College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Modern Languages > Student Resources > Language Resources > Spanish

Spanish

Spanish is a major global language, with nearly 500 million native speakers. It is also a major language in the United States, where it is spoken by over 40 million people. As the influence of Spanish-speaking cultures increases both here and worldwide, the mastery of Spanish helps open the door to several career opportunities. The Spanish program at DePaul University offers courses in language, literature, culture, linguistics, cinema, commercial Spanish and translation.

Recent DePaul graduates who majored in Spanish are now working in a variety of careers. Many are involved in public service, working in government or teaching Spanish at the primary and secondary levels. Several have pursued graduate study, both in Spanish and in other fields. Others work in business, law, and medicine. Beyond providing students with practical communication skills, a major in Spanish emphasizes critical thinking, textual analysis, attention to detail and the in-depth study of other cultures.

The Department of Modern Languages, the Latin American and Latino studies program, and the Center for Latino Research sponsor numerous events every year, including lectures, symposia, art exhibits, concerts, film series and poetry readings. Through these and other programs DePaul University maintains strong links to Chicago's Latino communities and encourages student to take advantage of local cultural institutions such as the Mexican Museum of National Art, the Instituto Cervantes, the Newberry Library, and UNAM Chicago. There are also various student groups for those who are interested in Latino cultures.

Students who pursue a Spanish major or minor are often those who simply love the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Many would like to work with Latino communities, are interested in furthering their career opportunities by opening themselves up to the expansive Spanish-speaking market, or are students interested in learning more about their heritage.

Practically anything!  One of the many benefits of a language major is the flexibility afforded to you. You can work in whatever areas you've gained experiences in while in college through part-time jobs, internships, and student organizations.  If you are interested in working in health services, for example, you can major in Spanish and complete Health Sciences, Public Policy, and Relational Communication classes for your open electives while also working a part-time job in the industry. 

If you are interested in working for the government, you can begin as a volunteer in a government office, apply for City of Chicago internships, and work part-time as an office assistant or desk receptionist for an alderman's office.  Working on campus in an administrative capacity can also provide you with excellent experiences in an office setting.

For more information and ideas on what you can do with a language major, please review the employment opportunities listed on this webpage, in addition to the department's homepage and its advising FAQs.

Language Proficiency Development

  • Participate in Spanish meet-up groups
  • Volunteer in Spanish-speaking volunteer opportunities through the DePaul Community Service Association
  • Apply to join the service immersion trips to Ecuador and Columbia
  • Speak in Spanish whenever you go to a Spanish-speaking business (e.g., restaurant, grocery store, retailer)

