西班牙语（lenguas de España，通常称为Castilian）属于罗曼语系（Romance Language），源自于西班牙的卡斯蒂利亚。西班牙语是美国第二大最受欢迎的语言。作为一门外语来说，除了讲这门语言的人增多了外，经济、旅游业都急需这门语言。据数据统计，全世界有79个国家都讲西班牙语，最大的群体包括：墨西哥、美国、哥伦比亚、巴西、阿根廷等。
西班牙语专业的学生主要学习如何掌握西班牙语在口语、写作和阅读的应用。除此之外，还研究文学，包括：拉丁美国和拉丁裔群体文学。许多学院要求在西班牙语的国家需至少学习一学期该语言。*(1)
就业展望
西班牙语毕业生就业去向——
翻译（Interpreters and Translators）：$53,410
新闻分析师（Broadcast News Analysts）：$78,380
记者（Reporters and Correspondents）：$45,120
编辑（Editor）：$62,440*(6)
典型课程列表
| 中级西班牙语 | Intermediate Spanish |
| 西班牙语语法回顾 | Spanish Grammar Review |
| 西班牙语发音 | Spanish Pronunciation |
| 中级西班牙语组成 | Intermediate Spanish Composition |
| 西班牙文学导论 | Introduction to Spanish Literature |
| 现代西班牙文学名著 | Masterpieces of Modern Spanish Literature |
| 现代西班牙语语法 | Modern Spanish Syntax |
| 高级西班牙语组成 | Advanced Spanish Composition |
| 西班牙美国文化导论 | Introduction to Spanish American Culture |
| 西班牙文化讲座 | Seminar in Hispanic Culture |
| 现代西班牙裔美国文学 | Modern Hispanic-American Literature |
*(7)
注：课程列表为本科专业课程列表。
选校分析
西班牙语专业选校需注意——
该专业的教学理念是什么？
学院提供商科或医学相关课程吗？
院系主持相关文化工作吗？
学院图书馆提供的书籍丰富吗？
院系提供海外学习课程吗？*(8)
心理准备
Are You Ready To...?
Live in a Spanish-speaking country for a semester, maybe in someone’s home
Work in a group on class assignments
Create a Spanish-language website
Attend lectures and poetry readings in Spanish
Read Don Quixote in the original Spanish*(8)
学生评价
“The biggest challenge you will encounter is to immerse yourself in the Spanish language without falling back on English when you don’t know how to express your ideas.”
María Negroni, Assistant Professor, Sarah Lawrence College
Interested in practicing Spanish with other people. You will learn Spanish much faster if you attend Spanish-language activities like poetry readings and converse with fellow students and people whose first language is Spanish.
Many colleges recommend or require that you spend at least a semester studying in a Spanish-speaking country of your choice.*(8)
参考资料
(1) Spanish language Wikipedia
(2) Major: Spanish College Board
(3) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-3091 Interpreters and Translators U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(4) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-3021 Broadcast News Analysts U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(5) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-3022 Reporters and Correspondents U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(6) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 27-3041 Editors U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(7) Major: Spanish The Princeton Review
(8) Major: Spanish College Board
学校列表
美国
本科
综合性大学（非完全列表）：
文理学院（非完全列表）：
研究生
非完全列表：