{"id":754,"date":"2015-04-22T16:47:28","date_gmt":"2015-04-22T16:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/template2\/?page_id=754"},"modified":"2026-03-09T12:42:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T19:42:32","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||4px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|25px||25px||true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=agbKmuOcoz8&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||10px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||3px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||6px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Why Major or Minor in Spanish?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#d8d8d8&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; width=&#8221;75%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-33px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Obtaining a Spanish major or minor at WOU is a unique opportunity, as both the university and the surrounding community have a thriving Spanish-speaking and Latino population. Spanish majors and minors develop bilingual communication skills and critical thinking, increase their cultural competency, and gain a competitive edge in a tight job market.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.wou.edu\/spanish\/files\/2019\/05\/Spanish-club.jpg&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||15px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||3px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||6px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Students in the Spanish program develop:<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#d8d8d8&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; width=&#8221;75%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-33px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Advanced communication skills<\/strong>, improving and refining their spoken and written Spanish for bilingual interactions in the real world.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cultural, linguistic and historical knowledge<\/strong> of Spanish-speaking communities and nations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Critical thinking, creative problem solving<\/strong>, communication and research skills necessary to succeed in a multicultural society.<\/li>\n<li>Formative and practical experiences through <strong>study abroad<\/strong> and <strong>service learning<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leadership<\/strong>: Language and cultural expertise help students cultivate flexibility, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.wou.edu\/spanish\/files\/2019\/05\/spanish-parade.jpg&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||10px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||3px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||6px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Bilinguals have a competitive edge<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#d8d8d8&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; width=&#8221;75%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-33px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The ability to speak Spanish and master the richness of Hispanic and Latino cultures are valuable skills for any job: Spanish is the unofficial second language of the United States and is the official language of 21 countries. The Spanish Program at Western makes our graduates attractive candidates for a wide array of careers, as there is ever-growing demand for bilingual professionals. Our graduates are prepared for careers in government, law, education, journalism, business and the non-profit sector at the local, state, national or international level.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; padding_top_bottom_link_1=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_top_bottom_link_2=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_left_right_link_1=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_left_right_link_2=&#8221;true&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;2560px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|-7px|auto||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|||&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#5b5b5b&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|5%|30px|5%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Bilinguals get paid better!<\/h2>\n<p>71% of business leaders plan to grow in markets where English is not the primary language.<\/p>\n<p>Bilinguals get paid between 5%-20% per hour higher than the base rate. For instance, the government of California pays a salary differential to employees who use their bilingual skills an average of 10% or more of their total work time. <strong>Bilingual job postings across all sectors have tripled between 2010 and 2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#565656&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.wou.edu\/spanish\/files\/2019\/06\/AMONG-US-COMPANIES-Chart.jpg&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; padding_top_bottom_link_1=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_top_bottom_link_2=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_left_right_link_1=&#8221;true&#8221; padding_left_right_link_2=&#8221;true&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;2560px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|-7px|auto||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.wou.edu\/spanish\/files\/2015\/05\/El-Sur.jpg&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;7%|5%|7%|5%&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.67)&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>\u00bfHablas espa\u00f1ol? \u00bfQuieres mejorar tu escritura y tu vocabulario, adem\u00e1s de conocer mejor la cultura latina? Si est\u00e1s interesado en estudiar una licenciatura en espa\u00f1ol, ponte en contacto con alguno de nuestros profesores.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#565656&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;7%|5%|7%|5%|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Heritage Speakers at WOU<\/h2>\n<p>Heritage Speakers of Spanish also benefit from a Spanish major or minor. WOU pioneered the first Heritage Speaker program in Oregon, and our innovative pedagogy focuses on bilingual speakers\u2019 language development.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Major or Minor in Spanish? Obtaining a Spanish&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"splash-page.php","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Western Oregon University - Spanish","_seopress_titles_desc":"Study Spanish at WOU! Explore language, culture, and literature with expert faculty. Bachelor's and minors available. 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