Spanish

Part of the Languages and Literature Division

Highlighted Undergraduate Research Projects:

Ben Royer

An active visitor and hiker at the Smoky Mountains National Park, Ben Royer decided for his Senior Study to explore culturally based explanations for low rates of visitation in national parks by the Hispanic/Latino minority. Read more on what led Royer to pursue this topic for his thesis.

Gabriel Tuner

While studying abroad in Argentina, Gabriel Tuner found a 130-year-old poem that shed new light on Argentina’s ethnicity, which helped lead him to his Senior Study topic. Read more on how Argentine literature and its ties to the country’s ethnic makeup became Turner’s focus for his thesis and how it was of interest to literary scholars.

 

 

 

 

 

As a modern language spoken by more than 329 million people on nearly every continent, Spanish ranks number 2 worldwide in terms of native speakers. Nevertheless, the study of Spanish does not simply involve language acquisition vis-a-vis classroom instruction; the acquisition of a language required intellectual engagement through the study of the various cultures and histories of the peoples who claim Spanish as their native tongue. The Spanish faculty are dedicated to facilitating the acquisition and understanding of this modern language in a practical fashion and in a variety of settings such as service in a practicum in the general community and via a semester-long study abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country. In addition, students of Spanish are expected to increase second language proficiency - oral, aural, and written - via exposure to and academic engagement with a variety of media be it literary, film, historical, or professional (journalism, business, etc.). These media challenge students to question their perception of the various Hispanic cultures and to engage in critical inquiry that leads to a wider understanding of the world.

Given the international and domestic influence of Spanish and Hispanic cultures in all aspects of daily life, the Major in Spanish provides a holistic academic, cultural, and linguistic preparation that enables the student to compete in a professional market increasingly needful of bilingual employees. The Major is an ideal - and arguably necessary - complement to any professional pursuit that requires contact with native speakers of Spanish.

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing the program of study will have achieved:

Knowledge

  1. Familiarity with major authors and works from all the major periods of Western literature
  2. Knowledge of Western literary history and the continuity of its traditions
  3. Familiarity with historical, cultural, political, and philosophical events and movements which have had a bearing on the development of those literatures
  4. Knowledge of various schools of literary criticism
  5. Knowledge of literary terminology
  6. Knowledge of the history of the Spanish language and of basic linguistic principles
  7. Awareness of literary style and its development in various periods
  8. Knowledge of the major authors and literary works of Spain and Latin America
  9. Knowledge of the history and culture of Spain and Latin America

Skills

  1. Ability to read with discernment—to analyze and interpret form, structure and style in expository writing and in various genres of literature
  2. Ability to write with clarity, conciseness, appropriate organization, and a level of usage and style suitable for the intended audience
  3. Ability to carry on independent research
  4. Ability to show confident and articulate oral expression and to listen with discernment
  5. Ability to read Spanish literature with discernment—to analyze and interpret form, structure, and style in various genres of literature
  6. Ability to write in Spanish using appropriate vocabulary, satisfactory syntax, and correct grammar
  7. Ability to understand Spanish as it is spoken in a variety of countries
  8. Ability to express abstract ideas in Spanish clearly and correctly

Attitudes

  1. Tolerance for a broad range of ideas and cultural diversity, as well as a willingness to engage that diversity intellectually
  2. A readiness to analyze written and oral expression and a willingness to question our own assumptions and responses
  3. Respect for cultural difference as it is manifested in literary style
  4. Respect for the conventions and traditions of form, theme, meaning and symbol as essential to literature
  5. Awareness of the features that distinguish works of lasting value from the ephemeral

The Major in Spanish consists of 46 credit hours beyond elementary Spanish (110-120).  Required courses include:

