Languages and Cultures

The Languages and Cultures programs equip students to be culturally responsive and linguistically competent professionals. Our programs prepare graduates to understand, interact with, and serve with people from other cultures. Students learn to see God’s diverse world from new perspectives and become globally aware graduates prepared to culturally engage with communities from a thoughtful, Christian perspective. Courses include language, culture, history, literature, and current issues. The languages students can choose from are American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish. Languages and Cultures programs complement majors and minors from many other departments.

Study Abroad

The Spanish major requires students to live or study outside the United States. Bethel offers a semester-long program in Spain (see Off-Campus Programs) or students may work with the Office of International and Off-Campus Programs to select other programs abroad. In addition, students can participate in January session courses in Spanish-speaking countries.

Placement Evaluation

Prior to enrolling in a language course at Bethel, all students who have previously taken three or more years of the language at the high school level must complete a placement exam given by Languages and Cultures. Prerequisites for the course in which the student places will be waived upon petition. Students wishing to receive credit toward graduation for the courses that have been waived may do so through credit by examination (AP or CLEP) for a fee. Credits earned through examination do not count as electives in the major or minor in any of the world languages offered at Bethel.

Students transferring in college-level credits in the language to be studied may continue with the next course in the sequence at Bethel upon consultation with Languages and Cultures faculty, but may choose to take the placement test to ensure they enroll in the appropriate course for their language skills.

Language Evaluation

Students may fulfill Bethel’s language requirement by:

Completing the second semester of the first year of a (beginning or introductory) college-level language class or higher with a passing grade at Bethel University (e.g., SPA 102S Introductory Spanish II or higher course into which student is placed).
Completing the second semester of a first-year (introductory or beginning) college-level language class or higher with grade of C or higher at another college/university (any language other than English).
Earning a score of 3 or better on an Advanced Placement language exam or a score of 50 or better on a language CLEP test.
Providing evidence of being a native or heritage speaker (contact the Language Testing Coordinator for more information at, language-testing@bethel.edu).

See the Second Language section of this catalog under the General Education Program for further information about the language requirement.

Major in Languages and Cultures

B.A. in Spanish

Minor in Languages and Cultures

Spanish

ASL 101 • Introductory American Sign Language I 4 Credits

Enables students with no knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate comfortably in a variety of situations. Focuses on development of expressive, receptive, and visual readiness skills in basic ASL. Introduces conversational vocabulary, fingerspelling, grammatical principles, and syntax. Includes information about deaf culture.
Offered: Fall, Spring.

ASL 102S • Introductory American Sign Language II 4 Credits

Continuation of functional and practical understanding and communicative use of ASL. Further study of the history and culture of the deaf community through films, discussions, and readings.
Prerequisites: ASL 101 or Placement exam. Offered: Fall, Spring.

SPA 101 • Introductory Spanish I 4 Credits

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Opportunities for oral and written practice encourage actual communication in Spanish.
Prerequisites: No more than one year of high school Spanish or Placement exam. Offered: Fall, Spring.

SPA 102S • Introductory Spanish II 4 Credits

Continuation of functional, practical understanding and communicative use of the Spanish language and cultures.
Prerequisites: SPA 101 or Placement exam. Offered: Fall, January, Spring.

SPA 120A • Photography in Spain 4 Credits

Technical and conceptual acquaintance with the photography medium and its vocabulary within the realm of high art. Includes camera operation, black and white film developing, print processing, and finishing.
Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is offered only as part of the Semester in Segovia Program.

SPA 201S • Intermediate Spanish I 4 Credits

Synthesis and expansion of language study in order to further develop communicative language ability. Study of the rich cultural diversity in the Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisites: SPA 102S or Placement exam. Offered: Fall, Spring.

SPA 202SU • Intermediate Spanish II 4 Credits

A further development of communicative language ability through the study of the rich cultural diversity in the Spanish-speaking world. Topics include: religious practices, Hispanics in the United States, and violations of human rights. Service-learning experience required.
Prerequisites: SPA 201S or Placement exam; GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally.

SPA 202UZ • Intermediate Spanish II 4 Credits

Further development of communicative language ability through the study of the rich cultural diversity in the Spanish-speaking world. Topics include: religious practices, Hispanics in the United States, and violations of human rights. Service-learning experience required.
Prerequisites: SPA 201S or Placement exam; GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall, Spring. Special Notes: This course meets the S-tag General Education course requirement.

SPA 261S • Spanish for Health Professionals 4 Credits

Designed for those studying or preparing for healthcare professions. Emphasis on building culturally and linguistically competent communication skills with Spanish-speaking immigrants in healthcare settings.
Prerequisites: SPA 201S or Placement exam. Offered: Occasionally.

SPA 303U • Historic Spain and its Cultures 4 Credits

Study of the multi-cultural richness of Spain in its unique history, society, politics, art, film, and music. Participation in a series of field trips to places of cultural and historical interest in Segovia and to museums in Madrid.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently); SPA 330S or SPA 340U or Consent of Instructor and SPA 202UZ or SPA 261S. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program.

SPA 316 • Modern Spain: An Examination of Ethics 4 Credits

An examination of moral and ethical questions during the Spanish Civil War, the Franco regime, and post-Franco Spain. Topics include: national unity, justice, political assassination, the responsibility of individuals in society, Basque nationalism, the role of the United States, immigration, and the role of the Catholic Church.
Prerequisites: SPA 342 or Concurrent enrollment in SPA 303U. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program.

SPA 317 • Advanced Communication in Spain 4 Credits

Further development of communicative ability in Spanish, including reading, writing, listening, and conversational skills. Students write compositions, participate in discussions, have conversational exchanges with Spanish university students, give presentations, and read short essays.
Prerequisites: SPA 303U (may be taken concurrently) or Consent of instructor and SPA 202UZ or SPA 261S. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program.

SPA 327 • Marketing and Management in Spain 4 Credits

Theoretical and practical concepts of marketing and management in the semi-globalized world. The significant challenges globalization presents to management and marketing, specifically in the context of Spain. Business terminology and reality in a Spanish business environment.
Prerequisites: SPA 202UZ or SPA 261S. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program. This course carries cross-credit in business.

SPA 330S • Advanced Conversation 4 Credits

Contemporary topics to further develop oral proficiency skills through informal and formal conversations, group discussions, an academic presentation, and readings in select topics.
Prerequisites: SPA 202UZ or SPA 261S. Offered: Spring.

SPA 340U • Historical Heritage in the Spanish Speaking World 4 Credits

An examination of key historical processes in Spain, Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking communities in the United States with a focus on social, economic, political, geographic, and religious dimensions.
Prerequisites: SPA 202UZ, SPA 261S, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, Occasionally spring.

SPA 342 • Readings from Latin America and Spain 4 Credits

Readings in novels, essays, short stories, and poetry from Latin America and Spain.
Prerequisites: SPA 330S or SPA 340U. Offered: Fall, Occasionally spring.

SPA 350 • Contemporary Narratives in Spain 4 Credits

Analysis of literary and nonliterary texts of women in the Spanish-speaking world representing diverse interpretations of historical, political, and cultural realities.
Prerequisites: SPA 330S or SPA 340U. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program.

SPA 352 • Classical Narratives in Spain 4 Credits

Analysis of strategies in literary and historical texts from Latin America and Spain that arose in response to the censorship of diverse voices, religious intolerance, and political consolidation.
Prerequisites: SPA 342. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course is only offered as part of the Semester in Segovia program.

SPA 361 • Introducción a la Biblia 4 Credits

Traces the journey of God’s people from Abraham and Sarah through the New Testament church, highlighting the unifying self-disclosure of God in the various cultures and types of writing of the Old and New Testaments. Introduces students to historical and thematic content as well as broad but basic exegetical principles.
Prerequisites: SPA 340U or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Instruction is in Spanish. Students may not receive credit for SPA 361 and BIB 101 or BIB 102. This course carries cross credit in biblical and theological studies.

SPA 481 • Internship in Spanish 1-4 Credits

Cross-cultural experience to apply and expand Spanish communication knowledge and communication skills in an off-campus setting. Placements must be at an organization or business within the Latino community or in the Spanish-speaking world. Must be planned in advance of placement in consultation with the Languages and Cultures department.
Prerequisites: Major or minor in Spanish. Offered: By arrangement.

SPA 499 • Senior Seminar 4 Credits

An in-depth study and presentation of a topic related to Hispanic cultures, literatures, or the Spanish language. Service-learning experience may be required.
Prerequisites: Major in Spanish and Senior standing or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring.

Academic Catalog 2025-2026

Study Abroad

Placement Evaluation

Language Evaluation

Major in Languages and Cultures

Minor in Languages and Cultures

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