Spanish (SPAN)
Spanish is part of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Spanish offers a major which emphasizes not only language acquisition, but also the cultural aspects of those parts of the world where Spanish is spoken.
Special Considerations
Students who directly enroll in and complete a 300- level Spanish language course with a grade of 'C' or higher may be awarded credit for the 201 and 202 courses provided they have not previously earned any lower division credit in Spanish.
Students who earned/received credit for a higher level Spanish language course may not take or repeat a course at a lower level and receive credit for that course.
Coordinator
Patricia G. Nuriel
Professors
Laura H. Barbas Rhoden
Camille L. Bethea
Begoña Caballero-García
Amanda L. Matousek
Britton W. Newman
Requirements for the Major in Spanish
Students majoring in Spanish are required to complete a semester of study abroad in a country where the Spanish language is spoken, taking a majority of courses in Spanish, in a program approved by the Spanish Language Coordinator. In rare instances, exceptions to this policy may be granted, at the discretion of the faculty of the program, through a waiver process administered by the Coordinator of the Spanish program.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Major Courses | 15 | |
| Intermediate Active Spanish | ||
| Intermediate Active Spanish | ||
| Advanced Spanish with Community-Based Learning 1 | ||
| Cultures of Latin America | ||
or SPAN 307 | Cultures of Spain | |
| Critical Reading & Analysis of Cultural Texts in Spanish | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Writers and Their Worlds | ||
| Narrative Fiction in Spanish | ||
| Poetry in Spanish | ||
| Non-Fiction Texts in Spanish | ||
| Interdisciplinary Ibero-American Cultural Studies | ||
| Spanish and Spanish-American Theater | ||
| Environmental Humanities: Ibero-American World | ||
| Film Seminar in Spanish | ||
| US Latinx Literatures and Cultures | ||
| 400-Level Elective | 3 | |
Select one Spanish (SPAN) course at the 400- level | ||
| Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
Select one Spanish (SPAN) course at the 300- or 400- level | ||
| Semester of Study Abroad | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |
- 1
Students must earn a grade of 'C' or higher in order to continue in the major.
SPAN 101. Beginning Active Spanish. 3 Hours.
A comprehensive introduction to the four skills of the language: speaking, aural
comprehension, reading, writing. Structure and communication skills are emphasized through extensive use of Spanish in the classroom.
SPAN 102. Beginning Active Spanish. 3 Hours.
A comprehensive introduction to the four skills of the language: speaking, aural
comprehension, reading, writing. Structure and communication skills are emphasized through extensive use of Spanish in the classroom.
Prerequisite: SPAN 101 with a minimum grade of D.
SPAN 200. Communication & Culture. 3 Hours.
A comprehensive intermediate beginner course for developing the four skills, with an emphasis on learning control of language for basic communication, and for establishing foundations for intercultural competence. Communication skills are emphasized through extensive use of Spanish in the classroom and the exploration of expressions of culture via the study of authentic materials.
SPAN 201. Intermediate Active Spanish. 3 Hours.
First intensive intermediate course in the language. Emphasizes development of the four skills with ongoing refinement of control of the language, vocabulary building, and the building of foundations for intercultural competence.
Prerequisite: SPAN 102 with a minimum grade of C-.
SPAN 202. Intermediate Active Spanish. 3 Hours.
Second intensive intermediate course in the language. Emphasizes development of the four skills, with ongoing refinement of control of the language, vocabulary building, and the building of foundations for intercultural competence.
Prerequisite: SPAN 200 with a minimum grade of C- or SPAN 201 with a minimum grade of C-.
SPAN 280. Selected Topics in Spanish. 1 to 4 Hours.
The study of selected topics at the introductory or intermediate level in Spanish.
SPAN 303. Advanced Spanish with Community-Based Learning. 3 Hours.
An advanced course for the development of the four skills across a range of advanced level tasks, and for growth in intercultural competence through community-engaged learning and critical reflection. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 202 with a minimum grade of C-.
SPAN 305. Cultures of Latin America. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the cultures of Latin America, with a focus on historical dynamics in the context of social and cultural diversity. Fosters continued development of four skills, with increased control of language across a range of advanced level tasks, as well as intercultural competence. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 307. Cultures of Spain. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the diverse cultures of Spain, with emphasis on physical and human geography, historical development, and contemporary Spanish society. Fosters continued development of four skills, with increased control of language across a range of advanced level tasks, as well as intercultural competence. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 308. Critical Reading & Analysis of Cultural Texts in Spanish. 3 Hours.
An introductory literary and cultural studies course that emphasizes critical reading and analysis of literary and cultural texts, as well as continued development of the four skills at the advanced level. Students are introduced to theories and methods for reading cultural texts in various genres (poetry, novellas, short stories, film) and to the fundamentals of academic writing. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 309. Building Linguistic and Cultural Competence Through Oral Texts. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to build speaking and oral comprehension skills using oral texts from a variety of diverse cultural regions in which Spanish is spoken. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 310. Interactive Spanish Grammar. 3 Hours.
