Undergraduate Program: Spanish

WHY STUDY SPANISH?

• Spanish is spoken by 300 million people in 19 nations and Puerto Rico, and it is the second most spoken language in the U.S.
• Career opportunities in the professions, in business, industry, and governmental and non-governmental organizations are greatly enhanced for those who can combine their professional credentials with proficiency in Spanish.
• Spanish is the language of Cervantes, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, García Lorca, García Márquez, Neruda, Isabel Allende, Picasso, Almodóvar, and Frida Kahlo.
• Study abroad changes the lives of students who spend a summer, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country. Credits from programs in Spain or Spanish America can be used toward the major (up to four courses) or the minor (up to two courses).
• Our language, literature and culture courses make great Humanities Clusters.
• Spanish makes a great Double Major. Successful double majors have combined work in Spanish with majors in Biology, Psychology, History, Economics, Political Science, French, Music, English and Film Studies. Students often comment that their courses in Spanish offer smaller class size and unique opportunities for discussion and developing their writing skills.
• Spanish Majors have gone on to graduate programs in law, medicine, business, Spanish, education, and history. Our graduates work in international business, all of the professions, government, and non-governmental organizations.

FACULTY

• Beth E. Jörgensen, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Associate Professor of Spanish
• Ryan Prendergast, Ph.D. (Emory University), Assistant Professor of Spanish
• Raúl Rodríguez-Hernández, Ph.D. (Cornell University), Assistant Professor of Spanish
• Claudia Schaefer, Ph.D. (Washington University), Professor of Spanish/Department Chair
• Berthe Kouroublakis, M.A. (Syracuse University), Senior Lecturer in Spanish
• Anamaria Cole , M.A. Lecturer in Spanish

Concentration Requirements

1. Three Spanish core courses: SP 200 or 201; SP 203; SP 202 or 204
2. Spanish electives: Six additional courses above the 200-level in Spanish. With the approval of the Spanish advisor, students may use SP 151 and 152 or up to two upper-level courses from another department toward their six electives. One of the two culture courses (SP 205 or 206) is recommended for the major.
3. Two MLC Core courses
Any CLT 101; or another CLT course approved by Spanish advisor.
and
CLT 389 "Major Seminar," or Senior Essay with approval of Spanish advisor.

Spanish Minor: Total of 5 courses

Five courses in Spanish language, literature and culture, to be selected in consultation with the Spanish advisor. They usually start with SP 151 and may include SP 152, SP 200 or SP 201, and other 200-level courses. Students using SP157/207 (Spanish in Mexico) toward the minor must take at least one 4-credit course above SP200/201 as part of their minor program.

Minor in Latin American Studies

The minor in Latin American studies can serve to complement the student’s major field of concentration by giving him or her a broad view of Latin American cultures and their relations to the United States and the rest of the world.

Five courses with Latin American content are required for the minor, of which three must be at the 200-level from the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, and two from related areas such as history, political science, and anthropology.  The minor must be approved by the Spanish section in its beginning stages.

Normal offerings in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures include:

• SP 204.  Spanish-American Literature: 1800 to Present
• SP 206.  Spanish-American Cultures & Civilization
• SP 255.  Twentieth-Century Spanish-American Theater
• SP 256.  Contemporary Spanish-American Prose
• SP 257.  Modern Spanish-American Poetry
• SP 259.  Third World Women: Latin America
• SP 261.  Facing Facts: Spanish-American Nonfiction
• SP 262.  Topics in Spanish-American Literature
• SP 263.  Topics in Afro-Hispanic Literature

History

• HIS 203.  Economies and Societies of Latin America

Anthropology

• ANT 230.  Culture, Class, Race in Latin America

Political Science

• PSC 268.  Transitions to Democracy

Religion and Classics

• REL 234.  Cry Freedom: Liberation Theologies

Other courses with approval of the Spanish undergraduate advisor.

Spanish Clusters

Spanish in Mexico

For more information about the Spanish language, literature and culture courses or about becoming a Spanish Major or Minor, contact Professor Beth Jörgensen at (585) 275-4265 or Professor Ryan Prendergast (585)275-4113

MAJOR/MINOR CONTACT INFORMATION: