The community I formed while at Goshen College is one of the things I value most from my time there. Being at a smaller school gave me the opportunity to participate in many groups and make connections in different places including cross-country, orchestra, classes, EcoPax environmental club, and hanging out in the dorm connectors as a first-year student. Since graduating I am continually grateful to have past professors I can ask for career advice or references, teammates who will travel several states to reunite and run a road race, and friends who care about their relationship with me and the people and world around them.
Spanish
Major | Minor
Connect With People in One of the World’s Most Spoken Languages
Build real fluency, understand Hispanic cultures, and open doors close to home and around the world.
At Goshen College you gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures, both global and local, and prepare for work that depends on cross-cultural communication.
Spanish pairs with almost anything: Education, healthcare, social work, international relations, or business, and expands what you can do in each. Small class sizes mean you work closely with passionate faculty, have real conversations, and get personalized feedback, in a program that welcomes students of every background and meets you wherever your Spanish is now.
Is Spanish Right for You?
If you want your work to connect you with people, Spanish opens that door. The skill is also in demand in caring and community-facing fields. Goshen Spanish graduates become bilingual teachers, immigration advocates, social workers, community outreach coordinators, and healthcare navigators. They also work as translators and interpreters, diplomats and foreign service officers, and international business professionals.
You won’t build that fluency alone. The classes are small, and the faculty are passionate. You’ll also have real conversations and personalized feedback. This means you’re known by name and supported as you grow. And this is true whether you arrive with no Spanish or already speak it at home. It’s a program rooted in connection.
What You’ll Study
- Language & Fluency: Build practical fluency to communicate confidently in one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, growing from wherever your Spanish is now.
- Literature & Culture: Develop a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultures, both global and local, through coursework in literature and culture.
- Linguistics & Individualized Study: Study how the language works through linguistics, with opportunities for immersion and individualized study. The major goes deep; the minor is an easy, high-value add to almost any degree.
View the complete program requirements in our catalog.
Learning That Goes Beyond the Classroom
At Goshen, learning Spanish happens with real people. You can study abroad in Spanish-speaking countries through the Study-Service Term, take part in service projects and community partnerships in nearby Latinx communities, and intern with local organizations and international NGOs.
Closer to home, you’ll practice through interactive cultural experiences, conversation partners, and language tables, supported by language-learning labs and multimedia resources. A diverse campus with international events and speakers are a plus to add to your experience. There’s always a way to use your Spanish, on campus and off.
Alena Miller 23'
Goshen College Alumni
Paying for Goshen
It’s worth asking about early. Students pursuing Spanish may be eligible for language and academic scholarships, and Goshen also offers financial support for off-campus study and international experiences. To see your own price after aid, run the net price calculator and talk with a real person in the financial aid office.
Common Questions About Spanish
No. The program meets you where your Spanish is now and helps you build real fluency, whether you’re starting fresh or already speak Spanish at home. Small classes, real conversations, personalized feedback, and conversation tables mean you grow with support rather than on your own.
Spanish opens doors in community-facing fields: bilingual teacher, immigration advocate, social worker, community outreach coordinator, healthcare navigator, translator or interpreter, diplomat or foreign service officer, and international business professional. Spanish strengthens almost any major.
You can study abroad in Spanish-speaking countries through the Study-Service Term, take part in service projects and community partnerships in nearby Latinx communities, and intern with local organizations and international NGOs. On campus, interactive cultural experiences, conversation partners, and language tables keep you using the language.
Students pursuing Spanish may be eligible for language and academic scholarships, and Goshen also offers financial support for off-campus study and international experiences. Use the net price calculator on the financial aid page to see your real number rather than a sticker price, and a financial aid counselor can walk you through the options.
Start your application at the Goshen College apply page, or request information first if you’d like to talk through fit, study abroad, or careers before committing. You can also schedule a visit to meet the faculty and sit in on a class. Admission to Goshen is the first step into the major.
Ready to get started?
Diana Boussom
Assistant Professor of American Sign Language
Cristobal Garza Gonzalez
Associate Professor of Spanish
Colleen Geier
Professor of ASL Interpreting
Terry Martin
Associate Professor of Spanish