Employment Opportunities

  • Spanish Broadcasting System ~ Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) offers a dynamic work environment and competitive benefits package which includes, medical, dental coverage through a National Healthcare provider, vision care plan, life insurance and short term disability, 401(k) plan, Health Care Spending account and Credit Union membership. Paid vacation and holidays.
  • Univision ~ WGBO Univision internship program offers training for students that are interested in a Broadcasting Career. We work with colleges and universities to provide students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom. The students will be given the opportunity to work with photographers, editors and our production crew.
  • Consider this to be a list of possibilities ~ Bi/multilingual students have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. The key is to gain experiences relevant to your future career so that employers don't have to spend more time and money to train you.  
  • Find additional internship/job options through DePaul Handshake. Once you log in, click on jobs/internships and review the jobs/internships that have been posted.
  • Gather additional information about the types of internships that are available with the companies you're interested in, research intern applicant requirements, and gain perspective on what employers are looking for in job applicants so that you may work to gain those skills. 
The posting of an internship or job does not mean that DePaul University is making any recommendation regarding the internship or job.  Students should understand that DePaul University does not make any representations or guarantees about the accuracy of information regarding internships and jobs included here.  Students are responsible for requesting additional information from a potential internship site or employer as necessary to make internship or employment decisions.
  • Teach for All ~ To expand educational opportunity around the world by increasing and accelerating the impact of social enterprises that are cultivating the leadership necessary for change.
  • Ayusa ~ Ayusa is a premier high school cultural exchange program with over 30 years experience providing life-changing cultural exchange experiences to students on both inbound and outbound exchange programs.
  • Meddeas ~ Meddeas is a Spanish organisation with presence in five countries that provides support to bilingual teaching in educational centres, in order to improve students’ foreign language skills.
  • City of Chicago ~ In addition to individual internship opportunities, DHR has developed a new and innovative Student Intern Pool.  This new process allows students interested in gaining valuable municipal government experience to submit their profile which is kept in a pool of pre-qualified candidates for consideration for available positions.
  • Chicago Council on Global Affairs ~ The Chicago Council on Global Affairs offers undergraduate juniors and seniors as well as graduate students the chance to learn about our organization and participate in a variety of duties associated with ongoing projects through internships.  While intern responsibilities vary by department, tasks may include researching prospective speakers, donors, studies, and corporate members, writing communications, assisting in the development of marketing/program materials, audience and outreach development, administrative duties (filing, faxing, data entry, preparing mailings, assembling program/meeting materials), assisting at Council events, and other projects as assigned.  
  • Embassy of Peru
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ~ The Student Volunteer Employment Program hires students to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as volunteers (in an unpaid capacity) for valuable work experience directly related to their academic field of study. Students may receive educational credit for their internship.
  • Federal Government ~ Under President Obama’s leadership, the Federal Government has taken steps to help students and recent graduates join the Federal service. New opportunities will appear on USAJOBS as agencies post them.
  • Ilinois Governor ~ The Governor’s Office of Constituent Affairs Internship and Fellowship programs offer students and recent college graduates the opportunity to explore their own unique interests within state government. Program participants will connect constituents to crucial state services and promote civic engagement across Illinois while developing an expertise of state government programs and functions.
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement ~ The Internship Program targets students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Benefits include providing students with short or long-term internship opportunities, which allow for the exploration of a Federal career while being paid for the work performed. Within 120 days of successful completion, some participants may be non-competitively converted to a permanent position or a term position lasting one to four years.
  • Federal Law Enforcement Training Center College Intern Program ~ The FLETC College Intern Program provides a unique opportunity for college students majoring in criminal justice, criminology, or a related field of study from across the country, to participate in a federal law enforcement training environment.
  • Stanford University, “Volunteer and Internship Opportunities in Latin America” ~ Stanford’s Center for Latin American Studies provides an extensive list of organizations in Latin America seeking volunteers and interns.
  • American Bar Association ~ The program is intended to facilitate the establishment of legal internships for U.S. law students interested in the practice of international law with overseas law firms. 
  • American Red Cross – Chicago ~ As reflected in the Red Cross mission, the Chicago Region seeks to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to natural and human-caused disasters through the immediate mobilization of people and resources and the provision of community, workplace, and school-based training. All internships are unpaid and require a 300 hour commitment. Students that are not receiving academic credit are eligible for a $500 travel reimbursement upon completion of the 300 hour requirement. To be considered for an internship you must complete an application on our Volunteer Connection System.
  • Casa de los Amigos ~ Casa de los Amigos is a Quaker-run organization that supports various community services in Mexico City. Full-time volunteers receive free room and board at the Casa de los Amigos residence, although their work is unpaid. Full-time volunteers help run the Hospitality Program (including the guest house, maintaining community spaces, and planning and running events), work with one of the Peace Programs, participate in Casa life, and share in the many other tasks and projects needed to keep the house and community healthy, safe, and vibrant. Volunteers must commit to 6 months to 1 year of service and must be fluent in Spanish.
  • Global Brigades ~ Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. Since 2004, Global Brigades has mobilized tens of thousands of university students and professionals through skill-based programs that work in partnership with community members to improve quality of life in under resourced regions while respecting local culture.  Global Brigades provides professional opportunities both in-country (Ghana, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) and virtually from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland.
  • Orphan Outreach ~ Orphan Outreach is a Christian organization committed to ministering to children living in orphanages around the world.
  • Habitat for Humanity ~ Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.
  • WorldChicago ~ WorldChicago facilitates professional and personal interactions for international leaders during official visits to Chicago through U.S. Department of State sponsored exchange programs; enhances respect and communication through international exchanges and alliances; and promotes the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois as important centers of business and culture.
  • LatPro ~ The LatPro service enables employers and recruiters to efficiently find professional candidates with language skills, international experience and/or multicultural knowledge. With over 150,000 unique visitors to LatPro every month and a resume database of 127,307 registered jobseekers, LatPro provides access to the most in-depth pool of Hispanic professionals available anywhere (view real-time candidate demographics).
  • iHispano ~ Our mission is to provide the Latino community with a trusted professional network, which pairs members with employers who are serious about building a diverse workforce to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse customer base. iHispano makes your job search as productive as possible, because the employers who post on our site are specifically seeking to hire aspiring Hispanic employees. Our matching technology guarantees that members will secure the very best possible match for their skills, experience and other priority criteria they have listed.
  • Hispanic Jobs ~ Hispanic-Jobs.com was founded by a Human Resources professional in 2004 and is the career site for employers who want to reach bilingual/Spanish-speaking professionals nationwide.  Hispanic-Jobs.com provides you with one central place to do all of your online recruiting to find bilingual/Spanish-speaking individuals from all over the world. Employers/Recruiters can post jobs and randomly become a featured employer (no additional cost). Each job that is posted with us becomes a featured job on the home page until the next job is posted. This gives each company the maximum exposure to reach a large talent pool.
  • GoinGlobal ~ provides country-specific career and employment information. Search for jobs and internships in more than 30 countries and over 50 USA metropolitan areas. View country career guides, get news on H-1B Visa employers and more. Campus Connection login and password required.

Financial Support

  • Fulbright, Boren, Marshall, Rhodes, Carnegie, Truman information for DePaul students can be found on the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences' Scholarship site. 
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program through the Embassy of the United States: La Paz, Bolivia ~ The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides ten months of non-degree academic study and related professional experiences in the United States. Humphrey Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or the private sector.
  • Ashoka Fellows ~ Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who we recognize to have innovative solutions to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society. They demonstrate unrivaled commitment to bold new ideas and prove that compassion, creativity, and collaboration are tremendous forces for change. Ashoka Fellows work in over 70 countries around the globe in every area of human need.  
  • Princeton in Latin America ~ Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) is a non-profit organization that partners with non-profits throughout Latin America to match them with young, public sector professionals seeking full-year fellowships in development work. We are an independent 501(c)3 which is not funded by Princeton University. PiLA placements offer important field experience to recent college alumni who cannot otherwise find NGO work in Latin America and who are eager to pursue careers in development work; no other program like this exists. Therefore, PiLA provides crucial work experience to aspiring public sector professionals.
  • The Grantsmanship Center ~ List of several international funding opportunities. Our job is to help private and public nonprofits make better communities. And we do that by offering training and publications to help organizations plan solid programs, write logical, compelling grant proposals and create earned income opportunities. We succeed when you succeed to help those you care about most. 
  • MacArthur Foundation ~ The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. 
  • The Rufford Foundation ~ The Rufford Foundation is a UK based charity. Our main remit is to offer Rufford Small Grants for nature conservation projects in the developing world. There are five stages of funding available.
Students may review and apply for scholarships available to DePaul students through the Academic Works scholarship application site.

Study Abroad

To learn more about how to apply study abroad credit toward degree progress and the difference between study abroad advisors vs academic advisors, please visit our advising FAQs webpage.
  • Chile: Viña del Mar, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez ~ fall or academic year
  • Chile: Santiago, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (exchange program) ~ fall or academic year
  • Mexico: Merida - Language, History, and Culture in the Yucatan ~ winter or winter/spring quarters
    • winter quarter: earn 16 credits for 4 classes ~ two Spanish language courses appropriate to level of proficiency, CSS 201 (JYEL), and SPN 392 (SSMW). For students who have SPN 106 or higher proficiency, all 4 classes through this program may apply toward the SPN major or minor. Students should only complete one of the SPN 201-203/205-207 advanced grammar courses at DePaul, as the other advanced grammar courses will be completed through the Merida program.  Students who complete all coursework for CSS 201 in Spanish may also count this class toward SPN major/minor electives if the lead faculty member of the study abroad program approves.
    • spring quarter: earn 12 credits for 3 classes ~ two Spanish language courses appropriate to level of proficiency plus CSS 395.  Students should consult with the Spanish faculty member leading the Merida program winter quarter to determine whether or not CSS 395 could be approved to count toward SPN major/minor elective requirements.
  • Peru: Lima, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (exchange program) ~ fall or academic year
  • Spain: Madrid ~ fall quarter
    • earn 18 credits for 4 classes ~ 3 Spanish language courses appropriate to level of proficiency and one Spanish culture/history course for SSMW or Understanding the Past (changes every year). One of the SPN language courses should satisfy the JYEL requirement.  Students should only complete one of the SPN 201-203/205-207 advanced grammar courses at DePaul, as the other advanced grammar courses will be completed through the Madrid program. Students should focus on completing SPN 220, 352 and SPN literature courses at DePaul in order to save all 4 of their Spanish major elective options for study abroad programs.
Please note that the following is a list of ideas, not recommendations. Students should thoroughly research their options and consult the Study Abroad Office before making any study abroad program decisions. Please also note that the number of credits/classes students may complete in a winter/spring quarter vs spring semester may not be the same. Please review information about study abroad and degree progress provided under advising FAQs and plan accordingly.
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