Hispanic Studies Major Map
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don’t have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- Take the placement exam to determine your appropriate starting level: Spanish 101, 102, 201 or 202
Engage: What kinds of activities and organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway - UM-Dearborn’s online community where you can complete challenges, earn points, and connect experiences with courses and professional goals.
- Check out all the opportunities offered by the Office of Student Life.
- Participate in First Year Programs, offered through the Office of Student Life.
- Meet with a First Year Experience Librarian to learn about Mardigian Library resources
- Join the nationally recognized Spanish Speaking Fraternity, Sigma Delta Pi
Network: What are important topics in my field?
- Visit your professor’s office hours to introduce yourself and discuss your academic and career interests
and goals - Join a professional organization related to your major
- Visit Mardigian Library to explore endless resources and librarian support
Transform: What are the challenges and the strengths in my community?
- Find out about the Institute for Local Government
- Attend a local meeting of your community board
- Donate to the Student Food Pantry
- Connect with the local Hispanic community
Prepare: What are the career options for people with my major?
- Start building your CV - your academic resume
- Explore career options in your field to learn about requirements and expectations
- Visit the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to learn about different types of financial aid and scholarships
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- Find out how to major and minor in Spanish
- Start looking at Business Spanish, Civilization and Culture classes of Spain and Latin America
- Take a class in Spanish translation or Latino culture
- Participate in La Mezcla or attend a Tertulia
Engage: What activities and organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break.
- Join a major-specific club or any of a number of Student Organizations on campus
- Participate in the Tertulia
- Become an officer in La Mezcla
Network: How do I connect with faculty and students with similar interests?
- Submit one of your best papers or projects to the Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference
- Attend department colloquium and other research talks on campus
- Attend research talks at UM-Ann Arbor, Wayne State, or Oakland University
- Attend the Spanish Film Festival
- Attend the Modern and Classical Languages Film Festival
Transform: What are the challenges and strengths of the Detroit Metro area?
- Contribute to a community project through the Office of Community Engaged Learning
- Volunteer for a campus or community organization
- Become a Diversity Ambassador or participate in a Conversation on Race
- Take a course at the University of Michigan Detroit Center (daily bus service available)
- Participate in cultural events like the Puerto Rican Festival or the Day of the Dead Celebrations
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- Develop your “academic toolkit” through numerous Seeds of Success workshops through the Office of Student Life.
- Meet with your professors to discuss your skills and possible career options
- Find out about co-ops and internships and whether your job qualifies for credit
- Visit the Campus Writing Center
- Talk to your professors about crafting an Independent Study tailored to your interests
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- Take specialized courses such as Advanced Oral Expression, Written Expression or Cinema Classes of Spain and Latin America
- Go to the UM-Dearborn Global Festival
- Join La Mezcla
- Go to the Detroit Institute of Arts or Mexicantown
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for Student Government or a leadership position in a campus organization
- Check out the options through the Office of Student Life’s Leadership Development webpage
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Connect with alumni through the 30-Minute Mentors Program
- Establish a LinkedIn profile to connect with UM-Dearborn alumni or to join industry-related LinkedIn Groups that hire students
- Submit your best paper or research to an undergraduate student journal
- Join Sigma Delta Pi
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local and global challenges?
- Visit the Office of International Affairs to plan and register for a Study Abroad course
- Take a course outside of your major
- Learning a second language opens many doors to jobs that require cultural specific knowledge and these opportunities otherwise remain closed to most monolingual
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Schedule a visit to the Office of Career Services.
- Work a (paid) internship or co-op into your schedule to gain professional experience
- Assess what experiences you are lacking for current job postings and fill in those gaps before graduation
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- Participate in an internship with La Sed or other local Hispanic organization
- Become a tutor in the Foreign Language Lab
- Participate in the Study Abroad Program in Valencia, Spain
- Present your research at the Meeting of Minds
- Become an officer in La Mezcla
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Become a peer tutor in the CASL Writing Center
- Create a new club or student organization
- Join Student Government
- Become a Spanish tutor in the Foreign Language Lab
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Make sure your applications for graduate or professional schools are complete with a writing sample and personal essay
- Do targeted networking with alumni working in careers of interest and ask questions about job opportunities and the interview process
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, the region, and the world?
- Contribute to global learning initiatives on campus
- Add a minor or certificate program to your degree.
- Consider spending the summer volunteering with a government agency or nonprofit
- Getting a major or minor in Spanish will greatly improve your chances of obtaining that very important first interview because of your demonstrated commitment to diversity
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Apply to jobs or future education
- Visit Career Services for advice with job searching and interviewing, resumes, and graduate school applications
- Explore possible graduate program opportunities at UM-Dearborn
- Register for postgraduate entrance exams (GRE, MCAT, LSAT) if you plan on graduate school
The Hispanic Studies program has produced many graduates who are accomplished professionals in a wide variety of fields. The most popular profession has been Spanish teachers. In fact, quite a few of the high school teachers in our area have graduated from our program.
Many of our graduates have become doctors and lawyers, and quite a few have gone to graduate school all over the country. Many have joined government service, one is an FBI agent, and law enforcement is another popular choice.
The major is tailor-made to dovetail with journalism and communications, international business, social work and psychology and, of course, translation and interpretation.
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions–figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally.