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Major in Spanish and Portuguese

Major in Spanish and Portuguese

Learn more about our Portuguese program!

The Combined Major in Spanish and Portuguese is a program of humanistic study that requires a minimum of 36 credits at the intermediate and advanced level, roughly evenly divided between Spanish and Portuguese. This major is especially recommended for students who arrive at Emory with a strong background in Spanish and a desire to deepen their understanding of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds, as well as to develop their linguistic, communicative, and critical-thinking skills.

Spanish 202 and Portuguese 110 are considered prerequisites for the major. Students may take these courses at Emory or place directly into more advanced courses that count toward the major (SPAN 212 and above, PORT 201 and above). 

Ideally, students in this program will study abroad in two different summer or semester terms, once in a Portuguese-speaking country and once in a Spanish-speaking country. It is also possible to complete the major using only courses taught at Emory.

To declare a major, please go to the OUE website and fill out the online Declaration of Major/Minor form. Spanish and Portuguese majors meet with the Director of the Portuguese Program, currently Prof. Ana Catarina Teixeira, to finalize their declaration and subsequently each semester to discuss their progress and select courses. 

Current Requirements for the Major in Spanish and Portuguese

Current Requirements for the Major in Spanish and Portuguese
Registrar CodeDegree AwardedCompletion HoursCourses Required
SPANPRTBA3610

Courses Required as Pre-Requisites to the Major

  1. SPAN 202
  2. PORT 102 or PORT 110

Courses Required for the Major

  1. Five courses in Spanish (at least 15 credit hours), which must include:
    1. Two courses in Spanish numbered between 300 and 318,
    2. Two courses in Spanish at the 400 level,
    3. An additional course in Spanish numbered 212 or higher.
  2. Five courses in Portuguese (at least 15 credit hours), which must include:
    1. Two courses in Portuguese at the 200 level,
    2. Two courses in Portuguese at the 300 or 400 level,
    3. An additional course in Portuguese numbered 211 or higher.
  3. Electives (0-6 credit hours)
    1. If more courses are needed to complete the 36 credit hour minimum, these courses (in Spanish, Portuguese, or other relevant fields) must be approved by the Director of Portuguese.

Additional information

Maximum of 12 credits for major from study abroad. Programsdirected by departmental faculty are excluded from this maximum.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a major in Spanish and Portuguese will be able to:

  1. Apply fundamental critical reading skills to the analysis and interpretation of a variety of styles and genres from a range of texts in Spanish and Portuguese, such as novels, poetry, essay, film, and journalistic writing.
  2. Produce written communications in academic Spanish and Portuguese.
  3. Use spoken Spanish and Portuguese in an academic setting in formal communicative modes, such as presentational and interpretative.
  4. Carry out and report on research related to the production and reception of primary and secondary texts arising in and about Hispanic and Lusophone communities, such as the Iberian Peninsula, the Americas, and Lusophone Africa.
  5. Demonstrate a comparative perspective on the languages and cultures of the Lusophone and Hispanic worlds.