You will learn how to communicate, work creatively, and appreciate life in a pluralistic world. Studying world languages, cultures, and literatures awakens your intellectual appetite for diverse cultural creations and enables you to project yourself imaginatively into other ways of living in the world. The Spanish major at Wells nurtures the respect for the unique contributions and identities of diverse interconnected cultures and societies. The major also prepares you to enter a growing array of professional careers that reward foreign language competence, cross-cultural experiences, and international perspectives.
Available as a major. At least one semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country is required.
"Spanish classes here help you learn about a variety of topics and grow as a person. I've learned about the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and how they are each unique. I have also grown as a person because now that I know how to form complete sentences I can communicate with natives and be able to get around on my own. Knowing Spanish is a big advantage. It makes getting a job easier because any field you are looking to get into there will be partners and clients that will only know Spanish. Knowing Spanish is a huge benefit and I would advise everyone to take some classes."
- Scott Litvin '18, Business Major, Economics and Spanish Minors,
A variety of internships, in and outside the United States, are available to Spanish majors, and many find internship sites during their study abroad experiences. Wells alumnae/i who are established leaders in their fields often provide internship opportunities for current students. The following is a sample of internships in the Spanish area held by Wells students in recent years:
"I'm doing an internship at a hospital this summer shadowing multiple physicians and physician assistants. There have been numerous instances when there was a language barrier between the staff and the patient or parents of the patient. Luckily a medical student that spoke Spanish was there and could translate, showing the importance of knowing Spanish in this setting. Some of these situations were critical because they were communicating with the parents of ill children so it was crucial that this language barrier was broken. Although I didn't personally add to the conversation, I was able to understand some and I'm eager to learn more so I can contribute more! "
- Nicole Sales '18, Individualized Major in Health Sciences: Pre-Medical, Spanish Minor
Check out our off-campus study programs.
Explore your understanding of a foreign language and show your appreciation of other cultures by becoming involved in campus activities. Below are just a few clubs that might match your interests:
