Department of Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies

Our Department focuses on the history, literature, politics, languages and culture of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and Latin America and the Caribbean. In other words, at the core of our Department are more than 20 countries in which most of the population speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Ladino – the three languages we teach.

We are the only academic home in Israel that offers BA, MA, and PhD programs in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies. Our program is regional and multidisciplinary. It is excellent and demanding, as we believe this is the best way to offer our students the tools and the knowledge needed to succeed in the academia and the job-market.

Over the years, the countries at the heart of our study programs experienced ups and downs. They witnessed the emergence of innovative ideas, inventions, and discoveries that changed the history of humankind. Most recently, many Iberian and Latin American countries have attracted increasing interest. Is Brazil going to remain part of the so-called BRICs? Is Spain on the way to being the third economic power in the EU? Will countries like Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia change their position in the global scene? What happened to the indigenous people of Latin America? Why was Mario Vargas LLosa the first non-French language writer to enter the French Academy? Will the United States be the second Spanish-speaking country in the world, after Mexico, in 2060? If you are looking for answers for these and other question – join us!

In the first year of studies, students become familiar with various fields of study through a wide selection of introductory courses in literature, history, linguistics, and languages (Spanish, Portuguese or Ladino). In the second year, with the help of our academic advisors, students choose from a variety of courses in history, literature, politics, culture and/or linguistics. The third year of the degree program includes advanced courses which deepen the knowledge and skills that students have acquired during the first two years of their degree studies and become highly proficient in Spanish, Portuguese and/or Ladino. 

B.A. Program