The interdisciplinary major in Spanish Studies introduces students to the study of the cultural dynamics and expressive cultures produced by peoples of Hispanic origin residing in the United States, Latin America, and Spain at the time of globalization of those national societies.
Through a qualitative, Humanities-based preparation, the major offers students the linguistic competence and cultural literacy required to understand the perspectives and productions of Spanish-speaking communities. It gives students a broad understanding of the historical and cultural developments of the countries in which Spanish enjoys status as a national language, as well as those regions in which Spanish is in contact with other minority and/or majority languages. Moreover, courses in the curriculum expose students to the academic registers of Spanish, a critical component for heritage and non-heritage speakers alike. In order to meet the objectives of advanced linguistic and cultural proficiency, the core of the major is comprised of courses taught in the Spanish language. This feature clearly distinguishes the Spanish Studies major from other majors on the UCSC campus that require only some degree of proficiency in a non-English language.
This major connects with a range of disciplines and programs on the UC Santa Cruz campus by combining the strengths of Language and Applied Linguistics with those of Literary and Cultural Studies. An interdisciplinary team-taught course exposes students to the various research areas of the faculty and the methods of analysis in different fields. Finally, in order for students to develop an appreciation of the historical forces that shape cultural productions, the Spanish Studies major incorporates one mandatory History class.
The configuration of the major affords students greater flexibility in following their particular interests: they choose from two tracks that allow more in-depth study of either (1) language and linguistics or (2) literature and culture. These pathways within the major make the Spanish Studies major appealing to a broad range of students since they offer opportunities for specialization within a particular area of the discipline.
Of Interest: Career Path Workshops
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Program Overview
Spanish Studies is an interdisciplinary major offered by the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics.
It aims at the acquisition of an advanced level of Spanish, and it involves a core curriculum with a series of courses providing a grounding on Linguistics, Literature and History related to the Spanish Speaking communities in the world.
Interested students should contact the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics office early in their college career to obtain essential information about prerequisites, course sequencing and graduation requirements. The department offers an extensive orientation and advising system (see Orientation and Advising); students are strongly encouraged to make use of it.
Questions related to Spanish language courses and Spanish placement, SPST courses and requirements, and independent study petitions related to the major should also be directed to the department.
Students interested in study abroad should refer to corresponding section on EAP.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Spanish Studies major should demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:
Advanced-level oral proficiency in Spanish
Use all the major time frames (past, present, and future) in their speech.
Produce connected discourse of paragraph length.
Satisfy the demands of work and/or school situations in Spanish with both accuracy and fluency.
Academic language and literacy skills in Spanish
Read and understand a wide range of authentic texts
Clearly explain their ideas in writing
Demonstrate the ability to summarize, interpret, and substantiate an opinion or argument.
Metalinguistic Awareness
Describe the main features of the Spanish language
Identify the main regional varieties of Spanish.
Articulate some of the main differences between English and Spanish
Critical analysis
Comment with critical insight on a range of topics and cultural productions of the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. Read closely in order to evaluate historical ideas, arguments, and points of view.
Cultural and historical competency
Compare and contrast multiple interpretations of the same phenomena in different cultures.
Recognize and reflect on the social, cultural, economic and political changes that connect Latin America, Spain, and US Latina/o communities.
Advising and Orientation
The earlier you declare your major in your academic career the better you will be able to plan your courses and the fulfillment of the requirements. If you declare your major early you will receive more guidance, useful advice and close follow up.
The department provides extensive orientation for the Spanish Studies major. It is very important you plan the prerequisite and requisite courses in the appropriate sequence so as to complete your studies in the expected time.
Orientation is provided in the following ways: quarterly large-group informational sessions, and small group or individual meetings with a faculty and/or staff adviser.
Quarterly Informational Sessions
Orientation meetings are scheduled at the beginning of each academic year and announced on the departmental web page.
If you are interested in pursuing the Spanish Studies major, have read all the information provided, attended an orientation session, and still have questions about it, do not hesitate to schedule a meeting with Professor, Eve Zyzik for an appointment or undergraduate adviser, Janet Morales. The sooner your questions are answered, the better position you will be in to complete the major on time. Advising hours with undergraduate advisor, Janet Morales, are via Zoom. Please email (languages@ucsc.edu) for an appointment. There is no advising on Fridays.
Advising at UCSC
The main purpose of undergraduate academic advising is to guide students in clarifying and achieving their educational goals and in developing the most appropriate and efficient plan to achieve them.
