Overview

Calvin's Spanish program is unique in that it is faith-driven and hands-on. A Spanish degree at Calvin means you'll be doing more than sitting through a lecture, it means getting involved, serving the community and traveling the world. All Spanish majors and minors are required to participate in at least one study abroad experience. And because our classes are small, you'll receive more personal attention from your professors.

Careers in Spanish

• Education
• Health Care
• Translation/Interpreting
• Business
• Governmental/Non-Governmental agencies
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Attend weekly Spanish Chapels; practice your conversational repertoire in conversation groups; live in the on-campus Spanish house; study abroad in Spain, Peru or Honduras; connect with Hispanics in the local community through ESL classes, after-school programs, business organizations, and health clinics.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Spanish major

(31-32 semester hours)

• SPAN-301 Advanced Grammar, Composition and Conversation I
• SPAN-302 Advanced Grammar, Composition and Conversation II
• SPAN-308 Introduction to the Hispanic World I
• SPAN-309 Introduction to the Hispanic World II
• One course from:
  • SPAN-340 Spanish Phonology and Dialectology
  • SPAN-341 Advanced Spanish Syntax and Sociolinguistics
• SPAN-395 Palabra y mundo: the Word and the World
• Advisor-approved Spanish semester abroad
• Advisor-approved electives to reach a minimum of 31 hours

   

Spanish minor

(20 semester hours)

• SPAN-301 Advanced Grammar, Composition and Conversation I
• SPAN-302 Advanced Grammar, Composition and Conversation II
• SPAN-308 Introduction to the Hispanic World I
• SPAN-309 Introduction to the Hispanic World II
• Advisor-approved Spanish interim or semester abroad
• Advisor-approved electives to reach a minimum of 20 hours

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Elsa Cortina Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 2.50+
• financial need required; accepted into the Semester in Spain program
• apply through the Spanish department

Edna Greenway Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need not required; submit an essay on how to integrate faith into teaching Spanish
• apply through the Spanish department

Alan and Jan Pauw Family Scholarship

• award amount: $3,400
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; majoring in history, philosophy, or a foreign language
• apply through the Calvin Portal

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Marilyn Bierling Professor of Spanish Department of Spanish HH 403 mbierlin@calvin.edu (616) 526-8540 Sandra Clevenger Professor Department of Spanish HH 406 clev@calvin.edu (616) 526-6358 Scott Lamanna Assistant Professor Department of Spanish HH 419B sgl8@calvin.edu (616) 526-6355 Lourdes Lancel Assistant Professor Department of Spanish lrodrigu@calvin.edu (616) 526-6276 Edward Miller Professor Department of Spanish HH 404 emiller@calvin.edu (616) 526-6359 Marcie Pyper Professor, department chair Department of Spanish HH 405 mpyper@calvin.edu (616) 526-6356 Maria Rodriguez Assistant Professor Department of Spanish HH 411 mrodrigu@calvin.edu (616) 526-8641

Olena Shkatulo Assistant Professor Department of Spanish HH 410 os24@calvin.edu (616) 526-7641 Cynthia Slagter Associate Professor Department of Spanish HH 418 cslagter@calvin.edu (616) 526-6426 Dwight TenHuisen Associate Professor Department of Spanish HH 408 dtenhuis@calvin.edu (616) 526-6638 Alisa Tigchelaar Associate Professor Department of Spanish HH 419A atigchel@calvin.edu (616) 526-7108 Pablo Villalta Assistant Professor Department of Spanish HH 409 pvillalt@calvin.edu (616) 526-7717 Dianne Zandstra Professor (in Peru Fall 2012) Department of Spanish HH 307 zand@calvin.edu (616) 526-6353