Immersion Requirement

All Spanish majors must satisfy an immersion requirement. This can be done in one of the following ways:

• Complete an accredited Spanish study abroad program approved by the department. Currently OWU offers programs in fall, spring and summer. It must be a minimum of 8 weeks in length and transfer at least one unit of credit at the intermediate level or above to count toward the Spanish major or minor. Study abroad can be one of the most valuable experiences of your college education.
• Show that you have studied an academic year (at least 9 months) in a Spanish-language high-school or university.
• Document that you lived for one calendar year (12 months) abroad in a Spanish language immersion environment.
• Be a heritage Spanish speaker who can show, by assessment, to possess an intermediate-high level of Spanish proficiency.
• Demonstrate that you are a native Spanish speaker having grown up speaking Spanish as your primary language, either in the U.S. or in a Spanish-speaking country.
• In special circumstances, you may submit a formal petition to the Spanish faculty for exemption from this requirement. Petitions should include official documentation that explains why you may not be able to adequately fulfill the immersion requirement during your time at Ohio Wesleyan.