Small-group and individual advising sessions are particularly useful because they give students an opportunity to meet the SPST staff and academic advisors and director, ask the questions they may have, receive additional information, clarification and guidance, and formulate a plan of study early enough in their career to fulfill their long term educational goals. Students are encouraged to sign-up for these sessions to receive the proper assistance with course selection, major planning, and required paper work. Routine progress check-ins are encouraged and advisable.
Additional information on advising can be viewed at the Undergraduate Advising Center website.
Declaring the Major
Qualification Policy:
To qualify for the major in Spanish studies, students must have completed Spanish 4 or SpHS 4 or equivalent with a grade of C or better, or received a placement of Spanish 5 via online Spanish placement assessment.
Declaration Process:
Once you have successfully completed the Spanish level required, you should do the following:
1) Please meet with the Undergraduate Advisor, Janet Morales to complete or update your academic plan. If you are declaring a second major, please first complete an academic planning form with the advisor for your declared major. Prior to the declaration session, please review the “Degree Requirements” section for the major on this website.
2) Then, meet with the Spanish Studies Director, Professor, Eve Zyzik for declaration.
3) Petition to declare your major. Log into MyUCSC and navigate to the Student Homepage. Select the Undergraduate Student eForms tile > Petition for Major/Minor. If you are already logged in to MyUCSC, you can simply use this link: Petition for Major/Minor via MyUCSC. The petition will automatically be routed to the department.
Degree Requirements
There are a total of 45 upper-division credits required for the Spanish studies major. See Program Major Requirements below for a breakdown of the credit requirements.
Lower Division Requirement
- Six courses in the regular track Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; or three courses in the Spanish for Heritage Speakers (SpHS) track, SpHS 4, 5, 6; or equivalent proficiency;
- History 11A, Latin America: Colonial Period or History 11B, Latin America: National Period or History 12, Introduction to Latino American History;
- Linguistics 50, Introduction to Linguistics.
Upper Division Requirement
Four required Spanish studies core courses (20 credits total):
- Literature: LIT 189A, De la conquista a Sor Juana; or LIT 189B, El Siglo XIX en America, Latina:cultura, politica y sociedad (5 credits)
- Spanish Studies: Literature 189C/Span 105*, Introducción a Spanish Studies (cross-listed course) (5 credits)
- Linguistics: Spanish 150*, Topics in Hispanic Linguistics: Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics (5 credits)
- Spanish Language: Spanish 114, Advanced Conversation and Composition or SpHS 115, El ensayo lectura, analisis y redaccion (5 credits)
Choice of Concentrations (choose one concentration—3 courses, 15 credits total)
Language and Linguistics Track (three courses): Five-credit Spanish language courses numbered 100-189, Spanish 199 and Languages 199 (except Literature 189C/Spanish 105, Spanish 114, Spanish 150 and Spanish for Heritage Speakers 115) are accepted with the permission of the Spanish studies director (or faculty adviser).
- Spanish 140, Sounds of Spanish
- Spanish 141, Advanced Grammar
- Spanish 142, El mundo de las palabras: Spanish Morphology and Lexicon
- Spanish 151, Topics In Hispanic Linguistics: Varieties of Spanish
- Spanish 152, Topics In Hispanic Linguistics: Spanish in the U.S.
