Language and Literature

🧭 Compass Roadmap

Department of Language and Literature
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Department of Language and Literature

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Compass Roadmap | Languages


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102
  • Enroll in SPAN 301 for an introduction to Spanish Studies (Spanish majors/minors)


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the Old Testament in BIBL 211

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop
  • Participate in Study Abroad to deepen and solidify your knowledge of the language you are learning


  • Present at URCI Festival, CAWL or other conference
  • Finish strong by completing your Capstone Course: SPAN 499
Grow Spiritually
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Participate in chapel, including Foreign Language Chapel each month
  • Participate in the life of a local church (consider a church with a Spanish or bilingual service)
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer

  • Participate chapel, including Foreign Language chapel each month
  • Volunteer in the Abilene community
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities at the Local Missions Fair
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Actively participate in chapel, including Foreign Language Chapel each month (read Scripture or lead signing in a foreign language)
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Actively participate in chapel, including Foreign Language Chapel each month (read Scripture or lead signing in a foreign language)
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Receive and extend blessings to others in the department at Senior Blessing
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder and reflect on your results
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization (Spanish majors/minors consider joining Hispanos Unidos)
  • Connect with a faculty, staff or older student mentor in the Department of Language and Literature
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders

  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (Rec Center, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization

  • Serve in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization

  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Mentor a younger student in your major
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Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities of Study Abroad (Montevideo is strongly recommended for Spanish majors/minors)
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness summer internship in a Spanish-speaking country
  • Attend events hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a local Hispanic church, seeking opportunities to experience the culture and language
  • Lead a multicultural, Sigma Delta Pi, Carl Spain or International Student event
  • Apply to Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Intercultural Service Opportunity
Grow Professionally
  • Activate your Handshake profile
  • Take the Career Explorer Inventory
  • Participate in Creative U and the Innovation Foundry
  • Develop a resume and participate in a mock interview
  • Join and actively participate in Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society
  • Get a summer job or internship

  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members who can help you create a LinkedIn profile and seek advice on how to speak to your transferable skills
  • Establish faculty members to write letters of recommendations

Exploring the Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.