Nov 22, 2024  
2019 - 2020 Academic Catalog 
    
2019 - 2020 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Spanish, B.A.


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Spanish

   Member of the Division of Humanities

Chair(s):

Mirzam Pérez

Faculty:

Yvette Aparicio
Valérie Benoist
John Petrus
Nick Phillips
Carmen Valentín

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, 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*


Latin America

US Latinx

Spain

Spanish Linguistics

  • SPN 384 - Spanish Dialectology   4 credits
  • SPN 395 - Advanced Special Topics in Language, 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.

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 America 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.

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