- Spanish 153, Topics In Hispanic Linguistics: Spanish Language Teaching
- Spanish 154, Topics in Hispanic Linguistics: Spanish Pragmatics
- Spanish 155, Topics in Hispanic Linguistics: El mundo de las palabras: Spanish Morophology and Lexicography
- Spanish 156A, The Language of Latin American Cinema
- Spanish 156B, The New Latin American Song
- Spanish 156C, Latin American Women’s Voices
- Spanish 156E, Spanish Culture
- Spanish 156F, Humor in the Spanish Speaking World
- Spanish 156J, Central American Cultures
- Spanish 156K, Spanish Discourse Analysis
- Spanish 156L, Society and Sustainability in Latin America
- Spanish 156M, Mexico and the Southwest
- Spanish 157, Spanish Sociolinguistics
- Spanish 158, Spanish in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands
Literature and Culture Track (three courses): Any 5-credit Spanish literature course numbered 188-189 (except Literature 189C); see below for examples:
- Literature 188A, Literatura medieval
- Literature 188B, Literatura peninsular: de los orígenes al siglo XVIII
- Literature 188C, La autobiografía en el renacimiento español
- Literature 188D, Introducción al Siglo de Oro
- Literature 188E, Teatro del Siglo de Oro español
- Literature 188F, Cuentos del Siglo de Oro español
- Literature 188G, Literaturea y vida en Don Quijote y otros textos cervantinos
- Literature 188I, La novela picaresca
- Literature 188K, García Lorca y la Generación del 98
- Literature 188L, Literatura de la guerra civil española
- Literature 188M, Literatura peninsular: siglos XIX y XX
- Literature 188N, Poesía de la diáspora española
- Literature 188R, Humanidades Ambientales
- Literature 188Z, Literatura de España
- Literature 189A, De la conquista a Sor Juana (only counts as concentration if not used as core)
- Literature 189B, El Siglo XIX en America Latina: cultura, política y sociedad (only counts as concentration if not used as core)
- Literature 189F, Literaturas Latinas en los Estados Unidos: en inglés, español y Spanglish
- Literature 189J, El documental social: historias, teorías, prácticas
- Literature 189K, El ensayo latinoamericano
- Literature 189L, Poesía latinoamericana
- Literature 189M, Prosa contemporánea hispanoamericana
- Literature 189N, Latinoamericano Testimonio
- Literature 189P, Las mujeres en la literatura latinoamericana
- Literature 189Q, Ficción y marginalidad
- Literature 189S, La cultura popular en la narrativa latinoamericana
- Literature 189W, Literaturas del caribe hispanohablante
- Literature 189Y, Literatura afro-latinoamericana
- Literature 190X, Temas de la literatura y cultura españolas y latinoamericanas
Electives (one upper-division course, 5 credits total)
Choose from related 5-credit courses in Anthropology, Education, Feminist Studies, History, History of Art and Visual Culture, Latin American and Latino Studies, Linguistics, Sociology (see approved upper-division elective courses for Spanish Studies on our website: http://language.ucsc.edu), or any upper-division Spanish Literature, Spanish, or language concentration courses not taken for concentration credit or capstone requirement.
Capstone Requirement
The following courses will satisfy the capstone requirement for Language and Linguistics track: Spanish 151 or Spanish 152 or Spanish 153 or Spanish 154 or Spanish 155. For Literature and Culture track: Spanish 190A. The courses will be offered spring quarter only and are restricted to students with senior standing, please plan accordingly. The courses listed above cannot be used for both capstone and concentration; one or the other only; no duplication.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
The Disciplinary Communication general education requirement (DC requirement) is satisfied by successfully completing Spanish 114 or SpHS 115 and must be completed at UCSC.
Honors
Students who wish to be considered for honors should meet the deadline posted by the Office of the Registrar for declaring the intent to graduate. Determination of honors is based on the student’s grades for all courses relevant to the major and other factors relevant to an assessment of academic excellence, such as research papers of professional quality. Generally, honors in the major are awarded only to students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher in relevant coursework. Only those students whose performance in coursework is excellent will qualify. Highest honors are awarded only to students whose performance in relevant coursework is outstanding (GPA of 3.90 and above) and who have completed an outstanding original research paper.
Letter Grade Policy
Courses used to satisfy major requirements may be taken for a Pass/No Pass or letter grade, with the exception that the Level 4 Spanish course and senior comprehensive course must be taken for a letter grade.
Study Abroad
It is strongly recommended that Spanish Studies majors spend time in residence in Spanish speaking countries through the University of California Education Abroad Program (EAP). There are presently several EAP short and long-term programs in Spanish speaking countries: Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina and Chile. In addition, several UC campuses have short-term, immersion programs (including summer quarters) in other places such as Mendoza (Argentina) and Peru (UC Davis), and Cádiz (UC San Diego). One of the most popular EAP destinations has been Spain, which ranked only second to Great Britain in number of students for several years. In addition, there are at present some efforts to open UC Santa Cruz summer programs in other Spanish speaking regions.
Important: Only very exceptionally a senior year abroad will be approved and this will be done only when all the language proficiency requirements have been satisfied, including the entrance requirement, and when the remaining required courses for the major can be satisfactorily completed abroad.
Students who participate in UC EAP programs may petition to apply a maximum of 5 courses (up to 25 upper-division credits) from the courses taken abroad for the Spanish Studies major. Petitions will be reviewed and authorized by the director of the Spanish Studies program or a designated advisor.
It should be noted that transfer students will find it practically impossible to include a year-long Education Abroad Program before completion of the graduation requirements within normative time.
Learn more details about studying abroad by visiting the International Education Office (IEO).