    SPN 201: Intermediate Spanish I (3 hrs.)
    SPN 202: Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs.)
    SPN 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition (3 hrs.)
    SPN 261: Civilizations & Cultures of the Hispanic World (3 hrs.)
    SPN 262: Introduction to Literature in Spanish (3 hrs.)
    SPN 351-352: Senior Thesis (6 hrs.)
    HUM 201: Perspectives in the Humanities (3 hrs.)
    HUM 347: Research and Professional Issues (1 hr.)
    Three courses chosen from the following:
        SPN 301: Spanish Peninsular Literature to 1700 (3 hrs.)
        SPN 302: Spanish Peninsular Literature from 1800 to Present (3 hrs.)
        SPN 311: Colonial and 19th Century Latin American Literature (3 hrs.)
        SPN 312: Spanish American Literature of the 20th Century (3 hrs.)

In addition to completing the courses above, Spanish majors spend the second semester of their junior year abroad in an approved program in a Spanish-speaking country. During this semester abroad, 12 hours of approved Spanish courses are completed. Arrangements for study at foreign institutions are described under Study Abroad in this catalog.

A second track in the major, Spanish for Teacher Licensure, consists of 43 credit hours beyond elementary Spanish (110-120). Required courses include:

    SPN 201: Intermediate Spanish I (3 hrs.)
    SPN 202: Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs.)
    SPN 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition (3 hrs.)
    SPN 261: Civilizations & Cultures of the Hispanic World (3 hrs.)
    SPN 262: Introduction to Literature in Spanish (3 hrs.)
    SPN 351-352: Senior Thesis (6 hrs.)
    HUM 347: Research and Professional Issues (1 hr.)
    Two courses from the following list:
        SPN 301: Spanish Peninsular Literature to 1700 (3 hrs.)
        SPN 302: Spanish Peninsular Literature from 1800 to Present (3 hrs.)
        SPN 311: Colonial and 19th Century Latin American Literature (3 hrs.)
        SPN 312: Spanish American Literature of the 20th Century (3 hrs.)

Additional liberal studies courses include:
    PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs.)
    SOC 271: Sociology of Education (3 hrs.)

In addition to completing the courses above, Spanish majors for Teacher Licensure must spend the second semester of their junior year abroad in an approved program in a Spanish-speaking country. During this semester abroad, 12 hours of approved Spanish courses are completed. Arrangements for study at foreign institutions are described under Study Abroad in this catalog.

Students pursuing this major must complete 29 hours of professional courses in teacher education. The professional courses are listed below and in the Education section of this catalog. They include:

    EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management and Instruction (3 hrs.)
    EDU 302: Educational Technology (2 hrs.)
    EDU 321: Reading and Writing in the Content Classrooms (2 hrs.)
    EDU 343: Practicum in Methods and Materials (2 hrs.)
    EDU 401: Student Teaching (9 hrs.)
    EDU 402: Professional Seminar on Teaching (3 hrs.)
    PHR 236: Health Issues in Education (2 hrs.)
    PSY 218: Psychology of Adolescence (3 hrs.)
    PSY 334: Culturally Diverse and Exceptional Children (3 hrs.)

The Minor in Spanish consists of at least 15 credit hours in Spanish in courses above the 100-level. Required courses include:

    SPN 201: Intermediate Spanish I (3 hrs.)
    SPN 202: Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs.)
    SPN 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition (3 hrs.)
    SPN 262: Introduction to Literature in Spanish (3 hrs.)
    Additional 3 credit hours in Spanish

The Minor in Spanish for Add-On Teaching Endorsementrequires the completion of 15 hours of Spanish above the 100-level. Required courses include:

    SPN 201: Intermediate Spanish I (3 hrs.)
    SPN 202: Intermediate Spanish II (3 hrs.)
    SPN 225: Intermediate Conversation and Composition (3 hrs.)
    SPN 262: Introduction to Literature in Spanish (3 hrs.)
    Additional 3 credit hours in Spanish

Core Curriculum Requirements

Each student must satisfy the core requirements and requirements for individual programs of study.

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