The field of Hispanic Studies is as wide-ranging as the Spanish language itself. The history of the spread and development of Spanish, which has made it one of the most spoken languages in the world, is shaped by border crossings and cultural contact, including the five centuries of Muslim presence on the Iberian peninsula, the colonization of the Americas, and the extensive migration of the present. The field of study in Hispanic linguistics addresses the resulting geographical, social, and stylistic varieties of this world language (in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia), the use of the language in many different communicative contexts, and the development of Spanish from late antiquity to the present. Along with the linguistics of varieties, we focus on sociolinguistic and on questions concerning language policy and language ideology . In literary studies, the field of study focuses on the culture of the Iberian peninsula from the Middle Ages to the present, with particular emphasis on the Early Modern period (the 16th and 17th century) and Hispanic literature of the Americas. Hispanic Studies at the University of Basel also considers cultural history and addresses the other Romance languages of the Iberian peninsula (Catalan, Portuguese, and Galician) and literature in those languages. Finally, an essential component of the course of study is the attainment of high-level skills in Spanish.

Research and teaching in Hispanic linguistics at the University of Basel focuses on a wide range of topics: historical and contemporary contacts between Spanish and other languages; Spanish as a world language; Spanish in Africa; diaspora languages (especially Judeo-Spanish); system and variation; language and media; language and migration; linguistic attitudes; language politics; and language ideologies.

Research and teaching in Hispanic literature at the University of Basel also focuses on a wide range of topics: Iberian literature (with a special emphasis on the Renaissance and Humanism); cultures of dissent and exile; cultural analysis; and the interaction of literature, media, and other arts.

The language module is designed to perfect oral, written, rhetorical, and stylistic skills, with a particular focus on academic language use. At least four of the six courses on offer must be taken. The courses in the program are primarily taught in Spanish, and examinations are also held in Spanish.