Approved U.D. SPST Elective Courses
The following UCSC courses have been approved for the Spanish Studies Major upper-division elective:
- ANTH 110G: Barrio Popular Culture
- ANTH 130L: Ethnography of Latin America
- ANTH 130M: Inside Mexico
- ANTH 130P: Ethnography of Southern Cone Chile and Argentina
- ANTH 176B: Meso-American Archaeology
- FMST 124: Technology, Sciences and Race Across the Americas
- FMST 175: Sexualities & Genders in Latin America
- HAVC 143C: Latin American Modern Architecture
- HAVC 160A: Introduction to Pre-Hispanic Mexico
- HAVC 160B: Introduction to Pre-Hispanic Andes
- HAVC 162A: Advanced Studies in Pre-Hispanic Visual Culture: The Maya
- HAVC 162B: Advanced Studies in Pre-Hispanic Visual Culture: The Inka
- HAVC 163: Native in Colonial Spanish America
- HAVC 191B: Virgin of Guadalupe
- LALS 100: Concepts & Theories in LALS
- LALS 100B: Cultural Theory in the Americas
- LALS 115: Mexico-U.S. Migration
- LALS 122: Media and Nationalism
- LALS 127: Genero, Nacion Y Modernidad En El Cine
- LALS 129: America Latina: Cine, Dictadura Y Memoria
- LALS 129S: Memoria En Las Americas
- LALS 130: Expresiones Cuirs de Genero y Sexualidad en el Cine Latinoamericano
- LALS 133: Latina/o Art and Representation
- LALS 144: Mexicana/Chicana Histories
- LALS 145: Grassroots Social Change in Latin America
- LALS 149: Whiteness in Latin America
- LALS 152: Consumer Cultures Between the Americas
- LALS 155: Latin American And Latino Youth Movements
- LALS 157: Las Revoluciones Sociales (taught in Spanish)
- LALS 165: Contemporary Peru
- LALS 172: Visualizing Human Rights
- LALS 174: Immigration and Citizenship: A Global Perspective.
- LALS 175: Migration, Gender, and Health
- LING 131: Spanglish: Language and Identities through Contact
- LIT 124B: The Contemporary Latin American Short Story
- LIT 155E: Cinema and Social Change in Latin America: Cuba
- POLI 140C: Latin American Politics
- SOCY 156: Latina/o Identity
- SOCY 177A: Latinos/as and the American Global City
- THEA 161P: Theater in the “Chicano Power” Movement
Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for availability/offering.
Spanish Studies Faculty
Jorge Aladro Font
- Title
- Professor
- Department
- Literature Department
Mark Amengual
- Title
- Professor and Department Chair
- Department
- Languages and Applied Linguistics
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- Bilingualism, Multilingualism
Josefina Bittar Prieto
- Title
- Assistant Professor
- Department
- Languages and Applied Linguistics
Maria Gonzalez Pagani
- Title
- Teaching Professor
- Department
- Languages and Applied Linguistics
Rodrigo Lazo
- Title
- Professor
- Department
- Literature Department
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- American Studies
Juan E Poblete
- Title
- Professor
- Department
- Literature Department
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- Latin American and Latino Studies
Christian Ruvalcaba
- Title
- Assistant Professor
- Department
- Languages and Applied Linguistics
Amanda M Smith
- Title
- Associate Professor
- Department
- Literature Department
Zac Zimmer
- Title
- Associate Professor of Literature
- Department
- Literature Department
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- Literature
Eve C Zyzik
- Title
- Professor
- Department
- Languages and Applied Linguistics
- Faculty Areas of Expertise
- Heritage Languages
Spanish Studies Alumni Highlight
The Spanish Studies program in the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz is proud of our alumni and their accomplishments. We are starting this Alumni Spotlight as a way of highlighting those alumni who are doing great things. For this occasion, we got in touch with some of our recent graduates in Spanish Studies: Martha Pérez Sánchez, Leonardo Chelin, Rosa Sanchez, Cecilia Aguilar, Jacqueline Morales, María Lemus, Janette Montejano, Magaly Gastelum, Claire Luong, and Jazmín Sosa . These are their stories:
Martha Pérez Sánchez
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated in June of 2021, double-majoring in Spanish Studies, Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism and I also obtained a minor in Education. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduation I worked for a couple of charter schools in Mid-City and South Central LA. There, I worked as a Teaching Partner for below-grade level students, implementing language and literacy programs. Most recently, I was hired as the Early Math and Literacy Lead at Grail Family Services, which is a Latinx non-profit organization serving the community of Mayfair in East San Jose. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The experiences, training and skills I obtained in the Spanish Studies major helped me become a well-rounded advocate for my Latinx community. It was imperative for me to understand the historical, political and economic stance of our Spanish-speaking communities in order to provide the adequate resources and help they may need.
