Spanish & Hispanic Studies Program

In the Spanish & Hispanic Studies program in the IU School of Liberal Arts, you join a community committed to helping you grow as a confident communicator and an engaged global citizen. You’ll develop strong proficiency in Spanish while exploring the rich cultural, literary, and linguistic traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. Whether you’re just beginning your study of the language or ready to deepen your expertise, you’ll find a welcoming environment that supports your career goals and encourages you to think with clarity and curiosity.

Nearly 500 million people around the world are native Spanish speakers—and it’s the second most-spoken language in the United States.

No matter where your career leads, being able to communicate in Spanish gives you an advantage. It helps you work more effectively with customers, colleagues, patients, supervisors, and students in a wide range of fields. And while speaking the language matters, studying Spanish also gives you a window into different viewpoints and ways of approaching challenges.

As you move through the program, you’ll strengthen your Spanish and deepen your understanding of the cultures and histories of Spain and Latin America, preparing you to use the language with confidence in real‑world settings.

B.A. in Spanish

Your journey as a Spanish major begins with introductory and intermediate courses that give you a solid foundation in the language and open the door to Hispanic cultures. These classes help you build practical communication skills, spark your curiosity, and show you how Spanish can enhance your academic path and expand your career possibilities.

As you advance, you’ll strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in both spoken and written Spanish. You’ll take courses in linguistics, literature, culture and civilization, translation, and applied language studies—each one designed to help you understand how language shapes communities, identities, and global connections. Internships, service learning, and partnerships with local organizations allow you to apply your skills, build your résumé, and make meaningful connections long before graduation.

As one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing cities in the Midwest, Indianapolis offers abundant opportunities to use your Spanish in real-world settings, from community organizations and cultural centers to global companies, health networks, and government agencies headquartered right here in the city.

Minor in Spanish

If you’re an IU Indianapolis student looking to strengthen your degree with skills that matter locally and globally, the Spanish minor is a smart choice. Studying Spanish in Indy gives you the chance to learn a high‑demand language in a city with a rapidly growing Spanish‑speaking population—so you can use your skills in real community settings while preparing for career opportunities around the world.

The minor helps you build strong proficiency in the language and deepen your understanding of Hispanic cultures, literature, and linguistics. Introductory and intermediate courses give you a solid foundation, while advanced classes strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and confidently in both spoken and written Spanish.

You’ll also find many chances to use your skills beyond the classroom, through community engagement, internships, service‑learning, and partnerships with local organizations.

Bilingual professionals are in demand across education, social services, international business and finance, government, communications, healthcare, and the travel and hospitality industry. Whether you envision yourself working in Indy, across the United States, or abroad, Spanish gives you a competitive edge and the cultural insight to succeed.

Minor in Latino Studies

If you want to understand the rapidly growing Latino population in the United States—and how Latino communities shape culture, politics, and everyday life—the Latino Studies minor offers a strong academic foundation. Unlike a Spanish minor, which emphasizes language proficiency, Latino Studies focuses on the histories, experiences, and contributions of Latinos in the U.S., whether or not you speak Spanish.

You study the historical development, cultural traditions, and contemporary issues related to Latino communities. You work with faculty experts, access extensive library resources, and expand your perspective through community‑based learning, service opportunities, and study abroad in Latin America. Engagement with Latino cultural and artistic expression further deepens your understanding of the range of experiences within Latino communities.

This minor complements majors in communication studies, political science, social work, education, public health, business, and nonprofit management. Partnerships with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, the Payton Philanthropic Studies Library, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs help you build skills relevant to careers in the nonprofit sector and in roles that benefit from knowledge of U.S. Latino populations and contemporary social dynamics.

Certificate in Latino Studies

If you’re looking for a way to deepen your understanding of culture while strengthening the skills you’re already developing in your major, the Latino Studies certificate gives you a focused, practical edge. You explore Latino history, culture, and community life in the United States, but you do it in a way that connects directly to the type of work you want to do—whether that’s public affairs, health, business, education, communication, social services, or any field where cultural awareness matters.

Because it’s an 18-credit program, it fits more easily alongside your main area of study than a minor typically would. A minor often requires a broader set of courses, while a certificate lets you build a targeted, interdisciplinary skill set without adding time to your degree. You’re essentially layering cultural competency, community insight, and crossdisciplinary thinking onto whatever major you’ve chosen.

That combination is powerful in real-world settings. Understanding the economic, political, and social experiences of Latino communities helps you communicate more effectively, design programs that genuinely meet the needs of the people they’re meant to serve, and work confidently with varied populations. Those are skills employers look for in fields like public policy, government, journalism, law, education, nonprofit leadership, business, community development, and international work.

A strong career path

Bilingualism is highly marketable and with the growing Spanish‑speaking population across the United States, the ability to communicate confidently and respectfully in Spanish gives you a powerful professional edge.

A Spanish major or minor equips you with the linguistic and cultural expertise that employers seek in education, social services, international business, government, nonprofit work, healthcare, and global communication. You can also pair Spanish with other majors such as business, education, political science, psychology, or healthcare to broaden your career options and elevate your professional profile.

More information

For more information about Spanish & Hispanic Studies, please contact the program director, Rosa Tezanos-Pinto.