Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies BA Honours (RT47)

Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage.

Please be aware that programme modules do change and therefore may differ for your year of entry.

Building on your current language skills, you study intermediate Spanish and entry-level Portuguese, and choose from a range of optional cultural modules.

• POR1065 Level A Portuguese I
• POR1066 Level A Portuguese II
• SPA1071 Level B Spanish

You also take three of the following optional modules:

• SPA1019 Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula
• SML1018 Introduction to Literature
• SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics
• SML1021 Introduction to International Film
• SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies

Building on your Stage 1 language study, you take advanced Spanish and intermediate Portuguese, and choose from a range of optional cultural and language modules.

• POR2010 Level B Portuguese
• SPA2061 Level C Spanish

You also take four of the following optional modules:

• LAS2027 Quechua Language*
• LAS2028 Cultural Diversity in Latin America
• LAS2030 Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil
• SPA2019 World Spanish
• SPA2021 Introduction to Catalan*
• SPA2022 The Contemporary Hispanic City: Narrative Cartographies
• SPA2025 Representations of Revolution, Dictatorship and Democracy in Spain and Latin America

* Students may take only ONE of LAS2027 and SPA2021

You spend a year abroad in Spain, Portugal or Latin America, either:

• studying at a university
• working as a teaching assistant
• on an approved work placement

During your year abroad, you take the following compulsory module:

• SML3004 Year Abroad ePortfolio

Plus, one of the modules below:

• SML3006 Study Abroad
• SML3007 Year Abroad Work Placement Report 1
• SML3008 Year Abroad Work Placement Report 2

You study further advanced Spanish, and choose from a range of optional cultural and language modules.

• SPA4061 Level D Spanish

You take five of the following optional modules.

• LAS2028 Cultural Diversity in Latin America
• LAS2030 Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil
• SPA2019 World Spanish
• SPA2025 Representations of Revolution, Dictatorship and Democracy in Spain and Latin America
• LAS4001 Inter-American Relations since the Spanish American War (1898)
• LAS4005 Multilingualism and Society in Latin America
• LAS4010 Cultura y Política en Colombia
• POR4010 Level C Portuguese
• SPA4002 Intermediate Catalan
• SPA4005 Cultura Popular en Latinoamérica y España
• SPA4006 Spectres of the Past: Memory in Contemporary Spanish Culture
• SPA4007 Spanish and Romance Word Analysis
• SPA4008 Youth Cultures in Spain, Portugal & Latin America
• SML4099 Dissertation

Most people study modern languages because of their interest and ability in the subject. Comparatively few go directly into careers in which a language degree is essential – such as translating, interpreting, aspects of publishing or teaching. Many graduates instead go into jobs in which their language skills are desirable, such as the media, hospitality and leisure, areas of finance or journalism.

With ever more European and international connections, such skills will grow in importance and can give you a real advantage in applying for a wide range of graduate jobs.

Ability in languages is increasingly valued by a wide range of employers across all sectors, including industry and business. They recognise that a degree in modern languages is evidence not only of linguistic skills and cultural awareness but also of other personal transferable skills needed in employment.

You will develop the self-confidence to communicate orally as well as on paper, to work effectively in a group, to organise and plan your work and to find solutions to problems by critical, logical and creative thinking. Consequently our graduates find work in diverse areas such as tourism, marketing, management, civil service, advertising and the media, teaching and banking.

The School of Modern Languages works with the University’s Careers Service to run an annual Employability Week, including an opportunity to network with recent graduates. We also collaborate on the Modern Languages careers blog, Careers Translated. The blog gives you access to a range of relevant jobs, training and work experience opportunities, as well as interviews with alumni and employers, and general advice.

Find out more about the career options for Modern Languages from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.