Course details

Summary

In the world today, Spanish speakers are as numerous as native speakers of English. The largest concentrations are in Spain, Central and Latin America, and the USA. In travel, culture, trade, cyberspace and sport, the Spanish language is a major player.

The Hispanic world is unified by its main official language, but it also represents a rich, complex and heterogeneous space with significant ethnic, cultural, linguistic, political and religious practices. Studying Spanish will give you an insight into this mix of old and new traditions which form the tapestry of Hispanic culture. It will also put you in a position to understand and participate in the economic and political transformations that connect even the remotest places in Latin America with our increasingly global environment.

The Certificate in Arts (CertArts) is designed for you if you want to study at university level without having to commit to several years of study. It is also an option if you want to take a few courses for interest or study part-time.

Why study Spanish at UC?

Students enjoy the challenging and informal atmosphere of the classes, and staff members work closely with students to help them achieve high levels of language proficiency and in-depth knowledge of Hispanic culture.

Recommended preparation

Spanish language courses cater for total beginners as well as those with some prior knowledge of the language. SPAN101 Beginners' Spanish A is for total beginners, while SPAN201 Intermediate Spanish Language A is the normal entry point for those with Year 13 Spanish.

Placement tests are also available for those who have acquired proficiency by other means. Contact the Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies for information regarding this.

Qualification structure and duration

The Certificate in Arts is made up of five courses (a minimum of 75 points) at 100 and/or 200-level.

It can be completed full-time, or over one to two years of part-time study.

You can transfer the credits you gain during the Certificate in Arts to the Bachelor of Arts (and some other degrees), as long as you have not graduated with the certificate.

Further study

The Certificate in Arts can be used as a stepping stone to a Bachelor of Arts.

Career opportunities

Spanish graduates find employment in a wide range of careers including teaching, translation, research, journalism, diplomacy and international law. Government and international organisations as well as research institutions welcome such language skills.

Spanish will also benefit students majoring in a science who wish to work or do further studies in Spain, the USA or Latin America.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Certificate in Arts. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.