Along with this, I was also able to develop my communication skills which I now use daily to connect with parents and professional partners. I believe the professors in the Spanish Studies program provided me with the tools necessary to grow in my field, and to this day, continue to show their support by being available for a quick check-in or any questions I may have. - What are your future plans?
Although I plan to continue to work with the Mayfair community, I also plan on going back to school to receive my masters. I would love to do this in a foreign country but given my legal status my options are limited. The focus is still to be decided but I do know I want to either continue in the Spanish Education field or move towards language research. Either way, I want my future career plans to serve marginalized communities that can eventually help our people succeed.
Leonardo Chelin
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2018 with a double major in Psychology, Spanish Studies with a focus in literature, and a minor in Education. - What did you do after graduation?
Weeks after I graduated from UCSC in 2018, I started one year intensive Master’s program at the University of the Pacific. That same year, the program placed me at a high school in East San Jose, and I haven’t left since. In 2019, I graduated with honors, earning a Masters of Education with a focus on curriculum and instruction. I now teach two levels of Spanish and I’m the 11th-grade level chair. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
All of the training I received in Spanish Studies was extremely helpful while completing my Master’s degree, as I was able to apply all of the skills and materials I used during my undergraduate studies. I will also say that the training I received in Spanish Studies allowed me to create a more defined sense of identity, especially when a lot of my peers were not BIPOC during my Master’s program. In terms of my profession, I have modeled the way I conduct my classroom based on the awesome professors I had in the Spanish Department. Especially since I teach high school, providing opportunities for autonomy, group work, and discussion. I am definitely grateful for what I learned during my undergraduate career, which allowed me to have a strong foundation as a student and now a teacher. - What are your future plans?
I plan to continue teaching and connecting with students. Moving forward I hope to have a bigger impact on the Spanish Department at our school. Though earning a Ph.D. is not a current priority for me, I’d love to become a college professor one day.
Rosa Sanchez
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2018. I obtained a B.A. in Spanish Studies with a concentration in Literature and Culture and a B.A. in Latin America and Latino Studies. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduation, I became a full-time paralegal at a local non-profit in Watsonville, CA. I provide legal services in immigration-related matters and information to the community primarily in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. In August 2020, I obtained my accreditation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and now I can represent individuals before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The training that I received in Spanish Studies helped me in my current position because our non-profit serves primarily Spanish speaking communities. By speaking Spanish and being culturally competent I am able to breach the language and cultural barriers between the immigration legal system and our community. Thereby increasing the access to legal services and overall stability and well-being of the community. The lack of or uncertainty in immigration status can create tremendous instability and insecurity in families and communities, depriving them of access to services, and reduce their ability to function as productive members of society. My goal is to help address this problem by providing legal representation in a language that people can understand. In the Spanish Studies program at UCSC, I was able to find a community of great mentors and Professors who inspire me to become a better professional and community advocate. - What are your future plans?
In the upcoming months (and probably year), I will continue working as a DOJ accredited representative and at the same time prepare myself to take the LSAT and apply for law school. Obtaining a Juris Doctor degree will allow me to continue to provide legal assistance to immigrant families from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.
Cecilia Aguilar
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2017 with a BA in Spanish Studies with a concentration in Culture and Literature and a Minor in Education. - What did you do after graduation?
I got to work immediately hoping I would fall into a position I loved off the bat. In 2018, I was hired as a community organizer at a local nonprofit before transitioning into a teacher role at Alpha Public Schools. I taught at Alpha for 2.5 years before pivoting into an Educational Technology company in 2021. I am currently employed by Family Engagement Lab as a Content Manager. My position is involved with writing content that supports bridging classroom academics to the home. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
As a Latinx individual I identified with everything I studied in the Spanish Studies degree. The Spanish Studies program supported my transition into the real world by educating me about my heritage. The classes I took gave me a deeper sense of self and life mission. It was here where I learned about the struggles that I have endured as a person of color in the US. The Spanish Studies program taught me that I must use my skills to support historically underrepresented communities achieve their dreams in a way that the country has not seen before. My work is a reflection of my commitment to communities of color. I thank the Spanish Studies faculty at UCSC for helping me get here! - What are your future plans?
I am a sitting board of directors member at Exploring New Horizons and I hope to continue growing in my leadership skills by becoming a member of a fellowship that will support the development of these skills. My hope is to become a leader in the EdTech space to continue supporting educational achievement in education!
