Spanish
There’s more to becoming a global citizen than learning a language. True cosmopolitans understand that an international mindset can be achieved only through immersion. A Spanish degree from Rollins allows you to expand your vocabulary and your worldview through up-close, personal experiences. With options for native and non-native speakers, the goal of this degree is to create effective communicators—both through increasing cultural competence and sharpening critical-thinking skills.
You’ll practice reading, writing, and speaking Spanish both in class and on the ground everywhere from Spain to Argentina, developing key concepts in language and cultural fluency right at the source. The rich cultures of Spain and Latin America invite deep exploration into aspects of history, literature, art, and criticism as they relate to pre-colonial civilizations all the way to the modern Hispanic diaspora.
Our Spanish graduates work abroad and at home, serving as cultural ambassadors, teachers, and service leaders all over the world.
Why Study Spanish at Rollins
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The World is Your Classroom
Expert faculty and community partnerships bring elements of Spain and Latin America into the classroom, while study abroad opportunities allow you to refine your language skills and experience the culture firsthand.
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Making a Difference
We believe service is the most rewarding kind of hands-on learning. Rollins maintains deep ties to the Central Florida Latinx community, and our curriculum includes diverse opportunities to experience the culture while giving back.
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Personalized Approach
Our small class sizes and one-on-one advising allow faculty to cater to your individual interests. Students often work with faculty mentors to publish research, present at conferences, and focus their efforts on independent research projects.
Interested in Studying Spanish at Rollins?
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“Majoring in Spanish at Rollins provided me a great foundation for acquiring a host of valuable skills. I’ve not only been able to connect with people of different backgrounds, but also enjoyed a smooth transition to a more technical career. With Spanish, you’re not confined to just teaching or translating. It opens many doors of opportunity.”
Rollins Spanish Careers
Rollins Spanish grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative organizations and prestigious institutions.
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Jonathan Leeper ’19
English Teaching Assistant, U.S. Fulbright Program
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Lizzie Berry ’19
Language and Culture Teaching Assistant, IES CRUCES BHI
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Meghan Oxford ’20
Soldier (SPC), U.S. Army
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Andrea Prather ’16
Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture
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Alia El-Assar ’12
Congressional Outreach Coordinator, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine
Real World Experience
Hone the knowledge and skills you’re developing in the classroom through internships, research, and service projects on campus and in our community.
Apply By February 1
No app fee. No formal essay or test scores required. Automatic consideration for scholarships that range from $15,000 to $32,000. It’s never been easier or more rewarding to apply to Rollins. Don't wait: apply by February 1.
Start Your ApplicationPopular Courses
The Spanish curriculum blends practical usage and cultural exploration into a fascinating study of Latinx art and culture. Each course seeks to mold students into responsible global leaders with a deep understanding of Latin American influence.
SPN 338 Race, Class, and Gender in Latin American Literature
Examine marginalized segments of Latin American society through literary expressions.
SPN 348 Latin American Pop Culture
Explore Latin American complexities through the lens of everything from food and fashion to sports and media. Discuss how cultural production is key to creating a sense of national and personal identity.
SPN 303 Business Spanish for Non-Native Speakers
Learn business terminology, usage, and commercial correspondence while gaining a sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences in the Hispanic business world.
SPN 330 U.S. Latino Literature: Writings from Migration and Exile
Delve into literary texts of fiction and nonfiction written and published in Spanish, in the U.S., by writers of Hispanic heritage.
SPN 341 Spanish Film/Cultural Trends
Explore the political, social, economic, and cultural context of Spanish cinema from its beginnings to the present.
SPN 344 CSI in Latin America: Crime, Family Ties, and National Politics
Investigate the construction of national identity through the analysis of violence in different media, such as the detective genre and film noir.
Beyond the Classroom
Community Connections Spanish students are encouraged to join the Latin American Student Association, which hosts social events and offers dozens of service and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Rollins is a member of the Omicron Nu chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.
Study Abroad Through Verano Español, one of the oldest and most prestigious summer study programs in Madrid, students immerse themselves in Spanish language and culture for six weeks. Yearlong and semester programs are also available through the University of Oviedo, Asturias, in Oviedo, Spain. And the opportunities don’t stop there: Rollins is a top producer of Fulbright scholars and offers plenty of support to students looking to apply to graduate programs around the world.
Real Research Each summer, Rollins gives students the opportunity to pair up with faculty members and participate in professional-level research projects, which often leads to opportunities to present at conferences and seminars around the world.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into Spanish at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
October 05, 2022
What It’s Like … to Study Spanish at the Source
Get a firsthand look at Verano Español, Rollins’ longest-running study abroad program, where students spend six weeks in Madrid studying Spanish and experiencing local culture.
April 13, 2022
Freeman ’22 Wins 2022 Sigma Delta Pi Study Abroad Award
Alexandria Freeman ’22 is the first Rollins student to be awarded a study abroad scholarship from the premier Hispanic honor society.
October 11, 2021
Club Spotlight: Latin American Student Association
Take a look behind the scenes of the Latin American Student Association, which recently welcomed a new batch of student leaders.
Expert Faculty
Rollins Spanish professors take a personal interest in each and every student, getting to know their passions and helping guide them in their unique personal and professional pursuits.
Department of Global Languages & Cultures
Telephone:407.646.2623
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Rosana Díaz-Zambrana, PhD
Professor of Spanish
Research interests: Latin American film and culture; gender and race relations; fictions of fear; and literary masterworks
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Jennifer Fischer, MA
Spanish Lecturer
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Dr. Cristina González Martin, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
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José Holguín-Intriago, MA
Senior Spanish Lecturer
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Margareth Kupetz, MA
Senior Spanish Lecturer
Research Interests: Second language acquisition, language teaching methodology, dual language immersion, curriculum development, and Hispanic literature and culture in the United States.
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Rachael Lilienthal, MA
Senior Spanish Lecturer
Research interests: Latin American literatures and cultures
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María Paniagua-Tejo, MA
Senior Spanish Lecturer
Research interests: Medieval Spanish Literature, Contemporary Spanish Literature, and Hispanic Culture
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Dr. Alberto Prieto-Calixto, PhD
Professor of Spanish; Spanish Program Director
Research interests: Golden Age, Colonial, and Asturian studies
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Yona Smith, MA
Senior Spanish Lecturer
Research interests: Second language acquisition and the pedagogical strategies of language instruction.
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Patricia Tomé, PhD
Professor of Spanish
Research interests: Language acquisition; 20th- and 21st-century Latin American literature; Cuban and Cuban American literature and film; and modern Latin American and peninsular drama
