About the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Arizona
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Arizona is a vibrant and diverse community of scholars dedicated to cutting-edge research on languages, literatures, and cultures from around the world, situated in the rich beauty and complexity of the southwest borderlands’ region.
Through our excellent academic programs, community engagement, and internship program, our department is a critical pillar to the College of Humanities’ commitment to solving the grand challenges of a rapidly changing world, engaging and collaborating with local and international communities, and enhancing communication and work ethics with people from diverse backgrounds.
We offer a BA, MA, and PhD in Hispanic Linguistics and Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Cultures, all of which encourage rigorous interdisciplinary scholarship. We are proud to have one of the oldest and largest Spanish as a Heritage Language programs in the country, an expansive Critical Service-Learning Program that connects our students with the local community, a study abroad program that offers summer and semester-long learning opportunities in Latin America and Spain, and an undergraduate Translation and Interpretation program designed to ensure students receive hands-on, practical experience.
Mission
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese’s mission is to:
- Promote excellence through research, teaching, and community-based programs focusing on the languages, literatures, and cultures where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken.
- Encourage rigorous, collaborative, and interdisciplinary scholarship at all levels of learning and prepare our students to reach their full potential.
- Think globally while deepening our connections to the Southwest Borderlands.
- Honor our essential role as part of a Land-Grant, Hispanic Serving Institution in the US Southwest by supporting and valuing our in-state and Latinx students and fostering deep ties to our community.
Vision
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Arizona’s vision is to produce cutting- edge research and teaching on languages, literatures, and cultures from around the world, all the while anchored in the rich beauty and complexity of our southwest borderlands region. Intellectual rigor, interdisciplinarity, community, and student support define every level of our curriculum. We:
- Foster critical inquiry, creativity, and innovation through teaching, research, and service.
- Value the free expression and exchange of ideas and the full inclusion of people from all backgrounds and perspectives in our community.
- Practice a commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive culture grounded in equity, justice, and interculturality.
- Promote the importance of bilingualism and multilingualism in global and local contexts.
- Embrace engagement with local and national Latinx communities and support our in-state and Latinx students as bearers of critical knowledge and valued community members.