Improving grammatical accuracy with the problematic points of Spanish grammar is the focus of this course, which aims to move students towards advanced proficiency in their oral and written production of the language. Attention will be given to syntactic patterns, morphological rules, lexical accuracy, stylistic features of the language, and vocabulary acquisition. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 311. Social Change in Latin America & Latinx World. 3 Hours.
This course focuses on the sociocultural dimensions of change efforts in Latin American and/or Latinx contexts; analyzes examples of efforts for social change; and emphasizes the development of intercultural competence in applied settings. The course involves a significant project-based component. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 411. Writers and Their Worlds. 3 Hours.
Focusing on the work of one significant author from Spain or Latin America, this
course explores the literary production of that writer in the context of the social,
political, cultural, and literary worlds out of which the work was produced. Writers
studied vary from year to year. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 412. Narrative Fiction in Spanish. 3 Hours.
A careful reading of narrative fiction by authors writing in Spanish. The course also focuses on the fundamental elements and techniques of narrative fiction and critical reading strategies. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 413. Poetry in Spanish. 3 Hours.
A careful study of poetry by authors writing in Spanish. The course also focuses on the fundamental genres, forms, elements, and techniques of poetry in Spanish and critical reading strategies. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 414. Non-Fiction Texts in Spanish. 3 Hours.
A critical reading of non-fiction print, digital and multimedia genres in texts by Spanish and Spanish-American writers. The course focuses on important themes and perspectives of Spanish language texts from Spain and/or the Americas, as well as the rhetorical elements and communication strategies of those texts. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 416. Interdisciplinary Ibero-American Cultural Studies. 3 Hours.
This course applies an interdisciplinary framework to a topic of cultural
significance in the Hispanic world. The course focuses on the fundamental
theoretical and methodological tools needed to analyze cultural texts in which
specific issues in Ibero-American culture are expressed. Topics studied vary from
year to year. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 418. Spanish and Spanish-American Theater. 3 Hours.
This course is designed to build linguistic, cultural and historical understanding of the theater of Spain and/or Latin America through the study of major plays. The course focuses on the fundamental theoretical and methodological tools needed to analyze theater as both written discourse and performance art. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 420. Environmental Humanities: Ibero-American World. 3 Hours.
This transdisciplinary environmental humanities course considers imaginations of the world by diverse communities and creators from Latin America and the Iberian peninsula; key theoretical approaches and concepts for the study of these imaginaries;and texts from diverse cultures in the Ibero-American world.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of D.
SPAN 421. Film Seminar in Spanish. 0 to 4 Hours.
A study of film as an art form. The course considers narrative processes, representational modalities, and the language of film (cinematographic techniques and devices). Other topics of consideration may include the cinematic depiction of social and cultural realities; the historical development of a national film industry; and the director as auteur. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 425. US Latinx Literatures and Cultures. 3 Hours.
A critical study of the literature and cultural expression of Latinx communities within the United States. This course analyzes representative texts and multimedia by Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, and other Latinx-American identified groups. Students will explore the rich diversity of these identities and discuss the challenges these communities confronted historically, as well as those they continue to face. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 440. The Craft of Translation. 3 Hours.
A practical approach to the problems and techniques of Spanish/English and English/ Spanish translation. A variety of texts in both languages are used as an introduction to the translator's art and craft. These texts are chosen specifically to emphasize important issues of advanced Spanish grammar and stylistics as well as points of contrast between the two languages which must be mastered by the accomplished translator. Such diverse problems as proverbs, jokes, and the idiosyncratic jargons of business, journalism, law, and politics are sampled. Conducted in Spanish and English.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 441. Creative and Practical Writing in Spanish. 3 Hours.
Selections from a wide variety of writing projects, concentrating on the development of critical reflection and creative expression, while honing clarity of communication, lexical precision, structural accuracy, and graceful, persuasive, and appropriate styles. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 442. Oral Proficiency. 3 Hours.
A practical approach to speaking Spanish. Using a wide variety of spoken samples
for listening practice and role-play tasks for speaking practice, the course examines the functions and contexts of oral proficiency levels from intermediate to superior abilities. The course also considers techniques of oral assessment and the nature of professional interpreting as a career. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 445. Advanced Spanish Structures: Syntax, Morphology and Lexicon. 3 Hours.
A linguistic analysis of the more problematic points of Spanish grammar (morphology and syntax) and usage (lexical refinement). The course concentrates on details of Spanish usage and stresses accuracy in the application of grammatical principles, lexical variations, and stylistic concerns. Intensive practice in speaking and writing helps students to develop an advanced level of productive control. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
SPAN 480. Advanced Topics in Spanish. 1 to 4 Hours.
The study of selected topics at the advanced level in Spanish.
SPAN 500. Honors Course. 3 Hours.
At the discretion of the faculty, students may undertake a six-hour independent course of study in the senior year in order to broaden their educational experience within their major area of study. Students must meet specific GPA standards and arrange a faculty sponsor. The honors course criteria are outlined in the Academic Honors portion of the catalog.