What Can I Do With a Major in... Spanish and Portuguese

Spanish and Portuguese are fields of study that open wide doors to international opportunities and cross-cultural work here at home.  Studying foreign language demonstrates an openness of mind and devotion of spirit to learning about differing ideas and ways of life not common in American culture.  These attributes are highly sought by firms foreign and domestic. 

A degree in Spanish or Portuguese offers a wide array of career opportunities.  Fields as diverse as business, human rights, and even airlines seek polyglot employees, and these majors offer a leg up on the competition.  In addition to immediate career aspirations, many volunteer organizations and certainly graduate programs desire attributes learned in the study of foreign tongues.  Law, business, and medical post-graduate programs seek Spanish and Portuguese majors to help add diversity to their ranks.  A degree in these fields creates opportunities in a dynamic global environment to advance and explore all our planet has to offer.

General Career Information
 
Sample Job Titles

Entry Level

  • Customs Officer
  • Interpreter
  • Language Teacher
  • Peace Corp Volunteer
  • Social worker

Education Plus Experience

  • Foreign Company Representative
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • International Consultant
  • International Lawyer

 

Show All Job Titles

These job titles are not an exhaustive list, but rather, represent the types of positions most widely recruited for.

  • Bank Officer
  • Bilingual Administrative Assistant
  • Bilingual Social Worker
  • Border Patrol Officer
  • CIA Officer
  • Cultural Officer
  • Customs Officer
  • Entertainer
  • Exporter
  • FBI Agent
  • Foreign Company Representative
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Importer
  • International Consultant
  • International Development Association Officer
  • International Finance Corporation Officer
  • International Journalist
  • International Lawyer
  • Interpreter
  • Language Librarian
  • Language Teacher
  • Law Enforcement Officer
  • Migrant Health Aide/Counselor
  • Peace Corp Volunteer
  • Professor
  • Publishing Editor
  • Publishing Executive
  • Social worker
  • Tour Guide
  • Translator
  • United States Information Service Officer
  • Youth Worker

 
Employment Areas
  • Academia
  • Government
  • Private Coporations
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Publicly Traded Corporations
 
Job and Internship Listings
Professional Organizations
 
Organizations That Have Hired UI Students and Alumni

View a complete list of organizations that recruit UI students and alumni.

 
Additional Resources
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