Department of Hispanic Studies

Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Bem-vindos!

 

Welcome to the College of Charleston’s Department of Hispanic Studies.

As the largest and most comprehensive undergraduate program of its kind in the southeast, we're here to help prepare you for the language demands of a world made increasingly smaller by technology, the global economy, and immigration.

Like our many successful alumni, you'll find that proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese means increased opportunities, and in turn greater income-earning potential.

Muy popular | Muito popular

When choosing Hispanic Studies as your course of study, you'll join more than 120 Spanish majors and nearly 400 minors, making up the largest, most popular and in-demand minor program at the College of Charleston.

With a faculy of some of the finest and most diverse educators and researchers in the region, you'll enhance your knowledge of language, literature, culture and history through our engaging course offerings and opportunities.  

  • Study abroad programs in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Spain and others.
  • La Casa Hispana (Spanish House): On-campus housing for qualifying students of Spanish who wish to enhance their extra-curricular language exposure.
  • Service learning through local and international internships.
  • Portuguese, Spanish, and Hispanic Latino clubs.
  • Membership in our national-award-winning chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, for qualifying majors and minors.
  • Membership in our chapter of Phi Lambda Beta, the Portuguese Honor Society, for qualifying students.
  • Featured guest lectures, cultural festivals, foreign-language films, and concerts.

Student Focus: Maddy Landa.

student focus

I have always been interested in cross-cultural exchange; it was why I began my Spanish language journey in the sixth grade, as early as possible. I continued learning the language through high school, but it wasn’t until I got to the College of Charleston that I was truly able to study the culture of linguistics in the manner that I desired.

My classes within CofC’s Hispanic Studies Department have always been my favorites each semester, and last spring I was thrilled to have the opportunity to apply what I had learned when I studied abroad in Trujillo, Spain. It was there that I was able to practice what I’d spent years learning; my host family and much of the community did not speak English, so I was thrown into an environment where I had to adapt quickly. I am so grateful for this experience. It taught me that learning Spanish is more than just a tool for communication, it is a lens through which one can understand culture better itself.

This is a lesson I took back with me to the United States. After Trujillo, I decided to volunteer with Lutheran Services Carolinas tutoring Spanish-speaking high school refugee students. I also teach a Spanish class with Upward Bound at CofC. Being able to pass on what I have learned to the next generation is incredibly fulfilling and is why I applied for both a Fulbright ETA position in Spain and a Peace Corps Youth in Development position in the Dominican Republic. I am thrilled to say that I recently accepted the offer with the Peace Corps and will be leaving this summer.  My experience with Hispanic Studies made these journeys possible. The classes I’ve taken, and my study abroad have become fundamental to my perception of the world and my place in it.”

 Read more about Maddy on our blog 

Sigma Delta Pi Application


Please indicate your interest in becoming a member of Sigma Delta Pi by submitting this completed, typed form via email to Prof. Devon Hanahan at hanahand@cofc.edu by MIDNIGHT, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Sigma Delta Pi Application

Learn more about our Trujillo program


 

 

In this College Today article, you can learn about Hispanic Studies' Trujillo study abroad program, and more about the benefactors that made it all possible. 

The College Today