Are you interested in other peoples and cultures?
Are you interested in living, working and/or studying abroad?
Would you like to expand your view of the world?
If you answered si to any of these questions, you could be well-suited for the professional and personal possibilities available to Spanish minors.*
Spanish classes focus on the Spanish language and on the culture of the Hispanic peoples of the world. Both of these areas are enhanced by, and supportive of, the various other liberal arts. In order to understand, appreciate and fully engage the Hispanic world both linguistically and socially, it is crucial for you to see the complex interplay of these disciplines in both the language system and the cultural realities behind that system.
Language proficiency can be enhanced through study abroad. Students have returned from overseas study with firsthand experiences in the Spanish language and another culture, with skills honed by round-the-clock immersion and a visible increase in self-confidence.
* In addition to German and Spanish, Bethel’s language department also offers classes – but no degree – in New Testament Greek and Mandarin Chinese.
Bethel graduates with a minor in Spanish have literally a world of options to apply their learning. As a student, you will spend a semester or longer in a foreign country, immersed in Spanish culture, completing internships and studying in a university setting.
Locally, students can also become involved in Bethel’s Spanish club, work as departmental assistants and do translation work with area businesses, ministries and historical projects.
The mentoring I received at Bethel has served me well as I have pursued both a calling into Christian ministry, and a career in public communications. I don't think there are many places where I would have had the chance to engage in such a breadth and depth of activity.
—Micah Bales ’04, History, Spanish
M.Div., Earlham School of Religion
Advocacy manager, Homeless Children's Playtime Project, Washington, D.C.
A degree in Spanish from Bethel prepares you for a wide variety of professional options. As the world grows ever smaller, proficiency in a foreign language is becoming increasingly valuable in many fields. For example, one graduate is deputy executive director of Amnesty International USA, while others have served around the world with mission and service organizations. Another alumnus, after earning degrees in law and international relations, is an attorney with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Post-graduate careers include:
- Theology
- Anthropology
- Business and finance
- Mass communication
- Chemistry
- Literature
Notable Alumni
- Micah Bales – ’04
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Micah expanded on his degrees in history and Spanish to achieve a Master of Divinity degree and begin a career that involves service and communication. He attributes the variety of areas he was able to explore at Bethel to his well-rounded resume. Bales’ passion for helping others is exemplified through his work as an advocacy manager for Homeless Children’s Playtime Project in Washington, D.C.
To earn a minor in Spanish, you’ll need intermediate language competency – pass a competency exam; transfer credit; or complete intermediate language courses as a part of an approved study abroad program. The central component of Bethel’s foreign language minor is your participation in a study abroad program for one or – preferably – two semesters in a Spanish-speaking country.