Jacqueline Morales
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated in 2016 with a double major in Spanish and Legal Studies. - What did you do after graduation?
Since graduating from UCSC I have been working as an Assistant Director of Tutoring at Learning Support Services (LSS), which is the largest tutoring program at UCSC. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
When I began taking courses in the SPHS program, I became interested in studying Spanish and also became inspired to take on leadership positions. Throughout my time as an undergraduate student, I worked as a tutor, a peer advisor at the EOP office, and an office assistant for the LSS office. All these positions sparked my interest in working in student affairs in higher education and have challenged me to learn more about the nuances of teaching and learning. My time in the program in Spanish Studies also helped me understand what it means to serve Latino first-generation students especially at a Hispanic-Serving Institution like UCSC. - What are your future plans?
I recently applied to several master’s programs in Leadership in Higher Education and I just got accepted to the Master’s program in Higher Education at the University of Michigan. I hope to embark on my graduate studies this Fall 2021 to eventually become a director at a learning center or student affairs program at a university to ultimately become a Dean or Chancellor of student success.
Jacqueline has recently been accepted into graduate programs at the University of Southern California, Columbia University, University of Michigan, and Harvard University. Jacqueline has decided to accept the offer from Harvard and will be starting there next academic year. Congratulations, Jacqueline!
María Lemus
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2017 and obtained a B.A. in Spanish Studies and a B.A. in Feminist Studies. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduation I became a Middle School Math teacher at a bilingual school in San Jose, CA. I taught for 3 years before transitioning to my current role as an instructional coach at the same school. In my role as a teacher, I solidified my interest and passion for bilingual education models and the education field which I had become interested in during my studies at UCSC. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The training that I received in Spanish studies is directly aligned to my current role and my post-undergraduate career. At UCSC, I had access to a community of supportive professors in the Spanish Studies program who created a welcoming and rigorous community of learning. This community led me to work with professors who believed in my potential and opened opportunities for me to explore my various interests: from learning more about Latin American literature and history to learning about the science of Spanish linguistics.
More specifically, during my last year in Spanish Studies, I became highly interested in bilingualism and different models of bilingual education while taking various classes on bilingualism in the United States. After graduating, I knew that I wanted to continue learning more about the different bilingual models in schools so I decided to seek working in one. I have been working at a school with a dual-immersion language program (Spanish-English) that draws on the cultural and linguistic strengths that students bring with them, all of which I had learned about at UCSC. Additionally, I was able to feel confident in becoming a teacher thanks to the support and training I got from Professor González-Pagani who allowed me the opportunity to be a SPHS tutor. As a tutor, I had the opportunity to lead my own sessions that focused on facilitating discussions with peers on curriculum that supplemented the class.
In the end, as a student in Spanish Studies, I gained the knowledge and confidence to speak, write, and read Spanish in professional settings. In doing so, I solidified my education and training as a biliterate professional. - What are your future plans?
I plan to continue my role as an instructional coach at my current school. I enjoy working with a community that not only values bilingualism but actively works to teach students in our community the importance of nurturing their linguistic strengths that will ultimately help develop leaders who understand their roles within their own culture and the greater society.
In the next year, I plan on advancing my training by applying to an EdD program in Educational Leadership. This will help further my leadership skills in making transformative and systematic change in bilingual education and teacher training in pursuit of educational equity.
Janette Montejano
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2017 with a BA in Spanish Studies. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduating, I took a year off and later decided to apply to a few programs with the help and encouragement of my professors at UCSC. Ultimately, I attended the University of Arizona to study for a master’s degree in Hispanic Linguistics. I graduated in Spring 2020, took a much needed break, and I am now searching for a teaching position nearby since moving back to California. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The training I received at UCSC has given me a solid base for my studies in graduate school. Courses such as Spanish in the U.S. and Sounds of Spanish provided me with a background in phonetics, phonology, and sociolinguistics, which are courses I studied during the first year of my master’s program. I also received valuable training in programs such as Praat to allow me to analyze and manipulate speech. I can recall instances when my experience with Praat helped me tremendously in my phonetics courses. - What are your future plans?
As of now, given the current circumstances, I do not plan on returning to school to continue on with a PhD. I plan instead to teach Spanish at a community college or a four-year university nearby.
