Course Enrollment Guide

Content

100s

CourseMajor topics coveredEnroll in this course if:
SPAN 101
  • The present tense
  • The preterite (past) tense (introduction)
  • Greetings and basic vocabulary
  • The family
  • Leisure activities, travel, shopping
  • Daily routines
  • You are a true beginner
  • You have taken some Spanish but never got beyond the present tense
  • You started to learn the past tense but it was so long ago that you don’t remember anything
SPAN 102
  • The preterite and the imperfect (past) tense
  • Commands
  • The subjunctive
  • Foods; celebrations and parties
  • Health and the body
  • Technology
  • Housing
  • Nature and the city
  • You have a good grasp of the present tense and some familiarity (maybe just a little) with the past tense
  • You have not encountered the subjunctive yet
  • You have learned a little bit about the subjunctive but you want to solidify your understanding of it

SPAN 110

(Equivalent of 101 plus 102)

  • The present tense
  • The preterite and the imperfect
  • Greetings and basic vocabulary
  • The family
  • Leisure activities, travel, shopping
  • Daily routines
  • Foods; celebrations and parties
  • Health and the body
  • You are a true beginner but you are interested in a faster-paced course (maybe you have already studied another second language)
  • You have taken intro Spanish, but it has been a while and you want a refresher
  • You are prepared to take on the demands of an intensive course

200s

CourseMajor topics coveredEnroll in this course if:
SPAN 201
  • The present perfect and past perfect tenses (indicative and subjunctive)
  • The past subjunctive
  • The future and conditional (simple and perfect)
  • Health and well-being
  • The world of work, careers and professions
  • The arts
  • Current events
  • You have already encountered the subjunctive and you feel fairly confident about it
  • You still need to learn how to express the more complex grammatical forms (e.g. I have studied, you had gone, he would work, she would have liked, they will study, we will have graduated, etc.)
SPAN 202
  • Review of preterite & imperfect
  • Review of commands, subjunctive
  • Review of future, conditional
  • Review of the perfect forms
  • Greater focus on reading texts (stories, articles) and interpreting short documentary films
  • Customs and traditions
  • The social world
  • Forms of expression
  • You have been introduced to all of the grammatical forms, but you need review and practice with putting it all together
  • You are ready to start reading more substantial (e.g. 2-3 pages) selections in Spanish

 

SPAN 210

(Equivalent of 201 plus 202)

  • Preterite and imperfect
  • Commands and subjunctive
  • Future and conditional
  • The perfect forms
  • Life in the city
  • The world of work
  • Ideas and beliefs
  • Heritage and destiny
  • You have completed some intermediate Spanish course work and you are interested in a faster-paced course (maybe you have already studied another second language)
  • You would like a one-semester review of the more advanced grammar
  • You would like to move through the intermediate sequence in one semester and are prepared to take on the demands of an intensive course
  • You took SPAN 110 (there is better continuity of the material with 210 than with 201)
  • You would like to practice conversation with a native speaker of Spanish through an online exchange program 

 

SPAN 203
  • Review of common grammar structures, like preterite and imperfect, subjunctive and si (“if”) clauses
  • Discussion based on reading of short articles
  • Discussion based on viewing of short films

 

  • You are familiar with all of the grammatical forms, but you want to feel comfortable using different forms in conversation
  • You would like to practice conversation with a native speaker of Spanish through an online exchange program 
  • You would like to practice public speaking, in projects with a partner, and as an individual

       

SPAN 204
  • Review of grammar points, like prepositions,

relative pronouns, and the uses of se

  • Reading of famous literary works, including short stories, poems, and drama, as the basis for writing topics
  • Critique of a short film or movie

 

  • You are familiar with all of the grammatical forms, but you want to improve your ability to express yourself in writing
  • You would like to practice different types of writing, like letters, dialogue, and compositions
  • You would like to understand more complex texts and be prepared for higher-level Spanish

 

       

SPAN 205

(Equivalent of 203)

Offered only in the fall

  • Review and practice of general grammar concepts, including the simple past, imperfect, subjunctive, imperative and perfect tenses
  • Readings about the systems of the human body and their disorders
  • Introduction to the art of interpretation, which helps students reflect on previously learned vocabulary and use it while learning new vocabulary

