Romance and Classical Studies

These numbers attest to the growing need both abroad and in the United States for a bilingual and bicultural workforce. Language majors are no longer destined for jobs that confine them to the teaching of languages, though there are still a plethora of language teaching jobs available. There are a myriad of careers in the United States that are in desperate need of a more bilingual workforce. As the Occupational Outlook Handbook (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009) states, bilingual jobseekers “should enjoy excellent opportunities” particularly in the service sector. There is a dire need to serve the ever-growing Spanish speaking population in this country. With nearly 50 million Spanish-speakers in the U.S. according to 2010 Census data, even areas that did not previously have a Spanish-speaking population are faced with trying to meet the needs of this growing group.

The answer lies in a bilingual workforce. We need more bilingual nurses, doctors, dentists, sales representatives, managers, bank employees, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the growing need in our country’s schools for bilingual teachers. An MA in Spanish opens up a vast array of opportunities for our graduates. Recent graduates find themselves in the following careers:

• Elementary/middle/high school teachers of Spanish
• Elementary/middle/high school teachers of English as a second language
• Dual-Immersion (Spanish/English) classroom teachers
• Community College/College/University Instructors
• Study Abroad Directors
• Nurses (some states even offer signing bonuses for bilingual nurses!)
• International Bank Managers
• Social Service Workers
• Government Employees
• Interpreters/Translators
• AmeriCorps volunteers
• Peace Corps volunteers
• PhD students (later employed as Spanish Faculty at Colleges/Universities)

The list goes on. For additional information on opportunities for Spanish/English Bilinguals in the United States, click here.