The Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature will be participating this Wednesday October 27 (2025) from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm in the Union Ballrom on the Second Floor Lobby at the Major/Minor Event. All interested students are welcome to bring their questions about our Major or Minor, and explore our courses in Spanish (SPN), Portuguese  (POR), HUS (our general education courses taught English that satisfy many SBC requirements), and thre NAIS Minor. There will be time to answer your questions on our curriculum and academic programs.

At our table at the Major/Minor Event we will give you an overview of our Major, Double Major, Minor, Honors Program, our spring course offerings, as well as information about Teaching Program and the path to the BA/MAT. You can visit our website for more information.

Students that enter Stony Brook with prior knowledge of Spanish (but no standardized tests, such as AP) should take the Foreign Language Placement Exam (FLPE) or a Challenge Exam. In either case, start by contacting the Language Learning Resource Center (LLRC). For more information on challenge exams (offered for SPN 112, SPN211, SPN212 and SPN311) see here or contact the current Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Víctor Roncero-López.

The Spanish Major (BA in Spanish) give students a solid education in the languages, literatures, cinema, arts and cultures of Latin America, Spain and the Latinx communities of the United States. The Major requires twelve Spanish courses at the 300/400 level. If the student decides to combine two majors (Double Major), the requirement of courses drops to ten. Many students are Double Majors in Spanish and Biology, for example, but combinations with English, History, Psychology or other languages are also popular.

Our Spanish Minor is one of the largest and more popular Minors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Our Minor program is very flexible and requires six Spanish courses at the 300/400 level.  Any student can easily change from a Minor to a Double Major. It only requires four more courses in Spanish. Our department hourses the Native American Indigenous Studies Initiative (NAIS) Minor, for more information see here or contact NAIS Director Prof. Joseph Pierce.

Tip for Double Majors: Don’t forget to consult both directors of undergraduate studies to be sure that you can fulfill all requirements for your Double Major in time for graduation.

Students that are interested in research or are considering applying to graduate or professional schools, should explore our Honors Program, which requires a senior thesis.

Many of our Spanish Majors (BA in Spanish) opt for the Secondary Teaching Preparation Program (Teaching Certificate) or decide to pursue a 5-year combined BA with a Master of Arts in Teaching (BA/MAT). For all questions related to pedagogy courses and field experience, please see here or contact Prof. Sarah Jourdain.

If you have any questions about your Spanish courses or our Programs, email Prof. Victor Roncero (victoriano.roncero-lopez@stonybrook.edu)

¡Nos vemos el día 27 de octubre a las 12.30 pm! Poster in PDF

The Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature is extremely proud of the many talents, academic achievements and community work of all our undergraduate students studying the Spanish language, literature and cultures with us.  All faculty and staff in our department contribute to the intellectual growth and overall education of our community, as they explore their future careers and dedicate their efforts to make this world a bit better for all of us.

Following the recommendation of our faculty in advanced courses (SPN 300 and 400), we are delighted to spotlight Helen Bercian, who is currently enrolled in our 5 year combined undergraduate and graduate program: BA/MAT in Spanish Language and Literature with Secondary Teaching Preparation (see more on this program here).

We asked Helen a few questions about her experience as a student in our classes, her recommendations to other students and her plans after completing her degrees with us.

HLL: Congratulations for your excellent work in our classes! What would you recommend to other students that have some previous knowledge of Spanish and would like to continue studying it?

Helen: I took a few Spanish courses at Suffolk County Community College prior to transferring to Stony Brook University, which provided a solid foundation of the language and culture. I recommend students who have previous knowledge of Spanish or have the option to take courses at their current school to continue building on those essential skills. However, students who are beginners to the language and culture should look forward to the wide variety of Spanish courses Stony Brook offers.

HLL: What advice would you give to students who are thinking about studying in our department?

Helen: I advise students who are thinking about majoring or minoring in Spanish to approach it with an open mind and willingness to explore the language and culture as it will open doors to new perspectives, experiences, and opportunities.

HLL: What do you like the best about our program?

Helen: The program has allowed me to connect with other students who share the same passion and interest in the Spanish language, creating a strong sense of community, like a second family. The professors and staff within the department are incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and dedicated to ensure student success.

HLL: What are your plans after you complete your degrees at Stony Brook?

Helen: I plan to become a secondary school Spanish and French teacher. I hope to be able to share the knowledge and passion for the Spanish and French language, literature and culture with my future students, inspiring them to appreciate the diverse cultures and value of being bilingual or multilingual.

¡Felicitaciones, querida Helen!