Huntington to offer Spanish, Spanish education majors
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Huntington, Ind.-For the first time, Huntington University will offer majors in Spanish and Spanish education in the fall of 2007. The majors were approved at a faculty meeting Oct 4.
"We're developing majors in Spanish and Spanish education because students need them," said Dr. Del Doughty, professor of English. "Both students and their families are beginning to understand that, given both the recent and longer term demographic changes across the U.S., and the impact of economic globalization, it is vital for well-educated people to attain fluency in at least one language other than English."
In the fall of 2004, 42 people who inquired about attending Huntington University also expressed an interest in a Spanish major while 33 did so in the fall of 2005.
The Spanish education program will combine the major in Spanish with the necessary courses required for teacher certification, training students to become high school Spanish teachers. Huntington expects to receive state approval for the Spanish education major within the next several months.
The University believes the new majors will open doors both vocationally and personally.
"Students will receive three major benefits from studying Spanish," Doughty said. "First, they will gain proficiency in another language, which will in turn give them a better appreciation of their own language and the way that it shapes their lives. Second, they will develop a better understanding of other cultures in the Americas and Europe. Finally, there are very practical reasons. Studying Spanish will equip students for successful employment and ministry wherever they live."
Huntington University currently offers a minor in Spanish, which requires six credit hours on-campus and 16 credit hours through the Semester in Spain program.
