Majors and Concentrations
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Columbia offers the following majors and concentrations:
The Major in Hispanic Studies provides training in essential linguistic and cultural skills for careers in International Affairs, Business, Law, Government, and Education, as well as a solid foundation for a graduate degree in Hispanic Studies.
The Major in Hispanic Studies with Specialization is ideal for students interested in careers in the Social Sciences or Humanities and offers many of the advantages of a double major or concentration, with greater flexibility.
The Concentration in Hispanic Studies and the Pre-Medical/ Engineering Concentrations offer sound preparation in Hispanic Studies for students with varied interests and pursuing diverse academic programs.
Please refer to the Hispanic Studies Major and Concentration Worksheet, where you will see all the options above described relative to one another.
The department also offers a Concentration in Portuguese Studies for students wishing to pursue specialized studies in the cultures of the Lusophone world. The concentration is complemented with work done on Luso-Brazilian topics in various other academic departments and programs. You may wish to refer to the Portuguese Concentration Worksheet.
Most courses taken in an approved program abroad can be used to fulfill the requirements for the major and concentration in the department, and with adequate planning, even some of the requirements for a second major or concentration in another department or program. See the page on study abroad.
Here is a copy of the Columbia College Major and Concentration Declaration Form that you can print and take to your meeting with the DUS for signing. General Studies students may obtain a major declaration form by making an appointment with their adviser.
Seniors who have performed exceptionally well in their course of study in the department are invited by the faculty to compete for departmental honors. The faculty also awards prizes in recognition of exceptional performance in the major. See the full description of the Honors Program and prizes.