Welcome to the UCLA Department of Spanish & Portuguese
The UCLA Department of Spanish and Portuguese is dedicated to the study and teaching of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking world.
Majors in Spanish and Portuguese are primarily literature majors. In this sense, it is not unlike doing an English major. The department also offers majors that emphasize linguistics, which is the scientific study of language. Through those majors we study features of Spanish and Portuguese that are common to all human languages, as well as those that are unique.
Many misconceptions exist about humanities majors in general and foreign-language majors in particular. One involves the practicality and usefulness in the “real world,” but in fact, students who complete these majors develop important skills that are absolutely essential to most careers: language proficiency, critical and creative thinking, and analytical skills. In the case of Spanish, the major is in the second language of the western United States.
At the same time, the body of knowledge that students are exposed to gives them a glimpse into the hearts and minds of people throughout history and across continents. The cultural perspectives this type of study provides is invaluable in any career that requires you to deal with a diverse population.
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