Spanish Program

The Spanish Program at San Francisco State offers students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the language, literature, and culture of Spain and Latin America in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. The program offers a Bachelor of Arts, a minor and a Master of Arts in Spanish, in addition to beginning and intermediate courses in language.

Study of another language and culture can broaden your world and improve your critical thinking skills. Becoming conversant in Spanish also has a great practical benefit. More than 400 million people speak Spanish as their native language, making it the fourth most widely spoken language in the world. It is also the second most widely spoken language in the United States, which is home to more Spanish speakers than any other country except Mexico. Studying Spanish opens doors to those communities and can lead to many exciting career possibilities.

Important Information

If you are planning to enroll in our classes, please read this information: 

The Spanish program has two tracks for learning the Spanish language: one for heritage speakers and the other for students of Spanish as a second language, and all our lower-division language classes are certified as General Education. 

Depending on the level indicated by our Placement Test, you can start in any of the five designated classes, but you must always progress according to the sequence. 

If you are a heritage speaker, there is a class designed for you, SPAN 215. 

If you are a student of Spanish as a second language, you should follow this sequence: SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 205 and SPN 206. 

Before enrolling in our program, to find the most suitable class for you, please send an email to the program coordinator, Professor Ana Luengo, aluengo@sfsu.edu, who will give you access to the Placement Test.

To declare a major or minor, complete a Declaration of Major/Minor form, then make an appointment to see the program advisor. Bring a copy of your most recent university transcript to the meeting.

Spanish Course Descriptions

Undergraduate Programs

Spanish

The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish consists of 27 units of upper-division coursework. Up to 13 units of prerequisite coursework or demonstrated language proficiency is required to begin the major. All upper-division courses are conducted in Spanish, and students are expected to use Spanish in their speaking, reading and writing.

SFSU Accelerated Bachelors + Masters

The SF State Scholar Program in Spanish offers those students interested in pursuing graduate study an excellent opportunity to accelerate the process and better position themselves in the workforce. Students with a Master of Arts degree in Spanish have gone on to careers in teaching, administration, non-profits, journalism, and have also be accepted into prestigious doctoral programs around the world.

 

Spanish BA + MA SF State Scholars Roadmap

Minor in Spanish

The Spanish minor consists of up to 14 units of lower-division and from 9 to 15 units of upper-division coursework. Students must complete the lower-division sequence -- or the equivalent -- prior to beginning upper-division coursework. The program may waive some or all lower-division requirements if the student demonstrates appropriate competency through advising, by taking the Spanish placement test, or by having taken the equivalent coursework elsewhere.

 

Learn more about the Minor in Spanish.

Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in Spanish

The Master of Arts in Spanish at San Francisco State University offers students a challenging and enriching experience in the study of Spanish and Latin American literature and culture in one of the most fascinating cities of the world. You will study literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the present and receive training in academic writing, and in literary research methodologies and cultural theory.

Program Contacts