (21 units) in Spanish (Spanish Through the Professions, Media Studies), of which up to 9 units may count toward the major.

VI. Electives (7-27 units)


VII. Recommended Schedule


A. First Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


  • (3 units) CO1, CO3 **
  • Physical & Natural Phenomena (3 units) CO4L
  • (4 units)
  • 100-200 Level General Elective (2 units)
  • Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) CO7
  • ** English and Math course placement is based on test scores. Please consult the Core Curriculum chapter in this catalog.

B. Second Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


C. Third Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


Spring Semester (15 units)


D. Fourth Year


Fall Semester (15 units)


  • 353-357 SPAN Literature (3 units)
  • 401-499 Level SPAN Literature, Film, or Cultural Studies (3 units) 
  • 300-499 SPAN major elective course  OR Fulfill remaining Core requirement (3 units)
  • 300-400 Level Minor (3 units)
  • General Elective (3 units)

Spring Semester (15 units)


  • Application (3 units) CO14: Recommended (counts toward major)
  • (3 units) CO14
  • 300-499 SPAN Major Elective (3 units)
  • 401-499 SPAN Major Elective (3 units)
  • General elective (3 units)
  • Minor (3 units)
  • Completion of Exit Examination (Language Assessment) (0 units)