The Department of Spanish Language and Literature of the University of Bern offers a high-quality education, from both a linguistic and literary point of view, in one of the fastest growing languages in the world. Spanish is spoken today by more than four hundred million people worldwide, and consequently, is of increasing demand in the workplace.
The Department of Spanish Language and Literature organizes its curriculum around two main areas: Literature and Linguistics. In Literature, all periods are covered, privileging the Golden Age, and Modern and Contemporary eras. Our department offers both Spanish and Latin American literature courses, which are taught by professors specializing in these designated areas. In Linguistics, students receive comprehensive training; the fields of specialization are Sociolinguistics and Discourse Analysis. Courses always take into account the linguistic realities on both sides of the Atlantic.
In addition to lectures, seminars, and introductory classes, our department considers it fundamental to foster an open academic spirit, and encourages students to be in direct dialogue with researchers and specialists. For this reason, we organize regular conferences, congresses, and workshops, in which students are always invited to participate.
An essential part of the Spanish program is a mandatory stay abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, where students are able to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture. We have exchange programs with 11 universities throughout the Iberian region. Of course, we also offer help and advice if students are interested in studying abroad in a Latin American country.
