Course Information for Advisors

Study Abroad

In addition to classroom instruction, students have the opportunity to acquire authentic linguistic and cultural experience through one of our various study abroad programs and also to undertake independent research. Middlebury has Schools Abroad at more than 40 universities, with several in countries where students can continue to work on their Spanish and Portuguese skills. 

Many students also choose to study at externally sponsored programs. Find out more about these programs and locations at the Study Abroad Office.

A Nossa Comunidade

Portuguese at Middlebury is a digital community space where students, teachers, translators, and speakers of Portuguese at Middlebury and beyond can join together to study, connect, and expand their language proficiency. In this digital space, you can find Portuguese study opportunities at Middlebury, join the Middlebury Portuguese community, and access self-study learning resources to grow your Portuguese language abilities. Bem-vindos!

Library and Technology

Forms and Worksheets

Careers in the Field

Discover what’s next with the Center for Careers and Internships (CCI)! As you embark on your post-Middlebury journey, CCI’s staff is available to help guide you.

  • Explore their comprehensive Major Guides, which provide suggestions for campus involvement, internships, and real-life career examples of Middlebury alumni.
  • Connect with alumni and professionals worldwide through Midd2Midd, Middlebury’s exclusive networking platform designed to foster meaningful mentorships and industry connections.
  • Navigate the various career paths associated with your major through CCI’s Career Communities Pages, offering valuable advice from our advisors and tailored recommendations for jobs, and internships.
  • Stay updated on the latest job and internship opportunities with Handshake, ensuring you never miss a chance to gain practical experience in your chosen field.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes. College credit is awarded for successful performance on the Advanced Placement examinations in Spanish language and/or Spanish literature. In all cases the student must satisfactorily complete a course at the 0300 level before the credit will be awarded. AP credit does not affect course placement, nor does it count toward the major or minor. There is a maximum of one credit allowed for Spanish AP.

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All students interested in studying Spanish must take the placement exam (except those who have never taken Spanish before and plan to enroll in SPAN 101 in the fall). There is no placement exam for Portuguese. Students with prior knowledge of Portuguese should consult with the department chair. See more information about placement.

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Yes. All students who wish to study Spanish at Middlebury need to take the placement exam.

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For a major in Spanish you must first choose an advisor from among the faculty in the department. Then you need to fill out a Major/Advisor Declaration or Change Form. You do not need an advisor for a minor, but you need to fill out the Minor Declaration Form. Use the forms above.

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You can write an honors thesis for your Spanish major, but we currently do not offer a major in Portuguese. You can carry out an independent project in Portuguese, however. Please see our thesis guidelines. Any further questions can be addressed to the chair of the department.

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Yes. Tutors are available through the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research (CTLR) located in the library. Visit CTLR or your professor for more details.

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At the beginning of each semester we interview potential candidates, and CTLR hires a few tutors each semester with our recommendations.

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This is a question we are often asked by students, and the answer must come from you. Your choices are almost endless. Don’t just think about the country; also think about what course of study you would like to follow and in what extracurricular activities you would like to engage. Sometimes the possibility of doing a certain internship can influence a choice. See the Study Abroad information above for more details.

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Anything you want. As a Spanish major, you will graduate with linguistic proficiency and a thorough understanding of Hispanic culture, literature, and linguistics, as well as a deep understanding of cultural diversity. A liberal arts education develops critical thinking, excellent writing skills, and the ability to solve problems—the skills 90 percent of CEOs believe are essential and more important than specific work skills (Fortune, 1997). Our majors have gone on to work in education, business, law, medicine, government, nonprofit, and theater, to name a few.

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See more about these residential options on campus.

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We cap most of our language classes at 18. We do not accept more than the maximum in any section, as this would dramatically reduce the pedagogical benefits of a discussion-based course. Our professors maintain a waiting list for each section, so you should contact them before the course begins and stop by during the first meeting of the class.

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The choice to accept an individual to audit is entirely up to the individual professor. Our department policy is that we will try to accommodate an individual as long as they have the appropriate level and as long as there is space in the section.