School of Languages and Cultures

spanish buildings with water in background

Spanish & Portuguese

Explore the beauty and depth of one of the world’s most spoken languages. Engage with diverse cultures through literature, history and conversations. Master reading, writing and speaking Spanish with confidence.

Students currently enrolled in the Spanish major, as well as those entering in Fall 2026, will earn a BA in Spanish. Beginning in Fall 2027, new students will pursue Spanish as a concentration within the World Languages and Cultures major.

PLEASE NOTE: Students applying for Fall 2027, the plan of study for the World Languages and Cultures BA concentration is still being finalized, but it is expected to closely resemble the current Spanish plan of study, which provides a helpful preview of the curriculum. 

Welcome to the department of Spanish and Portuguese!

The department is a vibrant hub for intellectual exploration and global engagement. Our faculty, who are dedicated to research and teaching, are experts in literature, culture, film, and linguistics.  We offer dynamic academic and engagement programs for undergraduate students, graduate students, and the broader academic community, including service-learning and study abroad programs.   

Our programs prepare students to communicate in Spanish and Portuguese for personal and professional purposes and to understand the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world from a wide range of diverse perspectives. Students have many opportunities to study abroad and participate in experiential learning opportunities that use Spanish in our local community. Studying Spanish or Portuguese opens the door to a wide variety of exciting international and domestic personal and career opportunities. Most students study Spanish, Portuguese, or both, along with other majors and minors from across campus.  

Join us in discovering the richness and diversity of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds! 

Spanish Paths

  • Spanish Major
    • Students select their coursework from a variety of language, linguistics, literature, and culture courses, including specialized courses such as Spanish for the Professions, Business Spanish, and Spanish for Engineering. Spanish is increasingly noted as one of the most important skills for fields such as cloud computing and e-commerce. According to a recent report, studying Spanish opens the door to a wide variety of exciting international and domestic career opportunities.
  • Spanish Minor
    • The Minor in Spanish Language, Literature, and Cultures provides students with cultural literacy and critical thinking skills. With greater emphasis on globalization and competition in the job market, these skills enhance the success of students' careers in fields such as the arts, business, education, engineering, law, medicine, and other areas. The courses offered include advanced studies in language, Hispanic literature, linguistics, and culture. 
  • Spanish for the Professions Minor
    • The Minor in Spanish for the Professions allows students to tailor their language education toward specific needs, helping them to graduate better prepared for the job market. After completing a basic education of 4 semesters of Spanish (101-202 or equivalent), students can register for the minor, which includes courses such as Introduction to Spanish for the Professions, Spanish for Health Care, Business Spanish, and Spanish for Engineering and Technology, among others. These courses will allow students to gain expertise in specific areas of Spanish that are applicable to their field of study and will enhance their employment possibilities upon graduation.
  • Master's Degree
    • Our M.A. program immerses students in a comprehensive two-year exploration of Peninsular, Latin American and Brazilian literature and culture in the original language. Learn More
  • Doctoral Degree
    • The Ph.D. program in Hispanic and Lusophone literature and culture equips students with the skills needed for careers in academia and research. Learn More
  • Non-Degree Option
    • In addition to the traditional Masters and Ph.D. programs, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Purdue offers a non-degree option that helps students complete professional requirements, develop new knowledge and skills, or explore graduate school options.

Portuguese Paths

  • Portuguese Minor
    • The Minor in Portuguese Language, Literature, and Cultures equips students with intercultural skills, critical thinking, and advanced linguistic abilities. Within this concentration, students will gain an understanding of the history, politics, and expressive cultures of the Lusophone world, encompassing Brazil, Portugal, and Luso-Africa. They'll develop a unique focus on critical issues related to Lusophone education, history, and literature while being encouraged to carve their own paths, fostering independent thinking and academic exploration.

