Spanish and Portuguese are world languages. They are the major languages of Spain and Portugal, the official languages of almost 20 countries in the Americas, and they also have a presence in Africa and Asia, and increasingly in the US. With their many millions of speakers, the importance of Spanish and Portuguese for global and economic affairs is immense. Equally striking and important are the ways in which the rich and diverse cultures of their many speakers manifest themselves in literature, film, music and the visual arts. Through its extensive course offering the department of Spanish and Portuguese at Georgetown aims to give its students an unparalleled learning experience aimed at developing a high level of linguistic competence and a deep understanding of Spanish and Portuguese speaking cultures across the globe.