Spanish

Courses

SPA-188: Special Topics in Spanish

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites vary with topic studied.

SPA-206: ¡Qué rico! Language, Cultures, and Food

This course focuses on increasing students' reading and writing proficiency at the intermediate level. Emphasis is placed on the expansion of cultural knowledge (e.g., food, art, music, literature), as well as the learning of higher-level grammatical concepts like the subjunctive.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-207: Spanish Beyond the Classroom

A course in conversational Spanish which focuses on increasing a student's oral proficiency at the intermediate level. Emphasis is placed on the proper pronunciation of the language and on listening and speaking. The class also includes service-learning hours in the community.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-288: Special Topics in Spanish

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites vary with topic studied.

SPA-299: Introduction to Research in Spanish

Working with a faculty mentor from the department, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an intermediate level of complexity. In her project, the student will investigate an aspect of literature, culture, or civilization from the Spanish-speaking world of personal interest and, as a culminating experience, prepare a paper or other research project whose outcomes or conclusions she also proposes and discusses in a public forum. A research proposal form completed by the student and the faculty mentor is required for registration.

Required Prerequisites

At least 3 credit hours of SPA courses at the 200 level.

SPA-300: Life and Study Abroad

Intensive study and homestay in a Spanish-speaking country. Credit awarded according to departmental guidelines. Pass/Fail grading only.

Required Prerequisites

Permission of department required to enroll.

SPA-302: Topics in Language and Culture

This course is offered only in connection with the department's programs of study in a Spanish-speaking country. Since instruction is in Spanish, the course carries as a prerequisite the completion of second-year language study. The course may entail instruction before, during, and after the experience abroad. Credit is awarded according to the following guidelines: Completion of assigned readings: 1 hour; Completion of a paper or journal: 1 hour; Participation in a series of organized visits: 1 hour. Pass/Fail grading may be elected by the student.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-206 and SPA-207 
Instructor's consent required

SPA-303: Identities of Spain

Students in this course explore the history and diverse cultures of Spain from antiquity to the consolidation of the nation, ending with the study of the contemporary social, cultural, and political make-up of Spanish society.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level

SPA-304: Identities of Latin America

Students in this course explore the history and diverse cultures of Latin America from Pre-Columbian and colonial times to independence, ending with the study of the contemporary social, cultural, artistic, and political make-up of its societies.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level

SPA-305: Spanish Phonetics & Phonology

This course focuses on students' pronunciation, intonation, and oral proficiency. One hour of non-credit language laboratory required each week.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level
May be taken without prerequisite courses with permission of instructor.

SPA-307: Spanish in the Community

This course focuses on developing oral proficiency at the advanced level. Students will engage in conversations about numerous topics relevant to the Spanish-speaking communities in the US and abroad. They will learn to express abstract ideas about the intricacies of culture and global issues. All students will be required to complete service-learning hours and reflect on how the experience connects to class topics.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306 or placement at the 300 level
Junior or Senior standing, and other students with special permission from the instructor.

SPA-308: Discovering Literature in Spanish

This course introduces students to basic techniques for approaching and examining different literary genres in Spanish. Selected readings include poetry, short story, and drama.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites: SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level
Recommended Prerequisite: SPA-306

SPA-310: Spanish for Social Services

This course is designed to provide students with the linguistic tools and cultural knowledge to allow them to successfully work in a variety of professional social service settings. Topics will include, but not be limited to the following: welfare, Social Security, government subsidies, employment training programs, Medicaid, childcare, and elder care. Through engaging activities and assignments, students will gain awareness of social issues affecting Spanish-speaking communities while developing their ability to use their language skills in a professional setting.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level

SPA-311: Spanish for Business

An advanced-level course to orient students' functional use of Spanish to the world of business from a Hispanic cultural perspective. Students will report on current events, trade accords among nations, and intercultural issues in the workplace. 

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites: SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level
Recommended Prerequisite: SPA-306

SPA-321: Language and Society

This course explores the relationship between language and society. Through the study of linguistic communities, students will examine the various contexts in which communities use language to express their identity and social behavior, including the sociocultural rules of appropriate language use.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites: SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level
Recommended Prerequisite: SPA-306

SPA-331: Spanish and Latin American Film

This course is designed to help the student improve oral and written communication in Spanish and to become familiar with major Hispanic films, directors, and actors and their contributions to cinematic art. Through the medium of film, students will develop a deeper awareness of Hispanic culture and of global affairs.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites: SPA-206 and SPA-207, or placement at the 300 level
Recommended Prerequisite: SPA-306

