Spanish Major
The Spanish major emphasizes the learning of both spoken and written Spanish, a sound understanding of the linguistic structures of modern Spanish, an appreciation for cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, and the ability to analyze literary texts from a variety of periods. Students may choose from a variety of offerings in Latin American or Peninsular literature, film, culture, language, and Spanish linguistics. All courses are offered in Spanish. See individual faculty members for more information.
Goal 1: Effective communication in the target language (TL)
Outcome 1.1: Students will narrate and describe in the TL in spoken form in all major time frames using connected discourse of paragraph length with general clarity of lexicon and a moderate level of detail.
Outcome 1.2: Students will compose written texts in the TL that summarize, evaluate or describe concrete or abstract items, notions, events or persons, in major time frames in paragraph length discourse, with a lexicon relevant to the topic.
Goal 2: Critical and interpretive thinking in the target language (TL)
Outcome 2.1: Students will interpret and analyze the main ideas, relevant facts and details about works of literary, cinematic and/or artistic expression in the target language (TL).
Outcome 2.2: Students will be able to pursue research, gather data, do analysis and report results by using TL as a tool of investigation and as a means of communication.
Goal 3: Knowledge of the target language (TL) culture(s)
Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to describe accurately in the TL with moderate detail some aspect of the TL cultures (perspectives, products, and/or practices)
Outcome 3.2: Students will compare and contrast in the target language similarities and differences between the students’ own cultures and those of the target language (TL).
Goal 4: Inclusion and diversity
Outcome 4.1: Students will engage respectfully, in a local and global context, with diverse human beliefs, abilities, experiences, identities, or cultures.
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LIN 200 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Second Lang Acquis & Lrning | ||
| Teaching Lang at Home/Abroad | ||
| Sociolinguistics | ||
| Phonetics | ||
| Communication in Soc Contexts | ||
| Bilingualism & Lang Diversity | ||
| Topics in Linguistics | ||
| TESOL Internship | ||
Any approved Latin American Studies course outside of Modern and Classical Languages | ||
Other courses that specifically focus on some aspect of the Spanish-speaking world may be approved as an IL course if deemed appropriate by the Spanish major advisor. See Dr. Heather Hennes for more information about the major.
GEP Electives
A varying number of courses, typically nine to twelve.
Major Requirements
Requires 10 SPA courses (30 credits) including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II (depending on placement) | 3 |
| SPA 301 | Spanish Conversation (depending on placement) | 3 |
| or SPA 303 | Spanish for Heritage Speakers | |
| SPA 302 | Spanish Composition 1 | 3 |
| SPA 310 | Intro to Latin American Lit | 3 |
| or SPA 311 | Introduc to Spanish Literature | |
| SPA 380 | Intro to Spanish Linguistics | 3 |
| or SPA 466 | Spanish Dialectology | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Intro to Latin Amer Cultures | ||
| Introd to Spanish Cultures 2 | ||
| Spain:Study Tour 2 | ||
| Spain in the New Millenium | ||
| Cur Evnts in the Sp-Lang Media | ||
| The remaining SPA credits must include at least 2 4xx level SPA courses. Students must also complete a Foreign Language Capstone, which is an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish. For more information, please refer to: http://www.languagetesting.com/academic.cfm. and follow the links to Tests>Speaking>OPI | ||
- 1
Heritage speakers of Spanish having completed SPA 303 complete a SPA elective in place of SPA 302.
- 2
A student may count only one of these two courses toward the major or minor.
Study Abroad
Spanish majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country of their choice. The Center for International Programs (http://www.sju.edu/academics/centers/cip/studyabroad) provides information on SJU-approved programs in Argentina, Chile, Central America, and Spain, as well as programs in other Latin American countries, for which students may petition credit. Modern and Classical Languages faculty also offer Study Tour Courses to Argentina/Uruguay and Spain. Study Tours offered by other departments have included destinations such Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Study Tours offered by other departments do not count toward the Spanish major or minor, (except as Integrative Learning courses for the major) but they do complement students’ interests in Spanish. Students who are interested in studying abroad should meet with Dr. Elaine Shenk, the Spanish Program Coordinator for Study Abroad.
Spanish Honor Society
The department has an active chapter, Omicron Phi, of the National Spanish Honorary Society Sigma Delta Pi. A yearly initiation ceremony is held in the spring semester. Qualified students are encouraged to apply; please contact the Spanish faculty for more information.