About the Program
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The sequence of undergraduate programs of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is designed to lead from the acquisition of competence in written and spoken Spanish or Portuguese, through an acquaintance with the structure and history of one or both of these languages and a critical understanding of the development and achievements of their literatures in the Old World and in the New, to training in advanced study and independent research. The department’s policy is to maintain a balanced strength between language and literature and between Peninsular and Latin American facets of a unified field.
Students in this major choose one of the following concentrations based on general area of interest:
Concentration A: The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World
This concentration is recommended for students interested in the languages, literature, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking World on both sides of the Atlantic and/or a career in K-12 foreign language teaching, as well as for future graduate students in Hispanic Studies. Spanish is required for this option, and Portuguese and Catalan are optional.
Concentration B: The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures of the Portuguese-Speaking World
This concentration is recommended for students interested in the language, literature, and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, and may include up to two upper division electives in Spanish. Portuguese is required for this option, and Spanish is optional.
Concentration C: Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
This concentration is recommended for students interested in the languages, literatures, and cultures of both Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking Latin America, and/or a career in K-12 foreign language teaching, as well as for future graduate students in Spanish and Portuguese studies. It requires coursework in both Spanish and Portuguese, which makes possible comparative approaches to the culture, literature, and history of the region.
Concentration D: Hispanic Languages, Linguistics, and Bilingualism
This concentration is recommended for students interested in the linguistic structure of Spanish and/or Portuguese, bilingualism in society, and/or career in K-12 foreign language teaching, as well as for future graduate students in (Hispanic) Linguistics.
Declaring the Major
Students can receive pre-major advising at any time, from the undergraduate major advisor (spanua@berkeley.edu). Students can declare the major once they have completed SPANISH 25 and one upper division course from the department for concentrations A, C, and D. For concentration B, students must complete Spanish 25, PORTUG 50, and one upper division course from the department before declaring the major. These prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Honors Program
Students are eligible to do honors work within the Department of Spanish and Portuguese if they have completed at least two semesters of work at Berkeley with an overall grade point average of 3.3 and a grade point average of at least 3.6 in those courses taken within the major. Students must complete two honors courses, SPANISH H195A (1.5 units) and SPANISH H195B (1.5 units), in two successive semesters, and will write a thesis under the supervision of an appropriate departmental faculty member over the course of two successive semesters. A letter grade, reflecting progress, will be given after the first semester. H195A/B will not count toward the required upper division work in the major. Before the semester in which students intend to begin the honors program, they should speak with the staff undergraduate advisor to verify eligibility for honors work and to discuss the process.
Major Requirements
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
-
All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
-
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
-
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
For information regarding residency requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
Requirements by Concentration
Concentration A: The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Prerequisites | ||
| SPANISH 1 | Elementary Spanish - First Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 2 | Elementary Spanish - Second Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 3 | Intermediate Spanish - Third Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 4 | Intermediate Spanish - Fourth Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 25 | Reading and Analysis of Literary Texts | 3 |
| Upper Division Requirements 1 | ||
| SPANISH 102A | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 4 |
| SPANISH 104A | Survey of Spanish American Literature | 4 |
| or SPANISH 107A | Survey of Spanish Literature | |
| SPANISH 104B | Survey of Spanish American Literature | 4 |
| or SPANISH 107B | Survey of Spanish Literature | |
| Three elective courses in Spanish or Latin-American Literature/Culture | 12 | |
| Two elective courses in any upper division Spanish, Portuguese, or Catalan topic | 8 | |
- 1
A balance between coursework focusing on Latin-America and Spain must be maintained.
