As an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American States and the Union of South American Nations, Spanish offers many professional opportunities across the planet as well as in the U.S. With over 500 million native speakers and official status in 21 countries in the Americas, Africa and Europe, the Spanish-speaking population plays a vital role in the culture and economy of the world. <br><br>The Spanish Bachelor of Arts with concentration in the Professions aims to serve students who plan to enter a career using their Spanish language skills. It offers courses that focus on the linguistic structures of English and Spanish, including U.S. Spanish, and on the development of a bilingual and bicultural competent student. Several courses offer students extensive practice in real-life settings that address the specialized needs of professionals – medicalnursing, legal, business –and prepare students for successful careers in which Spanish-English bilingualism is a key asset.