Spanish, B.A.

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Spanish

Member of the Division of Humanities

Chair(s):

Carmen Valentín

Faculty:

Yvette Aparicio
Valérie Benoist
Francisca Escoriza Gallardo
Mirzam Pérez
John Petrus
Nick Phillips

Courses in Spanish examine the diverse cultural achievements of Latin America, Latinx America and Spain and enable students to respond with intelligence and sensitivity to other cultures. The department seeks to develop in students from all disciplines the critical ability to identify problems and view them from multiple perspectives: cultural, historical, literary, and linguistic. The growing importance of bilingual areas in urban America underscores the advisability of Spanish-language study for careers in health care, bilingual education, community development, and social services.

Students with training in Spanish receive a recommendation as to the appropriate course level (100, 200, 300) for continued language study. Those beginning the language take SPN 105 . The first two years of study in the department follows the sequence SPN 105 , SPN 106 , SPN 217 , and SPN 285 . All courses are conducted in Spanish.

The program for majors provides essential skills for communication in the language, a sound and comprehensive introduction to literature, and an exploration of various aspects of Latin American, Latinx American, and Spanish cultures. Students should balance their Spanish program with a broad selection of interdepartmental courses and study in all three major divisions in order to ensure breadth of learning. The department encourages participation in one of the approved off-campus programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, or Spain.

Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

Courses numbered SPN 105 , SPN 106 , SPN 204 , and SPN 205 do not count toward the major.

Core Requirements: 16 credits*

One low-300 literature courses chosen from:
- SPN 311 - Constructing Identities in Independent Latin America 4 credits
- SPN 312 - Women and Gender in Spanish Literature 4 credits
- SPN 314 - Studies in Modern Spanish Literature 4 credits
- SPN 315 - Creativity and Dissidence in Modern Latin America 4 credits
- SPN 317 - Readings in U.S. Latinx Literature and Culture 4 credits
- SPN 295 - as approved by the department
SPN 343 - The Art of Language 4 credits
Eight credits or two seminars; each one in a different area of study offered by the department. Majors may select two seminars from the following groups***:

Latin America

SPN 377 - Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Latin America 4 credits
SPN 383 - The Latin American Colonial World 4 credits
SPN 395 - Advanced Special Topics in Literature and Culture 4 credits (on a Latin American topic)

US Latinx

SPN 379 - U.S. Latinx Identities and Sexualities 4 credits
SPN 395 - Advanced Special Topics in Literature and Culture 4 credits (on a Latinx topic)

Spain

SPN 385 - Studies in Contemporary Spanish Literature and Film 4 credits
SPN 386 - Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature 4 credits
SPN 395 - Advanced Special Topics in Literature and Culture 4 credits (on a Spanish topic)

Spanish Linguistics

SPN 384 - Spanish Dialectology 4 credits
SPN 395 - Advanced Special Topics in Literature and Culture 4 credits (on a Spanish Linguistics topic)

Electives: 16 credits**

Courses below as needed to count toward the minimum of 32 credits.

SPN 217 - Intermediate Spanish 4 credits
SPN 285 - Introduction to Textual Analysis 4 credits
SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 . The low-300 literature course counting for the core may not also count as an elective.
SPN 320 - Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World 4 credits ****
SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 384 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , SPN 395 as approved by department. The two seminars counting for the core may not also count as electives.

Note:

*Core Requirements must be taken on campus.

**With permission of the department, 4 or 8 credits can be taken at Grinnell in courses taught in English. These courses are LAS 111 , LAS 221 or any course taught outside of the Spanish Department with content solely on Latin America, Latinx America or Spain. These credits can be counted toward the Spanish major. The maximum of 8 credits can be earned through one of the following combinations:

LAS 111 and LAS 221
LAS 111 and up to 4 credits of course work with content solely on Latin America, Latinx America or Spain
LAS 221 and up to 4 credits of course work with content solely on Latin America, Latinx American or Spain

Study abroad credits toward the major are approved according to the following guidelines:

A maximum of 12 credits from courses taken at study abroad programs approved by the Spanish Department can be applied toward the Spanish major;
Courses from study abroad programs cannot fulfill the following major requirements: 343, at least one low-300 literature course, and seminars;
All courses must be taught in Spanish;
The Department will accept any courses that fit the following descriptions:
- Spanish Language courses (for example, conversation, composition, stylistics, phonetics, semantics, history of the language, etc.), including the language and culture courses taught entirely in Spanish in programs where all the other courses are taught in English.
- Literature courses on Latin America, Latinx America and Spain that do not cover material taught in regularly offered Spanish courses at Grinnell.
- A maximum of 4 credits of coursework in areas other than language and literature with content solely on Latin America, Latinx America or Spain.
- A maximum of 4 credits of internships undertaken in Grinnell approved study abroad programs.

In order to approve credits, the department will require syllabi if the study abroad course may cover material regularly offered in Spanish courses in our department.

We adhere to the same guidelines for Grinnell approved off-campus programs in the US.

For study abroad programs that are not approved by Grinnell, the department must approve the courses after reviewing the course syllabi. Courses must be taught in Spanish.

For study abroad programs approved by Grinnell, but not recommended by the Spanish Department, only credits from language courses would count toward the major. Students can request that the Spanish Department consider the approval of other courses by submitting course syllabi. Courses must be taught in Spanish.

For off-campus programs in the US that are not approved by Grinnell, the department must approve courses in order to have their credits count toward the major. In order to approve credits, we will require syllabi and other relevant information. Courses must be taught in Spanish.

*** After completing any of the seminar courses (except 384 or SPN 395 on Spanish Linguistics) mentioned above, students cannot enroll in SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 , or SPN 295 on literature. SPN 343 may be taken concurrently with any seminar (except SPN 384 and SPN 395 on Spanish Linguistics).

**** SPN 320 may be repeated for credit when content changes. A maximum of 8 credits may count toward the major. SPN 320 may be taken concurrently with any seminar.

Additional Information

At least 20 credits must be taken within the Department of Spanish at Grinnell. Upon declaration of a Spanish major, students will consult with the department concerning their objectives in order to plan an approved program of courses. Off-campus study courses or transfer courses are not allowed to fulfill the requirement for the two seminars listed above.

Honors

To be considered for honors in Spanish, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must complete a third seminar in any area of study offered by the department.

Spanish Courses

Click here to list Spanish courses.