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The Spanish Program of VCU welcomes you to the School of World Studies!  The importance of the Spanish language and cultures is increasingly evident with the development of the Central and South American nations but also as Spain continues its central role in the European Union.  The Spanish Program strives to give its students extensive knowledge of Spanish cultures, history, literature and all necessary components of the language: grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.  With these skills developed, the student will have a variety of career and studying options which will facilitate the intercultural dialogue between the English and Spanish-Speaking worlds.

The Spanish language opens many doors to exciting worlds on printed page, in moving image and beyond. Join us as we explore the many facets of the Spanish-speaking world!

Language Program Attendance Policy

Sigma Delta Pi

Our Goals

Nuestras metas

The Language Programs in the School of World Studies strive to provide quality instruction in foreign languages, cultures and literatures.

As part of this mission, the Spanish program works to provide you with opportunities inside the classroom and beyond to learn to:

• write clearly in Spanish.
• express yourself with oral and cultural proficiency.
• explicate or analyze a literary passage.
• relate a work of literature to its cultural and or historical context.
• gain a better understanding of Spanish-speaking peoples and the realities in which they live.
• be familiar with major and representative works of the literature in Spanish.
• apply your knowledge to various personal and professional frameworks of life-long activity.

Studying Spanish

Over 250 million people speak Spanish, making it the third most widely spoken language in
the world. Spanish is the language of vibrant cultures and sophisticated arts, growing business
markets and fundamental social transformations, both abroad and in the U.S. It is advantageous
in a broad range of careers, including education, law and health care. certificate
program in English/Spanish translation and interpreting.

The Curriculum

The program offers a varied and innovative curriculum through which students explore and
engage with the vibrant language, cultures and peoples of Latin America, Spain and the U.S.
Our interdisciplinary structure allows our students to address topics of the new century, such
as the impact of globalization on society and the environment, and interplay of identity, immigration and religion on social justice and health.

Areas of Study

The program helps students develop valuable skills: critical reading, analytical writing, communication and linguistic awareness. Courses are designed to help students develop critical
insight into the philosophy and values of other cultures, function successfully in a second
language and create the opportunity to explore the rich experience of the Spanish-speaking
world through its literature, film and media. The program takes full advantage of the opportunities
presented by Richmond’s growing Spanish-speaking community, including a proposed
certificate program in English/Spanish translation and interpreting.

The Student Experience

Our faculty are fully engaged in our students’ education at all levels from the classroom to
experiential learning to international study and service. We offer a full range of international
experiences through study abroad programs in Guatemala, Mexico and Spain, and through
Virginia Commonwealth University’s membership in the International Student Exchange
program. On the local and regional level, the program offers internships to its majors and
minors.

The Setting

With two main campuses in the heart of Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU is ideally
located to provide a dynamic and diverse urban environment for studies. VCU is nationally
ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research university and enrolls nearly 30,000
students in 181 programs in the arts, sciences and humanities within 15 schools and the core
College of Humanities and Sciences.

For More Information:
Virginia Commonwealth University
College of Humanities and Sciences
School of World Studies
312 North Shafer Street
P.O. Box 842021
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2021
Phone: (804) 827-1111
E-mail: info-sws@vcu.edu
worldstudies.vcu.edu/Spanish