MIT students have interests and prospects that span the globe. The academic programs offered by Global Studies and Languages—concentrations, minors, and majors— offer undergraduates the opportunity to combine a degree in any STEM-related field with in-depth language and cultural studies.
Major
The program consists of 11 subjects (138 units) beginning at Spanish III. 6 of the 11 subjects may count towards the 8-subject HASS GIR. The 5 remaining subjects provide 66 units beyond GIR.
Students choose from the following list of subjects:
Core subjects:
21G.704 Spanish IV
21G.708 Spanish Communication Intensive I CI-M (for majors in Spanish only)
21G.709 Spanish Communication Intensive II CI-M (for majors in Spanish only)
Electives:
Tier I
21G.703 Spanish III
Tier II
21G.710 Advanced Communication in Spanish: Topics in Language and Culture
21G.711 Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition: Perspectives on Technology and Culture
21G.712 Spanish Conversation and Composition
21G.713 Spanish through Film: Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Spain
21G.714 Spanish for Heritage Learners
21G.715 Topics in Medicine and Public Health in the Hispanic World
21G.795 Advanced Spanish Communication in Spain
Tier III
Taught in English
21G.070 Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution
21G.072 The New Latin American Novel
21G.078 Latin America through Film
21G.084 Introduction to Latin American Studies
Taught in Spanish
21G.716 Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film
21G.717 Introduction to Hispanic Culture
21G.731 Creation of a Continent: Representations of Hispanic America, 1492-1898, in Literature and Film
21G.732 The Making of the Latin American City: Culture, Gender, and Citizenship
21G.735 Advanced Topics in Hispanic Literature and Film
21G.736 The Short Form: Literature and New Media Cultures in the Hispanic World
21G.738 Literature and Social Conflict: Perspectives on the Hispanic World
21G.739 Globalization and its Discontents: Spanish-speaking Nations
21G.740 The New Spain: 1977-Present
The CI-M requirement is completed by pairing the 3-unit add-on subject numbers 21G.708 and 21G.709 with two of the Tier III subjects in Spanish, as listed above. These pairings count as two single subjects worth 15 units each towards the eleven-subject requirement. Students who have registered for 21G.708 or 21G.709 will develop an additional project with the faculty member teaching the affiliated subject.
A major course plan may include a pre-thesis (21G.THT) and thesis (21G.THU) for up to 18 units of the 138 units in the major. The pre-thesis and thesis are reserved for students who have completed advanced-level coursework in a particular language group and demonstrate outstanding competence in their field of study.
Note: students starting the major at Tier II do not need to take 21G.304 Spanish IV as part of the major program.
Advisor: Tanalis Padilla
Spanish Major Degree Chart
Sample Roadmap Spanish Major
Sample Roadmap Double Major Spanish and Biological Engineering
Double Major Worksheet
Double Major Application Instructions
Joint Majors: 21E Humanities and Engineering; 21S Humanities and Science
These programs entail nine subjects in Spanish, starting at 21G.703 Spanish III or higher, and six subjects from a chosen Engineering or Science course. Student must complete two CI-Ms, one taken from each area of study. Only one subject being used to meet the distribution component of the HASS Requirement may be counted toward the degree program.
Minor
A minor in Spanish leads students who have already reached an intermediate level of proficiency (above Spanish II) into a more advanced study of the language and cultures.
The program consists of 6 subjects arranged in 3 tiers starting at Spanish III. Five of these six subjects overlap with the 8-subject HASS GIR. A student can concentrate and minor in the same field.
All subjects listed above are eligible for the minor. Typically, only one subject taught in English is allowed in a minor course plan, and requires the approval of the minor advisor
Advisor: Tanalis Padilla
Minor is Spanish: MIT Bulletin
SHASS Minor Guidelines and Procedures
Concentration
There are several concentration options, depending on whether the focus is language or literature and culture.
If a student’s incoming level is Spanish I:
• 4 subjects, Spanish I through Spanish IV, are required to complete the concentration
If a student’s incoming level is Spanish II or above:
• 3 subjects at Spanish II or above are required to complete the concentration
An upper-level concentration may include 3 subjects, such as Spanish III or Spanish IV and/or intermediate to advanced classes taught in Spanish (Tiers II and III). See above under Spanish Major for the list of subjects.
Subjects offered in English that pertain to Latinx or Hispanic cultural studies may be applied towards certain concentration requirements; please see the concentration advisor for approval.
Advisor: Maria Khotimsky
For the online HASS Concentration Form, click through to studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu!
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit examiner: Maria Khotimsky
Current Brochure