Requirements for a Major or Minor in Spanish and Hispanic Studies


– also see Education
– also see Global Studies
– also see International Business

Programs offered
• Major in Spanish (32 credits)
• Minor in Spanish (22 credits)
• Major in International Business with a minor in Spanish (also see international business) (22 credits in Spanish)
• Concentrations in Latin American Studies or European Studies in the Cultural and Regional Studies Concentration of the Global Studies Major (see global studies)
• Major in Spanish Education (32 credits in Spanish plus 36 credits in education)
• World Languages add-on endorsement for Elementary Education majors (see education) (28 credits)

Faculty
Eduardo Gargurevich, chair
Elizabeth A. Arroyo
Francisco L. Cabello
Ady M. Johnson
Viann M. Pederson de Castañeda
Alonso-Maria Rabi-Do-Carmo
Mary K. Rice
Fanny Roncal Ramirez
Leonor Valderrama de Sillers

The department of Spanish and Hispanic studies prepares students for participation in a global society through courses designed to expand their knowledge and understanding of the language, cultures and perceptions of the Spanish-speaking world. The goals for the Spanish major are based on the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language’s National Standards for Foreign Language Learning. The Spanish and Hispanic studies department provides learning experiences that prepare students to achieve the following outcomes:

• develop communication skills in the Spanish language
• gain knowledge and understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures
• make connections between Spanish and other disciplines
• develop comparisons based on insight into the nature of the language and the culture
• be enabled to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world

Courses in Hispanic studies are taught in English and support interdisciplinary programs in global studies and international business.

Study Abroad/Language Immersion Requirement
• For Spanish majors and anyone seeking teaching licensure in Spanish, a minimum of one semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is required. Program selection must be approved by the department. Consult with the department for details on petition procedure for alternate ways of satisfying this requirement.
• For Spanish minors, at least one May term of study in a Spanish-speaking country is strongly recommended.

For all majors and minors, program selection must be approved by the department chair for credit.

The department of Spanish and Hispanic studies sponsors many opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. The department offers six study abroad opportunities, including fall semester in Segovia, Spain; spring semester or academic year study at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain; the International Business semester at the Universidad de las Americas in Mexico City; a May Seminar to Latin America; and the Spain and Mexico Summer Study programs. (For details on these opportunities, see Global Learning at Concordia on Page 25.)

On campus, the department of Spanish and Hispanic studies provides a variety of resources and opportunities for students. The Casa Hispana (language residence), staffed by the Spanish native assistants, provides the opportunity for students to spend the entire academic year living in a Spanish language and cultural environment. Participation in the national Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi is open by invitation to students who meet the membership criteria. The department of Spanish and Hispanic studies also sponsors an honors program for exceptional students. (For details on these programs, see Expanded Academic Opportunities on Page 26, or consult with the department chair.)

Liberal Arts Core World Languages Requirement
Students may satisfy the Core distribution world languages requirement by either option A or B:
A. Successful completion of SPAN 112 – Beginning Spanish II or a higher-numbered course. All students who have studied Spanish prior to coming to Concordia are required to take a computerized placement test in Spanish to determine which course level is the most appropriate for their individual ability. If the transcript shows that the student has not previously studied Spanish, the student is not required to take the placement exam and qualifies to enroll in SPAN 111 – Beginning Spanish I.
B. Achieving successful scores on the oral proficiency interview and a timed written essay that demonstrate the student has mastered the content and scope of the SPAN 111-112 – Beginning Spanish I and II sequence. Students are eligible to take this proficiency exam by placing beyond SPAN 112 – Beginning Spanish II on the computerized placement exam in Spanish.

Major in Spanish
The requirements for a major in Spanish are 32 credits above SPAN 112 – Beginning Spanish II:
• SPAN 211 – Intermediate Spanish I, 4 credits
• SPAN 212 – Intermediate Spanish II, 4 credits
• SPAN 320 – Spanish Grammar in Context, 4 credits
• SPAN 321 – Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 4 credits
• SPAN 326 – Introduction to Hispanic Literature, 4 credits
• 12 additional credits in Spanish above 212 including at least 2 credits in literature at the 400 level.
• A minimum of one semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is required.

The following are suggested supporting courses: HISP 210, GS 210 – Introduction to Latin American Studies; HISP 311 – U.S.-Latin American Relations; HIST 320 – Latin American History.

Minor in Spanish
The requirements for a minor in Spanish are 22 credits above SPAN 112 – Beginning Spanish II:
• SPAN 211 – Intermediate Spanish I, 4 credits
• SPAN 212 – Intermediate Spanish II, 4 credits
• SPAN 321 – Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 4 credits
• 10 additional credits in Spanish above 212
• One May term of study in a Spanish-speaking country is strongly recommended.

Major in International Business
with a Minor in Spanish
The business requirements for a major in international business with a minor in Spanish are listed in the international business pages of the catalog. A minor in Spanish may be completed as described above. However, in order to participate in the international business program in Mexico, students must complete the minor by taking the following courses:
• SPAN 211 – Intermediate Spanish I, 4 credits
• SPAN 212 – Intermediate Spanish II, 4 credits
• SPAN 321 – Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 4 credits
• SPAN 331 – Business Spanish, 4 credits
• SPAN 361 – Latin American Historical and Cultural Perspectives, 2 credits
• SPAN 480 – Independent Study, 4 credits, completed in Mexico
• BUS 390 – Cooperative Education, 4 credits, a four-month Cooperative Education experience taken abroad

SPAN 211, 212, 321 and 331, as well as courses specified in the international business pages, must be completed before participation in the semester abroad program in Mexico. Students interested in completing their study abroad requirement in another location should consult with the Spanish department and the school of business for other options.

The following are suggested supporting courses: HISP 210, GS 210 – Introduction to Latin American Studies and HISP 311 – U.S.-Latin American Relations

Major in Spanish Education
This major prepares students to be recommended by the Concordia College department of education for Minnesota licensure to teach Spanish in grades K-12. To be eligible to complete this major, the student must be admitted to the teacher education program. (See education pages for program information, requirements and course descriptions.)

The requirements for a major in Spanish education are 32 credits above SPAN 112 – Beginning Spanish II plus 36 credits in education:
• SPAN 211 – Intermediate Spanish I, 4 credits
• SPAN 212 – Intermediate Spanish II, 4 credits
• SPAN 320 – Spanish Grammar in Context, 4 credits
• SPAN 321 – Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 4 credits
• SPAN 326 – Introduction to Hispanic Literature, 4 credits
• SPAN 341 – The Culture of Spain, 2 credits
• SPAN 361 – Latin American Historical and Cultural Perspectives, 2 credits
• 8 additional credits in Spanish above 212 including at least 2 credits in literature at the 400 level
• EDUC 362 – Secondary Methods of Teaching in World Languages, 4 credits (required methods of teaching course)
• EDUC 363 – FLES Methods of Teaching, 4 credits (required methods of teaching course)
• Successful completion of the secondary/K-12 required coursework (see Education: Curriculum in Secondary/K-12 Education).
• Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is required.

The following are suggested supporting courses: HISP 210, GS 210 – Introduction to Latin American Studies; HISP 311 – U.S.-Latin American Relations; HIST 320 – Latin American History.

In order to receive departmental approval for student teaching, all candidates for the major or add-on endorsement must pass a screening at the Intermediate High level of language proficiency as described by the Board of Teaching Standards, and a screening of geographical and cultural knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world. Students are highly encouraged to take advantage of language-immersion opportunities in Spanish to increase their ability to attain this level of proficiency.