2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

SPANISH AND HISPANIC STUDIES

— also see Education
— also see Global Studies
— also see International Business

Programs offered:

•  Major in Spanish (8.0 course credits)
•  Minor in Spanish (5.5 course credits)
•  Spanish Education major with a teaching license, grades K-12 (8.0 course credits in Spanish plus 8.5 course credits  in education)
•  World Languages Area of Specialization for Elementary Education majors, grades K-8 (see education)  (6.0 course credits in Spanish plus education requirements)
•  Major in Spanish with a minor in International Business (also see international business) (8.0 course credits in Spanish)
•  Major in International Business in Spanish (also see international business) (5.5 course credits in Spanish)
•  Concentrations in Latin American Studies or European Studies in the Cultural and Regional Studies track of the Global Studies major (also see global studies)

Spanish and Hispanic Studies Course Descriptions 

Faculty
Francisco L. Cabello, chair 
Pedro S. Meléndez
Amy L. Brevik
Viann M. Pederson de Castañeda
Nicole L. García
Mary K. Rice
Eduardo Gargurevich
Leonor Valderrama de Sillers
Ady M. Johnson
Lisa A. Twomey

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 required, although a semester is strongly recommended.
•  For international business majors, study abroad is required.

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 “Concordia’s Global and Off-Campus Education,” Page 23.) 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 school 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,” Page 26 and 30, 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 8.0 course credits above SPAN 112 — Beginning Spanish II:

•  SPAN 211 — Intermediate Spanish I, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 212 — Intermediate Spanish II, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 321 — Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 322 — Spanish Grammar in Context, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 326 — Introduction to Hispanic Literature, 1.0 credit
•  0.5 credit in literature, chosen from the following:
–  SPAN 413 — Topics in Latin American Literature, 0.5 credit
–  SPAN 423 — Topics in Spanish Literature, 0.5 credit
•  2.5 additional credits in Spanish above 212
•  A minimum of one semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is required.

The following are suggested supporting courses: HISP 310 — 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 5.5 course credits above SPAN 112 — Beginning Spanish II:

•  SPAN 211 — Intermediate Spanish I, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 212 — Intermediate Spanish II, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 321 — Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 1.0 credit
•  2.5 additional credits in Spanish above 212 Licensure for Teaching Spanish

In order to receive departmental approval for student teaching, all candidates for licensure must pass a screening at the intermediate-high level of oral language proficiency as described by the Board of Teaching Standards. Students seeking licensure are required to study abroad for at least one semester and are strongly encouraged to work at Concordia Language Villages in the weekend and/or summer programs in order to develop oral proficiency at the level required on the oral proficiency exam and the Praxis II Productive Language Test required for licensure.

Spanish Education Major with a Teaching License, grades K-12

The requirements for a Spanish education major with a teaching license, grades K-12, are 8.0 course credits above SPAN 112 — Beginning Spanish II plus 9.0 course credits in education:

•  SPAN 211 — Intermediate Spanish I, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 212 — Intermediate Spanish II, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 321 — Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 322 — Spanish Grammar in Context, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 326 — Introduction to Hispanic Literature, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 341 — The Culture of Spain, 0.5 credit
•  SPAN 361 — Latin American Historical and Cultural Perspectives, 0.5 credit
•  0.5 credit in literature, chosen from the following:
–  SPAN 413 — Topics in Latin American Literature, 0.5 credit
–  SPAN 423 — Topics in Spanish Literature, 0.5 credit
•  1.5 additional credits in Spanish above 212
•  Successful completion of the secondary/K-12 curriculum requirements.
The required methods of teaching courses are:
–  EDUC 362 — Secondary Methods of Teaching in World Languages, 1.0 credit
–  EDUC 363 — FLES Methods of Teaching, 1.0 credit

Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is required. The following are suggested supporting courses: HISP 310 — Introduction to Latin American Studies; HISP 311 — U.S.-Latin American Relations; HIST 320 — Latin American History.

Major in Spanish with a minor in International Business

The business requirements for a minor in international business with a major in Spanish are listed in the international business pages of the catalog.

Major in International Business in Spanish

The business requirements for a major in international business in Spanish are listed in the international business pages of the catalog. A minor in Spanish is required (see requirements above). In order to participate in the international business program in Mexico, students must take the following courses:

•  SPAN 211 — Intermediate Spanish I, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 212 — Intermediate Spanish II, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 321 — Composition and Conversation in Cultural Contexts, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 331 — Business Spanish, 1.0 credit
•  SPAN 361 — Latin American Historical and Cultural Perspectives, 0.5 credit
•  SPAN 480 — Independent Study, 1.0 credit, completed in Mexico
•  BUS 390 — Cooperative Education, 1.0 credit, a four-month Cooperative Education experience taken abroad SPAN 211, 212, 321, 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 director of the international business program.