Concentration B: The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures of the Portuguese-Speaking World
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Prerequisites | ||
| PORTUG 50 | Intensive Portuguese for Spanish Speakers | 4 |
| SPANISH 25 | Reading and Analysis of Literary Texts 1 | 3 |
| Upper Division Requirements | ||
| PORTUG 102 | Conversations in Portuguese | 4 |
| PORTUG 103 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 4 |
| PORTUG 104 | Brazil in the World | 4 |
| Five upper division electives - a minimum of three courses on Portuguese/Brazilian topics, a maximum of two courses in Spanish | 20 | |
- 1
Only if student is taking upper division Spanish courses
Concentration C: Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Prerequisites | ||
| SPANISH 1 | Elementary Spanish - First Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 2 | Elementary Spanish - Second Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 3 | Intermediate Spanish - Third Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 4 | Intermediate Spanish - Fourth Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 25 | Reading and Analysis of Literary Texts | 3 |
| PORTUG 50 | Intensive Portuguese for Spanish Speakers | 4 |
| Upper Division Requirements | ||
| PORTUG 103 | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 4 |
| PORTUG 104 | Brazil in the World | 4 |
| or PORTUG 128 | Modern and Contemporary Brazilian Literature | |
| SPANISH 102A | Advanced Grammar and Composition | 4 |
| SPANISH 104A | Survey of Spanish American Literature | 4 |
| or SPANISH 104B | Survey of Spanish American Literature | |
| Two electives in Spanish, Spanish-American, Brazilian or Portuguese Literature/Culture | 8 | |
| Two electives in any upper division Spanish or Portuguese topic | 8 | |
Concentration D: Hispanic Languages, Linguistics, and Bilingualism
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Prerequisites | ||
| SPANISH 1 | Elementary Spanish - First Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 2 | Elementary Spanish - Second Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 3 | Intermediate Spanish - Third Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 4 | Intermediate Spanish - Fourth Semester (or equivalent) | 5 |
| SPANISH 25 | Reading and Analysis of Literary Texts | 3 |
| Upper Division Requirements | ||
| SPANISH 100 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 4 |
| SPANISH 161 | Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | 4 |
| SPANISH 162 | Spanish Morphology and Syntax | 4 |
| SPANISH 163 | Sociolinguistic and Psycholinguistic Approaches to Spanish Bilingualism | 4 |
| SPANISH 164 | Spanish Dialectology and Sociolinguistic Variation | 4 |
| One elective in Hispanic Linguistics (Spanish 101, 165, 166, 179) | 4 | |
| One elective in Linguistics (upper division from Linguistics or another foreign language department, or UGIS 120) | 4 | |
| One elective in any upper division Spanish, Portuguese, or Catalan topic | 4 | |
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
University of California Requirements
Entry Level Writing
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade.
American History and American Institutions
The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
Berkeley Campus Requirement
American Cultures
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.
Foreign Language
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.
Reading and Composition
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
-
120 total units
-
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
- Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Student Learning Goals
Learning Goals for the Major
-
Attain solid (though not necessarily flawless) proficiency in reading, writing, understanding, and speaking Spanish and/or Portuguese.
-
Recognize a variety of genres and modes of writing (fiction, poetry, theater, and essay).
-
Become conversant in the vocabulary associated with linguistic and literary analysis in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
-
Be able to articulate specific connections between literary texts and/or linguistic phenomenon and the historical and cultural contexts in which they were produced.
-
Gain a critical awareness of distinctions and continuities among the languages, literatures, linguistic systems, and cultures of the Iberian peninsula and Latin America across national and regional boundaries and historical periods.
-
Acquire the analytical resources of diverse linguistic and literary approaches and theories.
Skills
-
Demonstrate the ability to interpret and analyze texts written in Spanish and/or Portuguese, depending upon the major option.
-
Develop critical approaches for the analysis of texts from a range of historical periods and regions of Latin America and the Iberian peninsula.
-
Distinguish among dialects and usages typical of diverse regions, social contexts, and historical periods in Spain and/or Portugal, and the Americas, including usages of heritage speakers (Option D).
-
Formulate well-organized, well-supported arguments both orally and in written stylistically effective Spanish and/or Portuguese.
-
Write essays in standard academic Spanish and/or Portuguese, using appropriate vocabulary to discuss examples from specific texts.
-
Be able to distinguish among the available print and online sources and choose those that are most reliable as support for arguments in class discussion and essays.
-
Practice responsible citation of sources in essays.
Major Map
Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.
Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:
Advising
Advising Staff and Advising Hours
Maxwell Moloney, MA
UMA Spanish & Portuguese
spanua@berkeley.edu
5317 Dwinelle Hall (Floor E)
Mailing Address:
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
5317 Dwinelle Hall #2590
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2590
Academic Opportunities
Study Abroad
There are several options for studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country, with program options that are suitable for students who have no Spanish language background, as well as opportunities for those who are fully fluent. The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) offers summer, semester and classic full academic year immersion programs. Students with existing language ability may pursue their major studies at some of the most prestigious institutions in Spain and Latin America.
Spanish & Portuguese majors can take up to three approved upper-division elective courses while studying abroad, and five upper-division courses must be taken within the department here at Berkeley.
Spanish & Portuguese minors can take up to two approved upper-division elective courses while studying abroad, and three upper-division courses must be taken within the department here at Berkeley.
The UCEAP office on campus is in 160 Stephens Hall. More information can be found on the UCEAP website.
Prizes and Awards
The John K. Walsh Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to Spanish and Portuguese majors to recognize academic achievement and alleviate the financial burden of education for outstanding undergraduate majors.
Cervantes Prize: This prize is for excellence in undergraduate literary studies in Spanish.
Cedergren Prize: This prize is for excellence in undergraduate studies in Hispanic Linguistics