The Certificate in Spanish Studies for Business Students no longer admits new students after Summer 2025 and the program will be discontinued Fall 2029. Students already admitted may only complete and be awarded this certificate through Summer 2029. If you have any questions, please contact the department (see contact box).
Please see the Business Spanish Certificate instead.
Spanish is an official language in 21 countries—with more than 400 million speakers worldwide (projected to be 530 million by 2050), it is the third most widely spoken language after Mandarin and English. In 25 years, the United States could have more Spanish speakers than any other country.
This certificate combines classes in Spanish, cultures of Spanish-speaking populations, and specialized Spanish for business professions. This combination is a good fit for any student who wants the ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken Spanish and work with other Spanish speakers in their future professional careers.
How to Get in
The Certificate in Spanish Studies for Business Students no longer admits new students after Summer 2025 and the program will be discontinued Fall 2029. Students already admitted may only complete and be awarded this certificate through Summer 2029. If you have any questions, please contact the department (see contact box).
Students must earn admission to the School of Business to be eligible for the Certificate in Spanish Studies for Business Students. The certificate can be declared in consultation with the Spanish undergraduate advisor.
Students declared in the Certificate in Spanish Studies for Business Students are not eligible to declare the Spanish major.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPANISH/INTL BUS 329 | Spanish for Business | 3 |
| SPANISH 359 | Spanish Business Area Studies | 3 |
| Complete one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Spanish Civilization | ||
| Spanish American Civilization | ||
| Survey of Latinx/e Popular Culture | ||
| Culture and the Environment in the Luso-Hispanic World | ||
| Contemporary Mayas: A Culture of Nature | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Culture | ||
| Topics in Latinx Culture | ||
| Hispanic Screen Studies | ||
| Study Abroad in Hispanic Cultures | ||
| Latin American Rock Cultures | ||
| Border and Race Studies in Latin America | ||
| Topics in Latin American Performance/Visual Studies | ||
| Race, Religion and Ethnicity in the Age of Empire | ||
| Select additional credits from SPANISH 300-499 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Spanish Courses 300–499
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPANISH 311 | Advanced Language Practice | 3 |
| SPANISH 319 | Topics in Spanish Language Practice | 1-3 |
| SPANISH 320 | Spanish Phonetics | 3 |
| SPANISH 321 | The Structure of Modern Spanish | 3 |
| SPANISH 322 | Survey of Early Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| SPANISH 324 | Survey of Modern Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPANISH 325 | Advanced Conversation | 3 |
| SPANISH 326 | Survey of Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPANISH 327 | Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 331 | Spanish Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH/MEDIEVAL 414 | Literature of the Castilian Middle Age (XII-XV centuries) | 3 |
| SPANISH/FRENCH/ITALIAN/PORTUG 429 | Introduction to the Romance Languages | 3 |
| SPANISH 435 | Cervantes | 3 |
| SPANISH 446 | Topics in Spanish Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 451 | Literature of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries | 3 |
| SPANISH 453 | Literature of the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| SPANISH 460 | Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPANISH 461 | The Spanish American Short Story | 3 |
| SPANISH 464 | Spanish American Poetry and Essay | 3 |
| SPANISH/CHICLA 467 | US Latinx/e Literature | 3 |
| SPANISH 468 | Topics in Hispanic Culture | 3 |
| SPANISH/CHICLA 469 | Topics in Latinx Culture | 3 |
| SPANISH 470 | Undergraduate Seminars in Hispanic Literature/Culture/Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 472 | Hispanic Screen Studies | 3 |
| SPANISH 473 | Study Abroad in Spanish Language Practice | 1-4 |
| SPANISH 474 | Study Abroad in Spanish Linguistics | 1-4 |
| SPANISH 475 | Study Abroad in Hispanic Literatures | 1-4 |
| SPANISH 476 | Study Abroad in Hispanic Cultures | 1-4 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- Minimum 3.000 GPA in all Certificate courses
- 8 SPANISH credits in residence
- 6 SPANISH credits, taken at UW–Madison
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop communication skills in Spanish; integrate these skills to exchange and assess ideas effectively and with level-appropriate accuracy; and practice pragmatic, linguistic and stylistic norms in a formal, professional register of standard Spanish in a variety of written and oral assignments.
- Acquire specialized vocabulary related to business and commerce; analyze authentic informational, financial and marketing materials in Spanish; and incorporate the newly-acquired vocabulary and business-related knowledge into their speech and writing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic cultures, including awareness of the social, cultural, and linguistic diversity that characterizes the Spanish-speaking world, as well as familiarity with basic methods of literary, cultural and/or linguistic analysis.
Advising and Careers
Please contact the undergraduate advisor (listed in Contact Information) with your questions and visit spanport.wisc.edu/undergrad-advising/.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students