School of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences
(440) 826-2244
The native language of nearly 500 million people across the world, Spanish is a culturally enriching and academically enhancing program of study. It is an outstanding major for students preparing for an increasingly global society.
A Spanish major builds competencies in reading, writing, speaking and language comprehension. Coursework includes literature, cultural history, civilization and contemporary lifestyles of Spanish and Latin Americans.
Baldwin Wallace's practical approach links rigorous language study to real life. You'll learn to view the world through a diverse cultural lens as you probe current events, intercultural communication and sensitivities, as well as other topics.
Experiential learning is central to the program. You can attend cultural events and culinary field trips, join student organizations and participate in a Spanish language table (La Tertulia).
Study abroad offers outstanding opportunities for year-long, semester, six- or two-week immersion experiences. Spain, South America and Latin America are some of the options available to you.
BW's Spanish Club participates in several events throughout the year, including a Day of the Dead celebration.
Spanish translators are critical in many industries and BW's relationships with local institutions and companies create internship and career opportunties for students.
Spanish majors have an opportunity to immerse themselves in their field of study, traveling for a semester of study abroad in Spain or Latin America.
The Spanish for the professions minor helps students in any major build competencies in handling a variety of communicative tasks with Spanish-speaking people and communities.
Benefits of learning a foreign language are multi-fold and include:
Government, education, business and nonprofit sectors seek individuals who are fluent in two or more languages. Examples of positions include:
BW offers a Spanish for the professions minor to assist students in any major develop competencies in handling a variety of communicative tasks with Spanish-speaking people and communities. The program includes optional service-learning courses as well as a broad range of classes focused on healthcare and other professions.
Become certified to teach Spanish in Ohio public schools through BW's multi-age licensure program. Students seeking licensure spend one semester abroad studying the language.
Spanish courses at Baldwin Wallace develop language proficiency, critical thinking skills and a broad knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world and its diversity.
Spanish can be taken as a stand-alone major or as a companion major or minor to other disciplines, including business, sociology, political science and multi-age teacher licensure.
Courses in Spanish are open to students of all majors. If you have previously taken classes in Spanish in high school, you will be required to complete a placement test prior to registering for courses.
BW also offers a French minor and courses in Arabic, Chinese, German and Italian.
Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.
Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:
Learn through immersion. Among locations, you can study in Spain or Latin America for a full year, one semester or various short-term programs from two to six weeks.
Apply your language skills and develop intercultural competence while working with community partners.
Members must have completed three years of study of college-level Spanish (18 semester credit hours) or the equivalent thereof, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization (Spanish for the professions may be considered as a Hispanic culture course, provided that culture is the foundation of the course content). Members must be at the junior or senior level level; must have a minimal grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale in all Spanish courses taken; must rank in the upper 35% of their class (and/or have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average) - sophomore, junior, or senior - and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college work.
SALSA, which is open to all BW students, promotes awareness and appreciation of the Hispanic and Latine cultures through educational and social opportunities.
Engage with Hispanic/Latine cultures in a safe and supportive environment. Our various education, entertainment, and community-building events encourage open-mindedness, kindness, and cultural appreciation for all students.
Open to all students, BW's Spanish Club seeks to represent the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries to the BW community, as well as to promote the use of the Spanish language. The club aims to increase the awareness of Spanish/Hispanic cultures around the world through art, literature, history, traditions, guest speakers and more. It also promotes the learning and use of the Spanish language on the BW campus and in the surrounding area. Spanish Club aids in volunteer efforts that affect people from Spanish speaking countries or aid people in understanding cultural/language differences outside of the BW community.
The BW International Film Series is a student organization funded by the Student Government and supported by the French Club, German Club, Spanish Club, Middle Eastern Culture Club, Chinese Club and Italian Club.
Jessica Villacres '20 is a speech-language pathology graduate student in Indiana University's STEPS bilingual training program. She earned a degree in Spanish and communication sciences & disorders and was a 2020 Fulbright recipient. She has worked as a Spanish translator for COAR Peace Mission and the Cleveland Office of Minority Health.
Katie Fowler '20 is a speech-language pathology master's student at Case Western Reserve University and an intern at The Orange Effect Foundation. She is working on a graduate meta-analysis pertaining to fluency disorders. She earned a B.S. in communication sciences & disorders and a B.A. Spanish.
Rachel Szeles '17 is currently a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati. She received a double degree in psychology and Spanish from BW. She has worked as a Spanish translator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as well as a translator and legal assistant at Liner Legal.
Brad Weeder '17 received a double degree in psychology and Spanish from BW. He has worked as a Spanish translator for Medical Mutual, Stockyard, Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Center and the Berea School District. He became TEFL/TESOL certified to teach English at Interamerican Studies (CEDEI) in Cuenca, Ecuador in 2017-19.
Jennifer Jouriles '16 works as an accountant at the Cleveland Clinic, where she utilizes both of her disciplines and also traveled to Honduras on a medical mission trip as a part of international outreach. She received a double degree in accounting and Spanish from BW and a Master's in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from University of Chicago.
Chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Spanish Program Coordinator
Ph.D., The University of Georgia
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Karen Barahona
Chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Spanish Program Coordinator
Associate Professor
Ph.D., The University of Georgia
Matthew Feinberg
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Gilma Gamboa
Lecturer
M.A., Cleveland State University
Rebeca Monge Hidalgo
Lecturer
M.A., University of La Rioja, Spain