Prof. Patricio Boyer and Students gather outside on a beautiful fall day

Hispanic Studies Major and Minor

The Hispanic Studies Major and Minor at Davidson

At Davidson, our Hispanic Studies students work towards a mastery of Spanish, the second most spoken language in the United States and the fourth in the world.

The development of our students' linguistic competency allows them to reach a more profound understanding of Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Latino people and their literary and cultural expressions.

We strengthen our students' critical and analytical thinking skills as well as their ability to form written and oral arguments in Spanish. Through our curriculum and advising, we help our students cultivate the fluent worldview necessary to thrive and contribute thoughtfully in our globalized world.

Latin American Studies

There are key differences between the major in Hispanic Studies and the major in Latin American Studies (LAS). First, while the Hispanic Studies major requires classes on the literature and cultures of both Spain and Latin America, the Latin American studies major requires classes that focus on Latin America from the perspectives of several disciplines, including not only Hispanic Studies, but also anthropology, history, music, political science, and others. Second, while all courses for the Hispanic Studies major are conducted in Spanish, most of the courses taken for the interdisciplinary LAS major are taught in English, with the notable exception of study abroad courses and the Hispanic Studies courses on literature and culture that also count toward the LAS major. If you are interested in an interdisciplinary major that focuses on Latin America you may wish to view the Latin American Studies major.

Courses You Might Take

SPA 345

This course introduces students to the shifting formations of Latinx culture by centering the question: How does thinking through the lens of the digital illuminate the past, present, and future of Latinx culture? The course focuses on the United States, but features significant forays into borderland and transnational areas of cultural encounter.

SPA 260

In this course, students improve their oral and written communication in Spanish, as well as deepen their knowledge of and approach to the Spanish-speaking world. A variety of readings and digital media (e.g., films, shorts, videos, podcasts) will be the starting point for conversations as well as written and oral assignments.

SPA 372

US/Mexico Border Culture will explore the ways in which artists have depicted the diversity of experiences of crossing, settling or living in the border regions between the U.S. and Mexico. We will focus on fiction poetry, essays, and films from the beginning of the 20th century to the present.

Related Academic Programs

Interested in Hispanic Studies at Davidson?