About the Program
Professors: Ada Ortúzar-Young
Associate Professors: Nancy Noguera (chair), Mónica Cantero
Assistant Professor: Elise DuBord, Raúl Rosales
Lecturers: Ana-Maria Andrade (adjunct), Mercedes Aspinall (adjunct), Susana Castillo (adjunct), Aurora Hermo (adjunct), Delly Koeneke (adjunct), Felicidad Obregon (adjunct)
An understanding of Spanish is essential in this country today, not only to maintain and improve our cultural and economic ties with the 20 countries in which Spanish is the official language, but also to learn about and appreciate the culture of approximately 37 million Hispanics residing in the United States. The Spanish program offers a broad and diverse experience in the language, literature, and culture of Spanish-speaking people. Students may elect courses that explore various social, political, literary, cultural, and linguistic topics. Our proficiency-oriented approach is supported by multimedia/technology to provide opportunities for original language practice in context. This is often enhanced by experiential learning activities. A period of study in a Spanish-speaking country is highly encouraged.
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Requirements for the Major (36 Credits)
Students majoring in Spanish must complete 36 credits in upper-level language and literature/culture offerings.
I. Required Courses (12 credits)
Two courses (up to 8 credits) from the Advanced Language Sequence, SPAN 107-110. Heritage speakers and other advanced students whom the department determines are fluent in Spanish should substitute electives offered by the department for up to eight credits of the Advanced Language Sequence.
SPAN 107A,B/Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition I and II (2, 2)
SPAN 108A,B/Spanish in Performance (2, 2)
SPAN 109A/Speaking Spanish in Cross-Cultural Contexts (2)
SPAN 109B/Developing Oral Proficiency (2)
SPAN 110A,B/Voices from the Hispanic World I and II (2, 2)
SPAN 180/Hispanic Studies Seminar (4), preferably in junior or senior year
II. Electives (24 credits)
Six courses from any upper-level language and literature/culture courses. Four credits offered in English by the department may be applied to this requirement; eight credits with permission of the department.
III. An Oral Proficiency Interview is required of all majors in their senior year.
Students are informed of their proficiency level, according to the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) scale.
Recommended: Students who choose to major in Spanish are urged to consider a period of study in a Spanish-speaking country. Students choosing a major or minor in Spanish should consult with their adviser to assure that course choices show breadth of language and literary production in the Spanish-speaking world.
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Requirements for the Minor (20 credits)
Students must complete at least 20 upper-level credits in Spanish, at least eight of which must be in literature. No more than eight credits in the Advanced Language Sequence 107-110a/b may be counted toward the minor. Heritage speakers and others whom the department determines are fluent in Spanish, should substitute up to eight credits of the Advanced Language Sequence with electives within the department. One course offered by the department in English may be included by those students whose proficiency in Spanish is considered adequate by the department.
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Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
A student receiving a score of 4 or 5 on the Spanish examination is exempt from SPAN 30 and is considered to have fulfilled the College's general education requirement. AP credits do not apply to the language-in-context general education requirement. See pages 15-16 for further information about AP credits.
The College language requirement may also be met by achieving a score of 680 on the CEEB/SAT II Spanish Test, or a satisfactory placement score on the Drew Spanish placement examination.
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Language-in-Context Requirement for Spanish
The following regularly offered courses fulfill the language-in-context requirement for students offering Spanish as their language. Courses from foreign language departments and programs offered to fulfill this requirement must be in addition to the eight credits needed to fulfill the language requirement. For other courses, see the list published each semester.
ANTH 30/Native Arts and Archaeology of Latin America (4)
ECON 29/Selected Topics in Economics (when topic applies) (4)
HIST 75/Latin America Since Independence (4)
MUS 3/The Enjoyment of Music (4)
MUS 12/History of Western Music I (4)
MUS 13/History of Western Music II (4)
MUS 101/Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (4)
MUS 103/Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods (4)
MUS 111/Music of the 19th and 20th Centuries (4)
PSCI 106/Latin American Politics (4)
PSCI 107/European Politics (4)
PSCI 112/Comparative Political Participation (when topic applies) (4)
PSCI 134/Latin America and U.S. Foreign Policy (4)
PSCI 137/Europe in World Affairs (4)
PSCI 156/Seminar on Gender and International Politics (when topic applies) (4)
THEA 109/Theatre History I: Origins to the Renaissance (4)
Students who wish to use a course designated SPAN to satisfy the language-in-context requirement must take a course that is appropriate to their skills in Spanish.
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