Spanish & Portuguese | College of Liberal Arts
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Minors & Certificates

College of Liberal Arts

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Applicable to students under the 2022-2024 academic catalog and later

15 hours of coursework in Spanish, consisting of:

  • SPN 327C - Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V - Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 328C - Introduction to Literatures and Cultures
  • Two of the following courses: SPN 357E - Spanish Translation and the Social Sciences; SPN 358D – Spanish Creative Writing Fiction; SPN 358E - Spanish Creative Writing Nonfiction; SPN 377C - Topics in Spanish; SPN 350E - Mediascapes: Literature and Media in the Caribbean
  • Three additional upper-division hours of SPN in Iberian and/or Latin American Literatures and Cultures

The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog. 

Apply for a minor in Spanish Creative Writing here.  For questions, email spn-por-advising@austin.utexas.edu.

Applicable to students under the 2018-2020 academic catalog and later

18 hours of coursework in Spanish and Spanish Civilization, consisting of:

  • SPN 327C -Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V- Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 328C - Introduction to Literatures and Cultures -OR- SPN 330L - Introduction to Language and Linguistics in Society
  • SPC 320C - Topics in Iberian or Latin American Studies (taught in English)
  • Nine additional semester credit hours of SPN numbered 328 or above

The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog

Apply for a minor in Spanish here.  For questions, email advising staff at SPN-POR-Advising@austin.utexas.edu.

Applicable to students under the 2016-2018 academic catalog and later

18 hours of coursework in Portuguese and Portuguese Civilization, consisting of:

  • POR 610D - First-Year Portuguese II
  • POR 311C - Portuguese Conversation and Culture* 
  • POR 314C - Intermediate Writing and Grammar in Context* 
  • POR 327C -OR- POR 328C -OR- POR 330L
  • Three additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in Portuguese 

Portuguese for Spanish Speakers track:

  • POR 610S -Portuguese for Spanish Speakers I
  • POR 311J - Portuguese Conversation and Culture for Spanish Speakers*
  • POR 314J - Intermediate Writing and Grammar in Context for Spanish Speakers*
  • POR 327C -OR- POR 328C -OR- POR 330L
  • Three additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in Portuguese 

*POR 311C & POR 314C may be taken concurrently.  POR 311J & POR 314J may be taken concurrently.   

The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog

Apply for a minor in Portuguese here.  For questions, email spn-por-advising@austin.utexas.edu.

The Business Spanish Certificate and the Spanish for Healthcare Ceritificate provide undergraduate students the opportunity to develop fluency and precision in spoken and written Spanish so that they can effectively communicate in business or medical professional settings. All undergraduate students, regardless of major or college, are eligible for these certificate programs.  For questions about the certificates, email Spanish.certificates@utexas.edu.

Business Spanish Certificate

Between 18 and 24 semester credit hours of Spanish, consisting of: 

  • SPN 601D - First-Year Spanish I
  • SPN 610D - First-Year Spanish II

  • SPN 311 - Intermediate Spanish*

  • SPN 314 - Spanish Conversation and Culture*

  • SPN 327C - Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V - Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 367D - Business in Hispanic Life and Culture

For heritage speakers of Spanish:

  • SPN 604 - Accelerated Introductory Spanish for Heritage Learners
  • SPN 311J - Accelerated Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Learners*
  • SPN 314J - Writing and Culture in Context for Heritage Learners* 
  • SPN 327C - Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V - Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 367D - Business in Hispanic Life and Culture

Spanish for Medical Professions Certificate 

Between 18 and 24 semester credit hours of Spanish, consisting of:  

  • SPN 601D - First-Year Spanish I
  • SPN 610D - First-Year Spanish II

  • SPN 311 - Intermediate Spanish*

  • SPN 314 - Spanish Conversation and Culture*

  • SPN 327C - Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V - Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 367C -Spanish for the Health Care Professions

For heritage speakers of Spanish:

  • SPN 604 - Accelerated Introductory Spanish for Heritage Learners
  • SPN 311J - Accelerated Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Learners*
  • SPN 314J - Writing and Culture in Context for Heritage Learners* 
  • SPN 327C - Advanced Grammar and Writing in Context -OR- SPN 327N - Academic Writing for Heritage Speakers -OR- SPN 327V - Advanced Writing and Service Learning
  • SPN 367C - Spanish for the Health Care Professions

*SPN 311 & SPN 314 may be taken concurrently, SPN 311J &  SPN 314J may be taken concurrently.   

How to Get Started

Students following the 2016-18 Undergraduate Catalog and newer catalogs should apply for the certificate through the Registrar's online minor and certificate application system as soon as they are sure they are pursuing the certificate. The certificate is automatically approved for all applicants. Once you have been approved, you will need to contact your assigned academic advisor in your major to have the certificate added to your official degree profile. You can start the coursework for the certificate at any time by registering for the required courses.

Apply to Receive Your Certificate

2016-18 and later Undergraduate Catalogs

In most cases, for students in newer catalogs, certificates will be attached to the student's degree profile and visible on their online degree audit. If your certificate is attached to your degree profile, all you need to do to graduate with your certificate is apply to graduate with your college. No further action is needed. However, in other cases, typically when a student is pursuing more than one credential, a student's certificate may be "standalone" and not attached to their degree profile. If you are pursuing a standalone certificate, then you will need to apply for your certificate using the Liberal Arts Credential Application. Students should apply for certification when they complete their undergraduate degree or the certificate program, whichever comes later. (The certificate may be earned up to a year after earning Bachelor’s degree.)

Please direct all Spanish Certificate questions to Spanish.certificates@utexas.edu.

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