 

 

  • You are interested in a career in medicine and/or health care
  • You are familiar with all of the grammatical forms, but you want to feel comfortable using the formal register (Usted) in role play of a medical professional/patient
  • You would like to practice conversation with a native speaker of Spanish through an online exchange program 
  • You would like to practice interpretation in a medical context
  • You would like to serve your community in the medical field

 

SPAN 206

(Equivalent of 203)

Offered only in the spring

  • Review of common grammar structures, like preterite and imperfect, subjunctive, and

       si (“if”) clauses

  • Immigration processes and paperwork (DACA, request relative, citizenship)
  • Translation of key identity documents (birth, marriage, death)

 

  • You are interested in a career in law and/or learning about the topic of migration
  • You are familiar with all of the grammatical forms, but you want to feel comfortable using the formal register (Usted) in role play of lawyer/client
  • You would like to practice conversation with a native speaker of Spanish through an online exchange program 
  • You would like to practice translation in a legal context
  • You would like to serve your community and collaborate with the College of Law in a naturalization clinic

300s

CourseMajor topics coveredEnroll in this course if:

SPAN 300A

Advanced Writing and Reading for Heritage Speakers of Spanish

  • This course is designed to help students improve their Spanish writing skills and identify and incorporate the textual and grammatical features to become successful writers in academic and professional settings. 
  • The skills to be targeted in this course are writing, editing, critical thinking, textual interpretation and exposition. 
  • Review of grammar structures and orthographic conventions specifically relevant to the language development of heritage language learners.
  • You grew up in a family or community where Spanish is spoken. 
  • You have strong listening/speaking skills and mid to high cultural fluency but would like to read and write better in Spanish.
  • You would like to develop your bilingual skills for academic and professional settings.
  • You are interested in learning more about the social experience of Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S.

SPAN 303

Advanced Reading and Conversation

  • This is an advanced Spanish course with an emphasis in reading and conversation through the analysis of selected texts from the Spanish speaking world. 
  • The objective is to develop students’ ability to read and interpret literary texts as well as other cultural artifacts while improving their oral competence and academic Spanish. 
  • Students write summaries, short reflections or answer questions about the assigned materials. 
  • You have taken SPAN 203 or 205 or 206; and 204; or have a qualifying MLPE score.
  • You want to improve your reading and conversation skills in Spanish.
  • You are curious about various topics pertaining to the Spanish speaking world.
  • You are planning to take more advanced courses in Spanish, regardless of whether you are pursuing a minor or a major.

SPAN 304

Advanced Writing and Conversation

  • This is an advanced Spanish course focused on writing in multiple genres: description, narration, exposition, and academic essays.
  • Writing process and revision strategies.
  • Collaborative writing workshops.
  • Grammar review and editing skills.
  • Reflective writing and peer interaction.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 203 or 205 or 206; and 204; or have a qualifying MLPE score.
  • You want to improve your Spanish writing skills.
  • You are interested in developing accuracy and clarity in written communication.
  • You want structured practice through drafts and revisions.
  • You enjoy collaborative learning and workshops.
  • You want to expand your vocabulary and grammar.

SPAN 305

The Analysis of Communication in Spanish

  • This is a course focused on rhetoric and communication theory in Spanish.
  • Cultural analysis of artifacts (photos, TV commercials, etc.)
  • Semiotics and narrative analysis.
  • Literary and visual cultural genres (film, graphic novels).
  • Critical interpretation of Hispanic cultural works.
  • Development of analytical and argumentative writing.
  • Oral presentation of research.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You are interested in analyzing literature, film, and cultural artifacts.
  • You want to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.
  • You want to learn how to conduct research in the humanities.
  • You enjoy discussing cultural and historical perspectives.
  • You want to strengthen your academic writing.
  • You want to present and defend your ideas in Spanish.

