Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in Spanish

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts (Thomas Nelson Community College)
Thomas Nelson Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College
Program description

Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies are increasingly looking for employees with real world international experience who are able to communicate in a second language. The Foreign Language program is designed precisely for students to gain this experience and develop their abilities to communicate in a second language. The program offers major concentrations in French, German, and Spanish, as well as minors in French, German, Italian Studies, Russian Studies, and Spanish. The goal of the program is to broaden students’ multicultural perspective and to develop their ability to communicate across cultures so they can succeed in diverse professional environments. The degree encourages students to develop and utilize their abilities to communicate in different languages and to understand the powerful role that language and culture play in shaping every aspect of society. The Foreign Language curriculum places particular emphasis on the study of language as spoken in and shaped by everyday contexts, including work, rest, and recreation, and in and through popular film, music, and media. The Foreign Language degree provides a strong foundation for understanding language and culture and flexibility for students to pursue their own course of study. As is true with World Studies’ degrees in Anthropology, International Studies, and Religious Studies, Foreign Languages offers students opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs.

Career opportunities

Completing a degree in foreign languages strengthens student ability to secure work in global communications, marketing, public relations, and management; foreign aid and development; journalism; education; foreign service; international affairs, immigration services and the Peace Corps; organizations involved in development, disaster relief, immigration, human rights, and environmental justice advocacy; business and management in a multicultural environment. Graduates of our program will also find opportunities in teaching at home or abroad, as well as in work with a variety of public-service organizations. In addition, an undergraduate degree in foreign language provides excellent background and qualifications for admittance to graduate degree programs in a number of humanities disciplines, including foreign languages and international studies, as well as in international law, diplomacy, business or journalism. We encourage students to double-major in Foreign Language and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Anthropology, International Studies or Religious Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Bilingual Customer Service Representative
  • Blogger/Vlogger
  • Community Organizer Assoc
  • Copy Editor
  • Digital Marketer
  • ESL Teacher - Teaching Assistant
  • Event Planner
  • Flight Attendant
  • Health Systems Front Desk Specialist
  • International Insurance Representative
  • Language Teacher (Private School)
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Diplomat
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Linguistics Specialist
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.25

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in Spanish

Thomas Nelson Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend New Student Orientation.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Foreign Languages through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning another foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend New Student Orientation.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Foreign Languages through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning another foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in Spanish

Thomas Nelson Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

Thomas Nelson Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
World Language I SPA 101 Beginning Spanish I SPAN 101 4 General education
Humanities Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; REL 231, 232 VCU equivalent 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
World Language II SPA 102 Beginning Spanish II SPAN 102 4 General education
Laboratory Science Select 1: BIO 101, CHM 101, CHM 111, GOL 105, PHY 101, PHY 201 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Wellness elective Wellness elective VCU equivalent 1 Elective
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Elective
World Language III SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I SPAN 201 3 Major
Social Science Select 1: PSY 200, SOC 200, 211, PLS 135, 241 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Laboratory Science Select 1: BIO 101, BIO 102, CHM 101, CHM 111, CHM 112, GOL 105, PHY 101, PHY 201, PHY 202 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Humanities Select 1: ENG 200-level literature; PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; REL 231, 232 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
World Language IV SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II SPAN 202 3 Major
Literature Select 1: ENG 200-level literature ENGL 3 General education
Social Science Select 1: ECO 120, GEO 210, PSY 200, PSY 230, SOC 200, 211, PLS 135, 241 VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Thomas Nelson credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Experiential learning requirement. Students must fulfill an experiential learning requirement through an approved internship, service-learning course or study abroad program. See VCU advisor for options. 0 to 3 Major
World ePass Portfolio (see VCU advisor). The World ePass portfolio content requirements include professional preparation, transferable skills articulation, academic career highlights, experiential learning experiences and global citizenship. 0 Major
SPAN 300 Advanced Grammar and Writing 3 Major
SPAN 301 Advanced Grammar and Writing 3 Major
SPAN Select one of the following: SPAN 305, SPAN 307, or SPAN 311 3 Major
SPAN 320 OR SPAN 321 Civilization of Spain I (civilization course) or Latin American Civilization I 3 Major
SPAN 331 OR SPAN 330 Survey of Latin American Literature or Survey of Spanish Literature 3 Major
SPAN Select two SPAN electives (300-level or above); see VCU advisor for course options 6 Major
SPAN Select three SPAN electives (400-level or above); see VCU advisor for course options 9 Major
WRLD/INTL 203 Cultural Texts and Contexts 3 Major
WRLD 302 Communicating Across Cultures 3 Major
WRLD 490 Senior Capstone in World Cultures and Languages (capstone) 3 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 9 Elective
Open electives 12 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120