Spanish B.A.
Program Description
The Spanish major—consisting of four options: I. Literature, II. Language and Culture, III. Hispanic Linguistics and IV. Translation and Interpretation—is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career in secondary, college or university teaching, or who intend to pursue other careers where a strong background in Spanish is essential. Students should seek advisement from Spanish faculty advisors concerning the option best suited to their goals.
Note that the Spanish major requires a capstone paper to be written in a 400-level course of the student’s choice.
Students with some knowledge of Spanish who want to take lower division courses should take the Spanish placement exam before registration. The exam is available on a drop-in basis at certain hours or by appointment in the Barbara Ann Ward Language Center (BAWLC), JR 316.
Students with advanced placement cannot receive credit for courses below the level at which they are placed. However, 200-level classes may be waived or replaced by appropriate classes. Please consult an advisor.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Prepare students for careers in teaching (secondary, community college, university), among others in legal, medical, administrative and journalistic fields, translation and interpretation, etc., which require advanced-level (ACTFL Guidelines) abilities in both oral and written skills.
- Provide students with techniques, strategies, methodologies and skills to carry out independent research that supports career choices.
- Establish a solid foundation for lifelong learning, service and participation in the Hispanic, Latino and global communities.
- Carry out research and apply critical theories in analysis of Hispanic linguistics, literatures, civilizations and cultures.
- Communicate at the advanced level using a variety of rhetorical modes in both oral and written discourse.
- Achieve subject matter competency (as stated in the Standards of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing) to enter a credential or a graduate program in Spanish at any U.S. university.
Program Requirements
Core Courses Common to All Options (24 units)
Take all of the following courses (18 units):
- SPAN 220A Intermediate Spanish I (3)
- SPAN 220B Intermediate Spanish II (3)
- SPAN 304 Advanced Grammar and Composition (3)
- SPAN 306 Advanced Composition (3)
- SPAN 307 Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Literature (3)
- SPAN 401 Language and Culture (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 315A Literature of Spain I (3)
- SPAN 315B Literature of Spain II (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 363 Literature of Latin America I (3)
- SPAN 364 Literature of Latin America II (3)
Language and Culture Option Courses (18 units)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 300 Advanced Conversational Spanish (3)
- SPAN 310 Language and Contemporary Hispanic Life (3)
Choose three courses from the following (9 units):
- SPAN 380 Latin American Civilization (3)
- SPAN 381 Spanish Civilization (3)
- SPAN 400 Structure of the Spanish Language (3)
- SPAN 497 Comparative Structure of Spanish and English (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 382 Literature and Society in Latin America (3)
- SPAN 383 Literature and Society in Spain (3)
Take the following course (3 units):
SPAN 425 Spanish Phonetics (3)
General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 42
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 30
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Program Requirements
Core Courses Common to All Options (24 units)
Take all of the following courses (18 units):
- SPAN 220A Intermediate Spanish I (3)
- SPAN 220B Intermediate Spanish II (3)
- SPAN 304 Advanced Grammar and Composition (3)
- SPAN 306 Advanced Composition (3)
- SPAN 307 Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Literature (3)
- SPAN 401 Language and Culture (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 315A Literature of Spain I (3)
- SPAN 315B Literature of Spain II (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 363 Literature of Latin America I (3)
- SPAN 364 Literature of Latin America II (3)
Literature Option Courses (18 units)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- FLIT 295A Masterpieces of European Literature I (3)
- FLIT 295B Masterpieces of European Literature II (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 380 Latin American Civilization (3)
- SPAN 381 Spanish Civilization (3)
Choose four courses from the following (12 units):
Choose courses that ensure a balance between Peninsular and Latin American Spanish.
- SPAN 408 Literature of the Middle Ages (3)
- SPAN 409 Literature of the Renaissance (3)
- SPAN 411 Literature of the Golden Age (3)
- SPAN 414 Literature of the 18th and 19th Centuries: Spain (3)
- SPAN 415 Literature of the 20th Century: Spain (3)
- SPAN 421 Central American Literature (3)
- SPAN 427 Literature of the 19th Century: Latin America (3)
- SPAN 428 Literature of the 20th Century: Latin America (3)
- SPAN 450 The Latin American Novel (3)
- SPAN 495A-Z Selected Topics in Hispanic Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics (3)
- SPAN 496A-Z Experimental Topics in Hispanic Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics (3)
General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 42
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 30
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Program Requirements
Core Courses Common to All Options (24 units)
Take all of the following courses (18 units):
- SPAN 220A Intermediate Spanish I (3)
- SPAN 220B Intermediate Spanish II (3)
- SPAN 304 Advanced Grammar and Composition (3)
- SPAN 306 Advanced Composition (3)
- SPAN 307 Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Literature (3)
- SPAN 401 Language and Culture (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 315A Literature of Spain I (3)
- SPAN 315B Literature of Spain II (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 363 Literature of Latin America I (3)
- SPAN 364 Literature of Latin America II (3)
Hispanic Linguistics Option Courses (18 units)
Take all of the following courses (9 units):
- SPAN 400 Structure of the Spanish Language (3)
- SPAN 425 Spanish Phonetics (3)
- SPAN 497 Comparative Structure of Spanish and English (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
- LING 300 Approaches to Linguistic Analysis (3)
Choose two courses from the following (6 units):
- LING 402 Phonetics and Phonology (3)
- LING 403 Introduction to Morphology (3)
- LING 404 Syntax (3)
- LING 408 Semantics and Pragmatics (3)
- LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
- LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
- SPAN 495A-Z Selected Topics in Hispanic Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics (3)
- SPAN 496A-Z Experimental Topics Courses in Hispanic Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics (3)
General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 42
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 30
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Program Requirements
Core Courses Common to All Options (24 units)
Take all of the following courses (18 units):
- SPAN 220A Intermediate Spanish I (3)
- SPAN 220B Intermediate Spanish II (3)
- SPAN 304 Advanced Grammar and Composition (3)
- SPAN 306 Advanced Composition (3)
- SPAN 307 Introduction to the Analysis of Hispanic Literature (3)
- SPAN 401 Language and Culture (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 315A Literature of Spain I (3)
- SPAN 315B Literature of Spain II (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 363 Literature of Latin America I (3)
- SPAN 364 Literature of Latin America II (3)
Interpretation and Translation Option Courses (18 units)
Take all of the following courses (12 units):
- SPAN 362 Introduction to Spanish Translation (3)
- SPAN 372 Introduction to Spanish Interpretation (3)
- SPAN 400 Structure of the Spanish Language (3)
- SPAN 497 Comparative Structure of Spanish and English (3)
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 462 Advanced Spanish Translation: Legal and Business (3)
- SPAN 463 Advanced Spanish Translation: Medical and Scientific (3)
This department has been granted free access to the Memsource Academic Edition, an academic program designed for universities with translation courses.
Choose one course from the following (3 units):
- SPAN 472 Advanced Spanish Interpretation: Legal and Business (3)
- SPAN 473 Advanced Spanish Interpretation: Medical and Scientific (3)
General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 42
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 30
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120