Beyond the Classroom

  • Study Abroad- The Department of Spanish & Portuguese offers various Study Abroad programs. The courses align with the curriculum for the major and minors in Spanish, and they are pre-approved to count towards completion of the major or minors Spanish or Portuguese.
    • WIP/T MADRID PROGRAM (Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue, Tulane)
    • SUMMER STUDY ABROAD MADRID, SPAIN
    • SUMMER STUDY ABROAD MALLORCA, SPAIN
    • STUDY ABROAD IN MANIZALES, COLOMBIA
    • STUDY ABROAD IN LIMA, PERU
  • Delta Sigma- Sigma Delta Pi (ΣΔΠ), the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society (La Socidad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica), encourages college students to acquire a greater interest and a deeper understanding of Hispanic language, cultures, art, and history. 

Chair of Portuguese and Spanish | Song No

Spanish and Portuguese Coordinator | Tatiana Elistratova

Spanish is spoken as the first language by 400 million people worldwide and 33 million speakers in the USA, which makes it the second most-spoken language in the USA. The demand for professionals who speak Spanish fluently is growing across the nation. Fluency in Spanish can lead to careers in business, engineering, hospitality, medicine, the arts, and other fields. To help students develop global perspectives and professional skills in a second language, we offer eight courses in Spanish for Specific Purposes, as well as a Minor in Spanish for the Professions.

Topics covered in our courses include the use of Spanish in professional and formal situations, understanding and discussing aspects related to work environments, intercultural communication in Spanish-speaking settings, and applying for internships and jobs in Spanish-speaking countries. Our goal is to develop students’ communicative and intercultural skills through a variety of speaking or writing activities toward the use of Spanish for professional purposes.

Courses in Spanish for Specific Purposes:

  • SPAN 224 - Basic Spanish for Business and Finance (counts as SPAN 202): Introduces essential business vocabulary and Notas culturales written from a cross-cultural perspective. It provides students with opportunities to apply, in a wide variety of practical contexts, the grammatical structures presented in the corresponding lessons of the Basic Spanish core text.
  • SPAN 321 - Introduction to Spanish for the Professions: Continued work at the advanced-intermediate level with a focus on vocabulary and grammar for contexts in a wide variety of professional settings. Conducted primarily in Spanish. 
  • SPAN 322 - Spanish for the Health Professions: Intermediate level course directed towards the use of Spanish in the health care professions. It covers specialized vocabulary from the medical fields, as well as grammar and syntax with the goal of developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities. Students will have the opportunity to apply their skills in practical contexts and discuss cultural considerations. 
  • SPAN 323 - Global Sustainable Engineering: The primary goal of this course is to engage students in the humanities and provide collaborative interdisciplinary learning opportunities for engineering and liberal arts students. It is based on a case study approach that analyzes engineering endeavors from around the world, focusing on how decisions and projects affect local people and places. Each case study provides the opportunity to solve problems from both, a humanistic and an engineering perspective.
  • SPAN 325 - Spanish for Engineering and Technology: Intermediate level course directed towards the use of Spanish in the Engineering and Technology professions. It covers specialized vocabulary from the technical fields, as well as communication and culture with the goal of preparing students for an intercultural working environment. Students will further develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities. They will have the opportunity to apply their skills in practical contexts and discuss cultural considerations, as well as meet professionals from Spanish-speaking countries. 
  • SPAN 415 - Spanish Translation and Interpreting: Introduction to the Translation and Interpretation Studies field for Spanish speakers. A high level of competence in Spanish is required. Overview of translation theory, methodology, and practice both in class and in real settings. Includes a service-learning component. Conducted in English and Spanish. 
  • SPAN 424 - Business Spanish: A study of the terminology and techniques used in commercial transactions, including the interpretation and writing of business materials. Development of the four language skills, with emphasis on writing and speaking.
  • SPAN 485 - Food and Culture in the Hispanic World: Advanced-level language and culture course about food culture in the Spanish-speaking world. It covers gastronomy, celebrations, history, art, mythology, and other aspects of daily life related to the culinary traditions of the Hispanic countries. Students will further develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing abilities in Spanish. They will have the opportunity to apply their skills in practical contexts and discuss cultural considerations, as well as participate in some hands-on cooking experience.

For more information or questions about the Spanish for specific purposes courses, please contact Cecilia Tenorio ( ).