SPA-332: From Page to Stage: Experiencing Literature Beyond the Text

In this course, students will explore the various ways that literature from the Spanish-speaking world can be reimagined through performance. This not only means seeing performances both virtually and in person, but also staging them in a number of different settings.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306, placement at the 300 level, or special permission from the professor

SPA-335: Special Topics in Literature and Culture

Intensive study of related authors, a particular group or generation, a movement, a genre, and/or a particular work. Topics and texts relevant to Spanish, Latin American, and/or U.S. Latino contexts. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. Topic is announced each time the course is offered.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-308 or special permission from the professor

SPA-336: Traveling Home: Literature by/for US Latinas

This course explores the many borders (gender, language, class, race, etc.) Latina writers cross as they negotiate what it means to be both Hispanic and U.S. American without really belonging anywhere. Students will read a wide variety of texts in Spanish and English, ranging from novels and essays to memoirs and graphic novels. The course is conducted in Spanish with English used whenever applicable.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306, placement at the 300 level, or special permission from the professor

SPA-337: Exploring/Constructing Latin America through Literature, Music, and Dance

Although different means of artistic expression, literature, music and dance are closely related as essential parts of the construction of national, regional, and racial identity in Latin America. This course will explore the fluid boundaries between the three genres and their fundamental role in identity construction. 

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306, placement at the 300 level, or special permission from the professor

SPA-385: Basic Concepts of Spanish Translation

This course aims to increase the student's reading proficiency in Spanish and writing skills in both Spanish and English through grammar review, practice, vocabulary expansion, and translation from and sometimes into the foreign language. Content includes basic principles of translation, translation skills, and techniques. A variety of general and semi-technical texts in Spanish will be studied. Course includes guest speakers, weekly independent assignments in translation, and final translation research project.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306, placement at the 300 level, or special permission from the professor

SPA-386: Advanced Spanish Translation Practice

This course aims to apply advanced proficiency in reading and writing to translation both from and into the target language. Content applies and expands upon principles from SPA-385, including translation theory, skills and techniques, language levels, lexicography, transposition, and equivalence. A variety of semi-technical and technical texts in the target language will be read in depth. Course includes guest speakers, weekly independent assignments in translation, and a final translation research project.

Required Prerequisites

SPA-385 or special permission from the professor

SPA-387: Basic Concepts of Interpreting

This is a practical and theoretical introduction to interpreting in professional and community settings such as health care, human services, and education. The course includes theory and practice in the modes on interpretation, interpreter ethics, roles of the interpreter, memory development, and note-taking skills, as well as exposure to specialized topics and terminology. 

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites: SPA-306 and SPA-385, or special permission from the professor
Recommended Prerequisites: SPA-207 and SPA-307

SPA-388: Special Topics in Spanish

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites vary with topic studied.

SPA-475: Community Internship: Field Hours

This is a supervised experience in which the student uses her Spanish skills in a professional setting. Possible placements may include not -for-profit agencies, companies, governmental agencies and schools (excluding student teaching). Students must work 40 hours at the internship for each credit hour they wish to earn for SPA-476

Required Prerequisites

SPA-306 or placement at the 300 level
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SPA-476

SPA-476: Community Internship: Critical Reflection

This course is designed to help the student critically reflect on her experiences at her internship. She will consider challenges at her internship, the realities of the Spanish-speaking communities where she works, and develop possible solutions to improve the services offered at her placement. Pass/Fail grading only.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisite: SPA-306 or placement at the 300-level
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SPA-475 
Permission required from the department head. 

SPA-488: Special Topics in Spanish

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Required Prerequisites

Prerequisites vary with topic studied.

SPA-498: Honors Thesis in Spanish

Working with a faculty mentor from the department, the honors student investigates an aspect of language, literature, culture, or civilization from the Spanish-speaking world of personal interest and prepares a paper or other research product whose conclusions or outcomes she also proposes and discusses in a public forum. Weekly meetings. It is expected that the honors student will spend at least ten hours per week on her thesis. Fulfills honors thesis requirement.

Required Prerequisites

15 credits of SPA courses at the 300 or 400 level

SPA-499: Junior & Senior Research in Spanish

Working with a faculty mentor from the department, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an advanced level of complexity. In her project, the student will investigate an aspect of language, literature, culture, or civilization from the Spanish-speaking world of personal interest, and, as a culminating experience, prepare a paper or other research project whose outcomes or conclusions she also proposes and discusses in a public forum. A research proposal form completed by the student and faculty mentor is required for registration.

Required Prerequisites

12 credit hours of SPA courses at the 300 level or above