Magaly Gastelum
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC in 2018. I obtained a degree in Spanish Studies with a concentration in Languages and Linguistics and a minor in Linguistics. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduation I spent a year working as a substitute teacher while figuring out exactly how to organize my life. I knew I wanted to go to graduate school, but I also wanted to live in Spain for a year or two before committing to school. Thanks to my Spanish professors at UCSC, I learned about the North American Language and Culture Assistants program in Spain and I applied. I was so happy to be selected to work in two elementary schools in Galicia. I spent a year in the program, and thanks to the generous pay, on weekends I was able to make short trips to neighboring towns and during holiday vacations, I was able to travel to Portugal, Germany, and Austria. Once my contract with the Language and Culture Assistant program was coming to an end it was time for me to decide whether I wanted to renew it or take my first step towards becoming a Spanish professor. I opted for the latter. I submitted applications to 3 different universities in Spain: Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. I accepted my offer from Universidad Complutense de Madrid where I now study a master’s called Investigación en la Lengua Española (Spanish Language Research). - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The way professors in the Spanish Studies program carried out their classes is very similar to how my current professors organize their instruction too. Working in groups, participating in group discussions, and learning from each other’s ideas is exactly what I experience in my classes. So being exposed to this type of learning during undergrad prepared me to be a better student in my master’s program. More specifically, in terms of content, the Spanish classes at UCSC gave me a strong foundation in topics I am now learning about in much more depth. I may even sometimes use the materials from those classes as reference. In general, to me the Spanish Studies program, and its department was more than just a group of professors and a cohort of students learning Spanish linguistics or literature. It was a community that I belonged to and I truly looked forward to meeting with every class time. It was in this community of supportive professors —or mentors, rather— and classmates where I found my voice, a true connection with my heritage, and really: my identity . In fact, it was because of my experiences in the Spanish Studies program that I decided to become a professor and research topics regarding Spanish in the United States, such as code switching . - What are your future plans?
In the near future (once I complete my master’s this fall), I will apply to doctorate programs. It would be a dream come true if I could attend the University of Illinois Chicago and be part of their Hispanic Linguistics program.
Claire Luong
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I graduated from UCSC with a degree in Spanish Studies, with a focus on Language and Linguistics in 2019. - What did you do after graduation?
After graduating from UCSC, I knew I wanted to look into master’s degree programs in Spanish Linguistics or Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. I spent the year after graduation working at a coffee shop and saving up as much money as I could while I was checking out master’s programs here in the U.S. and in Spain. I studied abroad for a semester in Barcelona when I was a community college student and I had always wanted to go back, and the cost of studying in Spain is significantly lower than in the U.S. I ended up visiting Barcelona, Pontevedra, Madrid, Bilbao, and Valencia in the fall of 2019 to visit some friends and see if I really wanted to study in Spain. After my trip (and a premature quarter-life crisis), I went ahead and applied to 3 master’s programs in Spain at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the Universitat de Barcelona and the Universidad de Navarra. A handful of Skype interviews later and the grueling paperwork process between the U.S. and Spanish consulates, I took a leap of faith and decided to accept my offer to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra to study a “Máster en Discurso: Comunicación, Sociedad y Aprendizaje”. Now I’m currently living in Barcelona! Due to the limitations the pandemic has put on in-person learning, I’ve extended my master’s from one year to two years in order to take full advantage of this learning opportunity. I’m discovering every day just how much I learn both inside and outside of the classroom and I am so grateful to be able to experience this immersion into Spanish and Catalan languages and cultures. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The UCSC Spanish Studies program was an incredible place for me to grow as a student and gain teamwork skills. The professors are knowledgeable and were always available to help out. One of my favorite parts of Spanish Studies was how our professors encouraged us to communicate and learn together. Teamwork, study groups, peer tutoring, and great communication between myself, my classmates, and our professors were so valuable to my training. We studied beyond just textbooks and theory and really were able to put our learning into practice. I also deeply appreciate the ways in which the department designed curriculum to fit the needs of both heritage Spanish speakers as well as second-language learners, like me. - What are your future plans?
Whoa there— heavy question! I’ve got another year ahead of me in this master’s program here in Barcelona and I’m hoping to delve deeper into studying the processes of learning and Critical Discourse Analysis. I’d also like to continue working on becoming fluent in Catalan and continue improving my Spanish. Beyond that, stay tuned!
Jazmín Sosa Herrera
- Which year did you graduate from UCSC? Which degree(s) did you obtain?
I am currently double majoring in Spanish Studies and Politics. I completed the Spanish Studies major requirements in Fall ’20 and have one quarter left to finish my Politics major requirements. - What did you do after graduation?
I will be pursuing a one-year intensive Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (Máster en enseñanza de español como lengua extranjera) at the Universidad de Navarra (Spain) in the fall. - How has the training you received in Spanish Studies helped you in your current program?
