Hispanic Studies - Macalester College

Hispanic Studies from Macalester College is a Campus Bachelor Latin American Studies degree that prepares you for a Liberal Arts career. Spanish and Portuguese are two of the most widely spoken languages in the world. There are more than 500 million native speakers of Spanish and Portuguese residing on five continents and in over 30 nations, including the United States, where the Census Bureau reports that more than 32 million households speak Spanish and over half a million speak Portuguese. They are languages and cultures of commerce and trade, history, science, art, and diplomacy, of persons who have helped shape the modern world both with magnificent accomplishments and enduring struggles. Responding to the cultural richness of nations and peoples who speak Spanish and Portuguese, as well as to the opportunities and obligations arising from pressures of globalization, the department of Hispanic and Latin American studies has framed a threefold mission and curricular response. First, by teaching language skills, we enable our students to develop a strong and useful proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese, one that allows them to interact effectively with native speakers in the modes of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Second, we strive to refine critical thinking. Our students approach a variety of texts?literary, visual, and otherwise?and generate fruitful questions and interpretations, informed by multidisciplinary critical perspectives. Finally, our students examine a broad range of cultural expressions, historical patterns, and social issues to ensure that they will be conversant with matters pertinent to Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking persons, both abroad and at home. The department of Hispanic and Latin American Studies at Macalester echoes the mission of the College to promote internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society through teaching excellence, active scholarship, and civic engagement. Multidisciplinary by definition, we teach the languages and cultures of the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian world; we offer specialized courses in literature, linguistics, U.S. Latina/o studies , translation, and the visual arts. We believe in serving the Twin Cities communities through service learning, participation in local cultural life, and internships, thereby educating our students both intellectually and civically to become global citizens and the leaders of tomorrow. Career Orientation for Hispanic Studies Majors A number of recent Hispanic Studies majors from Macalester College have pursued graduate work in Spanish language and literature, comparative literature, linguistics, Latin American area studies, international studies , international business, education, law, economics, and medicine. Some have entered careers in Spanish-immersion elementary and secondary education, bilingual or special education, the U.S. Foreign Service, human rights organizations, and commerce. Others have begun their careers in the Peace Corps or Vista. To enhance their career opportunities, many have combined their Hispanic Studies major with complementary majors such as biology, economics, political science, anthropology, or history. View more details on Macalester College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Latin American Studies courses.