SPAN 306 

Speaking Proficiency and Textual Analysis

  • Analysis of contemporary texts (20th and 21st century): short stories, plays, films and a novel from different regional varieties of Spanish.
  • Discussion of how power relationships, gender, and social class shape linguistic choices.
  • Improvement of oral fluency and the ability to distinguish registers and pragmatics.
  • Development of analytical writing skills.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You are interested in refining your speaking skills.
  • You want to cultivate your vocabulary-building skills and grammar through reading texts and watching films.
  • You want to strengthen your ability to do research and produce academic writing in Spanish.
  • You want to explore the differences among regional varieties of Spanish.

SPAN 312 (Spring)

Modernity in Latin American Culture

  • This course examines Latin American literature and culture with a focus on the issue of modernity and modernization. 
  • It includes topics such as the process of nation-building, development and underdevelopment, dictatorships and revolutions, and racial and cultural identity.
  • Contemporary Latin American cultural production –literature, film, art, etc.– portraying the issues and challenges of Latin American countries in their process of “becoming modern” within a global world. 
  • This course counts for minors in Ethnic Studies.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 305 or 306.
  • You want to improve your reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish, as well as your critical thinking more broadly.
  • You want to know more about Latin American literature and culture, with a focus on the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • You want to understand the role of Latin America and Latin American cultural production in the contemporary, globalized world.
  • You are pursuing a major or minor in Spanish, or a minor in Ethnic Studies.

SPAN 313 (Fall)

Race and Empire in Latin American Culture

  • This course focuses on race and empire in Latin America since the beginning of modernity to our current era of global capitalism. 
  • The course analyzes the genocide of the indigenous peoples, the colonization of their territory by European powers, and the massive enslavement of African peoples. 
  • The course studies how that history is reflected in the cultural production from and on Latin America to understand our current historical predicament.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 305 or 306.
  • You want to improve your reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish, as well as your critical thinking.
  • You want to know more about Latin American literature and culture, with a focus on the 15th to the 19th centuries.
  • You want to understand race and imperialism through Latin American literature and culture.
  • You are pursuing a major or minor in Spanish, or a minor in Ethnic Studies.

 

SPAN 315 (Spring)

Gender and Sexuality in Hispanic Culture

  • This course focuses on texts and cultural works from the 18th century to the present time.
  • The course covers topics such as women’s education during Enlightenment, women poets during Romanticism, the “modern woman” during the 1920s-30s, and love relationships in 1940s’ Spain.
  • The course includes contemporary issues such as women and race, women’s erotic poetry, traditional masculinities, women’s care work, LGBTQ+ poetry, male violence, and lesbian identity.

 

 

  • You have taken SPAN 305 or 306.
  • You are interested in gender and sexuality studies.
  • You would like to understand the evolution of gender and sexualities in Hispanic cultures throughout history.
  • You would like to explore multiple cultural works, such as short stories, poems, drama, songs, essays, comics, and films.
  • You want to explore gender and sexuality through a presentation and a final project.

SPAN 317

Intro to Linguistics

  • Phonetics and Phonology: describe and produce Spanish sounds, comparing them with English sounds; phonetic transcription in Spanish.
  • Morphology: analyze and represent the structure of words.
  • Syntax: represent the structure of sentences in Spanish and understand how we connect clauses to express complex ideas.
  • Semantics and Pragmatics: recognize the contextual factors and inferential processes that contribute to meaning and understanding.
  • Historical Linguistics: identify patterns of linguistic change from Latin roots.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You would like to improve pronunciation and vocabulary, use complex grammar, interpret conversational context, and view language in historical context.
  • You want to survey different core areas of Linguistics and do linguistic analysis in each of these areas. 
  • You would like to study various aspects of Spanish, describing aspects of the linguistic structure of Spanish.  
  • You want to advance your Spanish language abilities through the study of linguistics and activity-based learning in the classroom. 

SPAN 319

Spanish Phonetics and Pronunciation

  • Articulation of sounds, International Phonetic Alphabet.
  • Phonetic transcription.
  • Prosodic features (intonation, stress).
  • Orthographic correlates of phonetic features.
  • Geographical and social varieties of Spanish.
  • Comparison with English sounds and identification of pronunciation difficulties. 
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You want to practice and improve your pronunciation of Spanish.
  • You are curious about different varieties of Spanish.
  • You are interested in teaching Spanish (or English to native Spanish speakers) as a second language.
  • You want to gain a deeper knowledge of the Spanish language.

