Hispanic Studies
Hispanic studies offers an exploration of the language, cultures, and histories of the vast regions of the world where Spanish is spoken, through the study of literature, film, and other forms of cultural expressions. You will combine advanced linguistic instruction with cultural and historical perspectives, preparing you for a wide range of professional and academic careers.
Why Choose a Degree in Hispanic Studies?
Spanish is the primary language for around 34 million people in the United States alone. Combine this fact with our proximity to and shared interests with Spanish-speaking Latin America and it’s easy to see why you need a knowledge of Spanish and Hispanic culture to thrive in the modern world. By earning a degree in Hispanic studies, you will also become immersed in one of the oldest and richest of the Romance languages and in a culture with roots deep in antiquity.
What You’ll Study
We offer a major and minor in Hispanic studies through the Department of World Languages and Literatures. Our interdisciplinary program offers classes on language, culture, film, and literature on topics like science fiction, theatre, music, poetry, and social activism. Coursework includes speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish, as well as the study of a broad spectrum of cultural analysis, from pre-Columbian Mesoamerican to contemporary Latinx culture in the U.S.
Many of our students earn course credit on overseas programs. In addition to general cultural programs that are open to all students, there are nine programs with a Spanish language focus:
- Chile, Santiago and Valparaíso
- Havana, Cuba
- Cuenca, Ecuador
- Santiago, Dominican Republic
- Mérida, Mexico, health studies and general
- Spain, Granada and Seville
Outside the classroom, the Keck Interactive Learning Center is a language center and community area that is packed with linguistic and cultural resources. The Global Languages and Cultures Living-Learning Community is a unique on-campus housing option with an immersive language-based focus. Our language assistant is a visiting Fulbright scholar who teaches conversation courses and offers tutoring support.
Connect With Lewis & Clark!
Complement Your Education With One of These Minors
The most popular minors for our Hispanic studies majors are economics, ethnic studies, and Latin American and Latino studies.
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
Jenn Sosa Ramírez BA ’23More about JennI love how interdisciplinary my Hispanic studies major is because I’ve gotten to take courses from different departments like history and music, and I got to study abroad in Spain!
Azucena Morales Santos BA ’24More about AzucenaMy favorite spot to study on campus is the third floor of Miller because I can see my Hispanic studies professors and soak up the sunlight that hits from the window.
Carolina Ruíz BA ’22More about CarolinaI knew once I stepped foot on campus I wanted to get involved, make an impact, and do something good for this school!
What Can You Do With a Degree in Spanish?
Our alumni use their BA in Hispanic studies in a variety of endeavors. In addition to receiving Fulbright and other grants to teach English or do research in Spanish-speaking countries, our students pursue careers in teaching, law, academia, public health, cultural exchange, media, and other fields.
Dedicated Faculty
Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
Juan Carlos Toledano Redondo More about Juan CarlosAlthough we also strive to give direction and a future career to our students, our main goal is to create better human beings who, instead of compartmentalizing the world into fields of study, understand that each field is a door to see better, connect the dots of knowledge, and understand the world as a whole.
Magalí Rabasa More about MagalíI absolutely love how connected L&C students are—to each other, to our campus community, to their own communities, to their professors, to their fields of study, and to their personal passions and interests.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.
Find Your People
The student-led Spanish Club organizes activities like salsa lessons, movie nights, and attending local performances and events in Spanish. One of the oldest journals at L&C, Polyglot gives the opportunity to students of all levels to publish their work in Spanish.
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
Chloe Safar BA ’21More about ChloeAfter graduating in 2021, I spent a year serving with AmeriCorps VISTA at a local mental health and addiction recovery nonprofit, working on capacity-building projects that support low-income communities in Portland
Lizzie Gregory BA ’22More about LizzieI’ve been working and preparing for another trip abroad, taking the LSAT, and catching up on trips with friends and family. I plan to teach English in Spain for a few months while working on applying to law school for the 2024 school year.
Marcella Chavez BA ’21More about MarcellaL&C taught me the skills to think critically, which will help me throughout my life
