Tuition and fees per credit hour reflect fall 2022 rates for students studying completely online. If an online student takes a course on campus, tuition and fees will differ.

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Spanish at the U of A

Degree Requirements

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Why Study Spanish Online at the University of Arkansas?

This degree can broaden your horizons, improve your soft communication and critical thinking skills, and prepare you for a multicultural and multilingual workforce. Takeaways for students in the program include:

A comprehensive knowledge of the language in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
A critical understanding and overview of cultures, civilizations, and literatures of the Spanish-speaking world.
An awareness of diversity and cultural nuance that enables soft skills for effective communication with people from different backgrounds.
Practice in the spoken language to meet employer demand for a truly bilingual workforce.
Opportunities for experiential, hands-on learning in service-based courses delivered online and available with the summer study abroad program in Puebla, Mexico.
Elective course options tailored specifically for heritage and second-language learners available, as well as service-based courses in Spanish for the Professions, to be chosen in consultation with the online BA adviser from the Spanish faculty.

Student Testimonial

"This was my first online course, so I didn't know what to expect going into it. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. This class has forced me to go above and beyond in my learning of Spanish. The way the class is set up, you need to know exactly what happens in every story we read in class. This has really enhanced my comprehension skills."

- Luke Tedford

Student Testimonial

"My experience taking online Spanish courses has been extremely positive. I have appreciated the flexibility to learn on my own time combined with the structure of the assignments and assessments. I have experienced noticeable improvement in my understanding of Spanish culture, the growth of my vocabulary, and my ability to speak the language. I plan to continue to strive for fluency with the short-term goal of studying abroad in Spain and a long-term goal of working with Spanish-speaking people in my career."

- Marian Steinmann

Student Testimonial

"Taking Spanish courses has benefited me in various ways regarding communicating with others who speak Spanish and in my career. Taking Spanish courses and being able to communicate in another language has helped me achieve my goals by being able to help people. I have also been passionate about helping others, and I have learned that I can make a significant difference to twice as many individuals because of my ability to speak two languages. I plan to use Spanish in my career by helping Spanish-speaking families get the needed services and support."

- Alyah Martinez

Student Testimonial

"The UARK Spanish online class I took allowed me to gain exposure to Hispanic authors that I would have never read on my own. This class has also given me the chance to research and explore culturally significant figure heads that contribute more than what can be seen with the naked eye, one of these artists being Diego Rivera and his progressive political views. I hope to use the extensive vocabulary I have learned in this course to communicate with my Mexican family in a way that is representative of me when I speak in English. Although I grew up listening to my family speak Spanish, this Spanish course has shown me the scope of formal Spanish writing and its intricacies."

- Cecilia Sandoval

Student Testimonial

"Cultural Readings was my first online Spanish course, and despite being hesitant to enroll, I have beyond enjoyed the class. The format of the course has been super organized, and everything is laid out in a manner that makes the content engaging and accessible. The course has allowed me to discover a new world of literature and culture and I know that I have become a better reader, thinker, and Spanish speaker. In the future, I plan on going to law school in hopes of becoming an immigration attorney. I know that in law, and especially in immigration law, foreign language knowledge is essential, and I know that the reading and analytical skills I have gained in this class will directly transfer to my future career. Overall, it has been a fantastic experience!"

- Christian Sanchez

Benefits of a Degree in Spanish

Our students recognize the high value of a major or minor in Spanish to enhance their academic preparation in virtually every field of professional endeavor, throughout the United States and across our hemisphere. According to data from a 2019 survey by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages:

Nine of 10 employers say they rely on bilingual or multilingual employees.
56% of senior managers report their demand for bilingual or multilingual speakers will increase in the next five years.
One in four employers believed they had lost business because of a lack of world language skills in their workforce.
One in three report their workforce has a significant language-skills gap.

Careers Open to Graduates with a Degree in Spanish

The Northwest Arkansas Council has consistently emphasized that Arkansas, like so many high, new growth areas in the United States, desperately needs more bilingual professionals.

Bilingual employees and supervisors in business, health care, industry, and government service
Bilingual teachers across all disciplines
Teachers of Spanish for both heritage and second-language learners
Translators and interpreters

Job Market Outlook

Explore Job Market

The Pathways career data reflect career information associated with degree programs, and that data may include some jobs that require additional credentials and experience BEYOND the academic degree, including but not limited to professional licensure and certification, additional coursework, and specific training. See " About this data" above to learn more about Pathways.

Puebla/Madrid Study Abroad

Students can earn 6 to 12 of their credits in the Spanish major in dedicated summer study abroad programs to Puebla and Madrid with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Spanish-speaking cultures and gain real-world, hands-on experience for work in a diverse, multi-cultural, and globalized society. The Puebla program has particularly advantages and applicability for students in the online Spanish BA, with its immersive, service-learning curriculum available in the students’ choice of Healthcare, Business, Education, Engineering, or Community Service.

Puebla Program Madrid Program

Globalization Creates Demand

Spanish is spoken by more than 500 million speakers in 31 countries, and it is the fourth most-spoken native language in the world. Spanish is also a rapidly growing second language in the United States. In many new destination areas such as Arkansas and the so-called “new South,” Latinos are now the largest minority group in the United States, at more than 18% of the population.

Puebla Study Abroad Program 2:06