SPAN 321

Cultures of Spain

  • Spain’s geography and current facts; the South and North of Spain; families and relationships
  • Romanization, Islamic presence, and Reconquest.
  • The Spanish Empire.
  • Famous painters: El Greco, Velázquez, Goya.
  • Enlightenment, the War of Independence, and the Constitution of 1812.
  • The Second Republic and artists during 1900-1936.
  • The Spanish Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.
  • Democracy: the Constitution of 1978 and the Spanish youth.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A
  • You are interested in learning about the history, art, politics, and cultures of Spain.
  • You would like to discuss current societal topics of Spain and compare them with the situation in the US.
  • You would like to present a newspaper article and a cultural topic about Spain.
  • You have studied abroad in Spain or are planning to do it.
  • You would like to improve your oral and written Spanish.

 

SPAN 331

War and Human Rights in Latin America

  • This course examines Latin American culture with a focus on war conflicts, dictatorships, revolutions, and human rights. 
  • The course covers both academic and literary texts about some of Latin America’s most important geopolitical, societal, and cultural issues between the late 15th century and the 21st century.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You want to improve your reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish, as well as your critical thinking.
  • You would like to know more about Latin American history and culture, from the 15th to the 21st centuries.
  • You want to understand Latin America’s conflicted history, as well as the legacies of colonialism and neocolonialism

400s

CourseMajor topics coveredEnroll in this course if:

SPAN 405 (Fall)

Advanced Grammar

  • Comparative study of the English and Spanish verbal systems.
  • Tense system of Spanish and English.
  • Grammatical manifestations of verbal aspect in Spanish and English.
  • The expression of mood in Spanish and English.
  • Comparison with verbal systems in other languages.
  • Applications in formal writing and translation.
  • You have taken SPAN 317.
  • You want to improve your writing skills in Spanish.
  • You are interested in comparing grammatical constructions in English and Spanish for the purposes of translation.
  • You are interested in comparative linguistics.
  • You want to gain a deeper understanding of grammar in general and the grammar of Spanish in particular.

SPAN 407 (Spring)

History of the Spanish Language

  • Origins of Spanish, linguistic families.
  • Overview of sound changes from Latin to modern day Spanish.
  • Evolution of morphological paradigms (noun and verb endings, pronouns, verbal system).
  • Lexical borrowings and word etymologies.
  • Old Spanish and patterns of semantic change.
  • You have taken SPAN 317 or 319.
  • You are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the Spanish language.
  • You have a general interest in Linguistics.
  • You are curious about the history of words.
  • You have an interest in how languages change over time, and what this tells us about the human mind.

SPAN 432 (Summer)

Spanish Speaking Proficiency and Pedagogy

  • Analysis of 20th and 21st-century texts from the Spanish-speaking world: short stories, films and a novel.
  • Focus on the contextualization and analysis of grammar points that are challenging for L1 English learners of L2 Spanish.
  • Develop an understanding of pedagogical theory and research around the acquisition of Spanish as a second language.
  • Develop practical pedagogical skills for the teaching of Spanish as a second language.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You wish to continue perfecting your command of spoken Spanish.
  • You are interested in learning more about the differences between regional varieties of Spanish.
  • You have an interest in language education, pedagogy and second language acquisition.
  • You want to develop your skills in teaching Spanish as a second language.

SPAN 454 

Gender and Sexuality in Spain

  • Analysis of 11 movies from Spain dealing with gender and sexuality issues from the 1990s to the present time.
  • Movies by important Spanish directors such as Almodóvar and women directors such as Bollaín and Ruiz de Azua.
  • Discussion of multiple topics such as young masculinities, mother-daughter relationships, migrant women, motherhood, transgender identities, work and masculinity, LGBTQ identities, sexual violence, national identities, and care work.
  • You have taken SPAN 300A, or 303 or 304, and 3 additional hours of SPAN at the 300 level.
  • You are interested in exploring gender and sexuality topics in contemporary cultural works from Spain
  • You want to know more about current Spanish society.
  • You would like to write a research paper on one of the movies studied in class.
  • You want to develop your critical thinking and participate in class discussions.

