Spanish
Connect across cultures through language, literature, and lived experience.
Why Spanish matters:
Spanish is the world’s second most prominent language, and the United States is the fourth largest Spanish-speaking country. Because Muhlenberg is in Allentown — where more than half the population is Hispanic and among the most diverse in the nation — our Spanish program is uniquely positioned to prepare you for a globalized world and our increasingly multicultural communities. You’ll develop fluency and cultural understanding that will enhance your ability to communicate, collaborate, and think critically across cultural boundaries. These skills are valuable in virtually every field, from business and healthcare to education, media, law, and the arts.
How Spanish is taught at Muhlenberg:
At Muhlenberg, the Spanish program blends rigorous language instruction with rich cultural exploration. You’ll engage deeply with literature, media, history, and contemporary issues from Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx communities. Heritage speakers will find tailored courses designed to strengthen academic and professional Spanish, while all students benefit from a curriculum that’s been reimagined to highlight diverse voices, decolonized perspectives, and real-world applications. Faculty mentorship, community engagement, and immersive experiences — from local interpreting projects to study abroad — ensure that what you learn in the classroom connects meaningfully with the world around you.
- 93%Working or enrolledSix months after graduation
- 8:1Student to FacultyClassroom ratio
- 80%HigherROI of a Muhlenberg degree compared with other college degrees across the nation
- 91%Retention rateMost Muhlenberg students return for their second year (compared with 58% national average)
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The Spanish curriculum is interdisciplinary and culturally expansive, with at least 90 percent of classroom instruction conducted in Spanish. Courses explore the breadth of the global Hispanic world, from Spain’s deep histories to the varied cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean, and address themes like migration, media, cuisine, social justice, and marginal voices. Heritage speakers can pursue a dedicated course sequence designed to build on their linguistic strengths while advancing academic reading and writing skills. Specialized language offerings — such as Spanish for Business and Spanish for Healthcare — prepare students for professional use of the language. Only Spanish-language courses count toward the major, but students are encouraged to complement their studies with related courses in English in fields like history, art history, media and communication, and theatre.
Learning Spanish at Muhlenberg extends well beyond campus. Students regularly participate in semester- or year-long study abroad programs across Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as well as faculty-led short-term courses like the Muhlenberg Integrative Learning Abroad (MILA) program in Panama or Puerto Rico. Locally, community-engaged learning thrives through partnerships with organizations serving Allentown’s Spanish-speaking residents, with opportunities that include interpreting, tutoring, and collaborative projects. On campus, programs like the conversation partners initiative, the Latin American Film Festival, and Día de los Muertos celebrations build intercultural connections. The Language and Culture Commons offers high-tech resources and expert guidance, and seniors in Phi Sigma Iota often present independent projects in Spanish language, literature, and culture.
Annabella Capaccio ’22,
As a teacher, you need to know more than just your speciality. And if I hadn’t been able to continue with Spanish at the level which I did, I wouldn’t have developed the kind of confidence that’s necessary to be able to have conversations with native speakers all day and to lead classes in Spanish.READ CAPACCIO'S STORY
Powerful Outcomes
A Muhlenberg education sets you up for success. The liberal arts will hone your ability to think critically, communicate, and problem-solve, skills that are in high demand across all employment sectors.
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