Real-World Experience
Spanish and Portuguese Across Cultures Organization (SPACO)
SPACO is a Spanish and Portuguese undergraduate club focused on the development of knowledge of the Spanish and Portuguese languages and the cultures and communities with which they are associated through events, speakers, and volunteer work. SPACO's principle activities include volunteer activities, speakers, and various events that submerge people into the Spanish, Latin American, and Portuguese language and cultures.
Spanish Conversation Hour
- Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00 pm, room 217 Folwell Hall
All levels welcome!
Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Conference (UIC)
Students participating in UIC have the opportunity to experience all the rigor and fun of a professional academic conference. UIC hosts panels of student researchers and writers, moderated discussions, chances for students to network with faculty and alumni, and creative student performances.
In addition to traditional conference panels and presentations, we will be asking students to propose collaborative and discussion-based sessions. In these “open forums,” small groups of students will make short problem-posing presentations on significant global issues and lead their peers in a discussion focused on exploration and questioning (rather than argumentation and answers).
Thursday, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th, 2025
Coffman Memorial Union
Community Engagement
The department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies offers courses that engage with Spanish speaking communities both in the United States and abroad.
Learn more about our Community Engagement opportunities.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
We also encourage undergraduate students to apply for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). This program, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research, supports research projects dedicated to fulfilling the U of M’s commitment to research and expanding the store of human knowledge and expression. Students who successfully apply will receive a $1,400 stipend to support their research and will also have an opportunity to present their research at various university symposia.
Students who earn a UROP will be mentored by one of nearly 3,000 diverse faculty members and will meet other students who share a passion for discovery about the human condition. The UROP can be used to help you achieve practical goals like your senior capstone project or put you on a path to a career. If you're interested in pursuing a program with UROP, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Research for more information.