The Spanish Studies program prepared me well by allowing me to receive a well-rounded understanding of Spanish language and literature. The master’s program is centered around theory and practice and although I haven’t integrated into the masters’ program yet, I have been told by the program director at the Universidad de Navarra that my educational and professional background made me the perfect candidate for the program. - What are your future plans?
My future plans include successfully completing my master’s and moving back to the United States to pursue more teaching experience before I return to school for my Ph.D. in Spanish Literature. I hope to one day become a Spanish Literature professor so I will be working hard to fulfill that goal.
Conferences, Colloquia & Workshops
2018 – 2019
November 21, 2018
Alexandra Sánchez, Universidad de Lovaina, Bélgica
El éxodo latinoamericano hacia los E.E. U.U. según la televisión pública estadounidense: Apuntes sobre la transferencia cultural y el poder de la tele
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
2017 – 2018
November 14, 2018
Sara Niedzwiecki, UC Santa Cruz
Políticas sociales desiguales en Argentina y Brasil
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
November 8, 2017
Gabriela Baruch-Mayo, Colectivo Mariposas sin Fronteras
Mariposas sin Fronteras: Activismo LGBTQ en centros de detención
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
Spanish Studies Career Orientation Series
Series Announcement
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
January 22, 2018
Amanda Smith, UC Santa Cruz
Career Paths for Spanish Studies Majors and How to Access Them
February 5, 2018
Zac Zimmer, UC Santa Cruz
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Skills
Cover letters | Resume and CV
March 5, 2018
Mark Amengual, UC Santa Cruz
Pathways to Graduate School
May 18, 2018
Coloquio de Literatura – Mesa en español: Literatura latinoamericana contemporánea
Sponsored by the UCSC Literature Department
May 18, 2018
¿Cómo te comunicas? 7th Annual U.C. Comparative Iberian Studies Symposium
Sponsored by the UC Humanities Institute, the Literature Department and Spanish Studies
May 29, 2018
Jeff Michno, Furman University
Nicaragua y ¿vos, tú o usted? Pronoun Use and Identity Construction in an Area of Recent Linguistic and Cultural Contact
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
2016 – 2017
November 10, 2016
Kent Wong, UCLA
The Immigrant Youth Movement and the Fight Against Deportations
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
November 30, 2016
Jordi Aladro Font, UC Santa Cruz
María Magdalena: de la santa a la prostituta
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
February 8, 2017
Dana Frank, UC Santa Cruz
Human Rights and US Policy in Post-Coup Honduras
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
February 22, 2017
Héctor Hoyos, Stanford University
Neo-extractivismo y cultura en América latina
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
April 19, 2017
Ximena Briceño, Stanford University
A vuelo de pájaro: Vallejo y Arguedas
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
2015 – 2016
November 6, 2015
Joseph M. Pierce, Stony Brook University
Writing Queer Sisterhood: The Diaries of Julia and Delfina Bunge and the Argentine Fin de Siglo (1890-1910)
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
Abril 18, 2016
Alvaro Romero Marco, UC Santa Cruz
La ironía y anticlericalismo en Halma
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
April 23, 2016
Coordinator: Jordi Aladro Font
Cervantes 1616-2016 -28th Cervantes Symposium of California
Sponsored by the Literature Department, Spanish Studies, Languages and Applied Linguistics Department, Institute for Humanities Research, and the Cervantes American Society
May 11, 2016
Eva Núñez, Portland State University, Oregon
Language Change: Spanish and its Evolution
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
June 3, 2016
Vanessa Marie Fernádez, UCSC and SJSU
Inverting the Spanish Avant Garde: Transatlantic Negotiations in El estudiante (Salamanca-Madrid 1925-26)
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied Linguistics Department
2014 – 2015
November 7, 2014
Fátima Arranz, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
La hegemonía masculina en la industria cultural española
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and Latin American and Latino Studies
November 21, 2014
Víctor Vich, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Poéticas del duelo: Memorias que ocupan la ciuda
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and Porter College
December 5, 2014
Alicia San Mateo, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid
¿Qué actividad es más eficaz para aprender vocabulario en una L2?
Sponsored by Spanish Studies
March 19, 2015
Conference on “Scholars” y tópicos: Alicia de Colombi-Monguió como paradigma
April 1, 2015
Marina Alvarado Cornejo, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Revistas y periódicos chilenos del Siglo XIX: De la lectura al goce de las ilustraciones
Sponsored by Spanish Studies and the Languages and Applied LInguistics Department