SPAN 461 

History and Fiction in Latin America

  • Analysis of Latin American historical fictions, considering the blurry lines between history and literature. 
  • This course studies the relationships between history and fiction in Latin American literature, movies and/or other cultural artifacts.  
  • The course focuses on the way such works represent Latin American past and present histories and approach the issue of historical truth.

 

  • You have taken SPAN 300A, or 303 or 304, and 3 additional hours of SPAN at the 300 level. 
  • You want to improve your reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish, as well as your critical thinking more broadly.
  • You want to know more about Latin American literature and its relationship with history.
  • You want to develop your critical thinking and write a research paper.

 

SPAN 465

Caribbean Literature and Culture

  • This course explores the cultural production of the Caribbean and the Caribbean diasporas in the U.S., with a focus on the contentious relationships between history and fiction. 
  • The course analyzes how fiction portrays and problematizes traumatic historical events.
  • We study an array of 20th and 21st centuries novels, short stories and movies.
  • We cover topics such as colonial and postcolonial exploitation, dictatorship and revolution, slavery and race, displacement and migration. 
  • You have taken SPAN 300A, or 303 or 304, and 3 additional hours of SPAN at the 300 level. 
  • You want to improve your reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish, as well as your critical thinking more broadly.
  • You want to know more about Caribbean literature and culture.
  • You want to develop your critical thinking and write a research paper on Caribbean literature and culture.

 

SPAN 476

Exile and Migration

  • This course explores displacement experiences of Spaniards from the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 to the present time. 
  • It covers three historical periods: the exile after 1939, the migration during the 1960s to Europe, and the contemporary migration.
  • Literary works, documentaries and movies about Spanish exile and migration.
  • Diverse topics: memory, the return, work, masculinities, women and gender, sexual migration, the role of the family, discrimination, and the second generation.
  • You have taken SPAN 300A or 303 or 304, and 3 additional hours of SPAN at the 300 level.
  • You want to explore the connections between exile and migration.
  • You would like to analyze the literary and cultural works produced by Spanish migrants.
  • You are interested in interviewing a migrant person. 
  • You would like to know the challenges and opportunities that migrants experience.
  • You would like to participate in class discussions and write a research paper about a work analyzed in class.

SPAN 486

Spanish in the United States

  • In this course we learn about the linguistic and social diversity of Spanish-speaking communities in the US.
  • Linguistic contact, bilingualism, ideologies of language, linguistic maintenance/shift, and language policy are examined from a sociolinguistic perspective. 

 

  • This course is useful for students interested in linguistics, education, sociology, and Latinx studies, among others. No previous linguistic training is required.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You want to become acquainted with the linguistic features that characterize varieties of U.S. Spanish.
  • You would like to learn about the social, demographic and historical characteristics that shape Spanish speaking communities in the US.
  • You want to understand what is unique about US varieties of Spanish and what connects them to the rest of the Hispanophone world.
  • You want to reflect on your own process of bilingual development.

SPAN 488

Heritage Speaker Pedagogy

  • Introduction to the theoretical framework and classroom methodology for the teaching of Spanish to bilingual students who acquired the language at home. 
  • We explore some of the cognitive, linguistic, and social differences in the acquisition of Spanish in bilingual, monolingual and second language contexts. 
  • This class centers on the experience of Spanish\English bilingual students and communities in the US.
  • This class was designed to address the professional development needs of Spanish teachers. It may also be of interest to teachers and learners of other languages and professionals working with Latinx populations.
  • You have taken SPAN 303 or 304 or 300A.
  • You want to understand the theoretical framework that supports the teaching of Heritage Languages in general, and Spanish as a Heritage Language in particular.
  • You want to learn about pedagogical approaches and classroom techniques for the teaching of Spanish to bilinguals.
  • You want to engage in a critical analysis of our own ideas about language(s) and their speakers.
  • You want to learn through the development of a content unit with activities and lesson plans for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners.