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Department of

Languages and Literatures

Program

Core Curriculum

The typical student begins with Spanish 101 and progresses to Spanish 201. However, some students with a strong background in Spanish may begin with Spanish 102. Others, who have not taken a Spanish class in years or who have learned Spanish informally, may be given the option to take a 4-unit version of 102 which begins with a review of 101 before beginning (and finishing) the work of the "regular" 102 class.

Students who have completed college-level Spanish 102 prior to enrolling at USD may satisfy the language requirement by taking only Spanish 201. Note: Third semester classes are only open to students who have completed a second semester college course or who have demonstrated their readiness on the USD placement exam.

Each summer we offer students the opportunity to take Spanish 201 in Guadalajara, Mexico. In addition, it may also be taught during Intersession (January) in Spain or South America. These classes afford students the opportunity to complete the Core Curriculum requirement in a single academic year with the added benefit of cultural immersion abroad.

Note: Please read the placement policyof this department before enrolling in your first Spanish class at USD or elsewhere.

The Minor

Both SPAN 301 and 303 are prerequisites for Spanish courses numbered 320 and higher. In addition, either SPAN 302 or 304 is a prerequisite for each 400-level course. (See individual course descriptions).

We offer two options to students who wish to minor in Spanish.

  1. 18 units at least 9 of the 18 units must be in upper division courses (numbered 300 and above).
  2. 12 units of upper-division courses numbered 300 or higher
    The prerequisite for this option is fourth semester competency in Spanish and approval by the Department Chair.

For either option, a minimum of six upper-division units must be taken on the San Diego campus. With that restriction in mind, we highly recommend the experience of living and studying in a Spanish-speaking country.

Students who are interested in enrolling in non-affiliated programs should visit the International Study Abroad website. Each course must be approved before it is taken.

The Major

A minimum of 15 upper division units must be taken on the USD campus. The experience of living and studying in a Spanish speaking country is highly recommended

Mission Statement

The mission of the Spanish program is the development of students’ communicative proficiency and cultural understanding through the study of the current societies and cultural histories of the Spanish-speaking world.

Upon completion of the Spanish major, the student is expected to be highly proficient in the four basic communicative skills; demonstrate the capacity to interact appropriately and effectively within diverse social settings in the Spanish speaking world; identify and cogently explain the significance of principal figures, works, and trends in the production of literature, film, and other art forms throughout the major historical periods; critically analyze a text, define a position, and substantiate it through research; appreciate and contribute to the level of inclusion and diversity in U.S. society through cultural understanding and linguistic proficiency; and effectively initiate graduate studies and/ or use her or his language skills in professional settings in community development, business, education, or the health professions, among many other fields.

It is highly recommended that students take advantage of USD’s international programs in Buenos Aires and Madrid, among other locations in the Spanish-speaking world. Information is available at the Office of International Studies Abroad, Serra Hall, Room 315, or go to www.sandiego.edu/academics/IntlStudy.

Learning Goals and Outcomes

Goal 1: Communicative Proficiency
LO 1:Recursive skills:Majors can communicate in Spanish in the two basic "recursive skills," reading and writing, at the Advanced-Low to Advanced-High level according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
LO 2:Immediacy skills:Majors can communicate in Spanish in the two basic "immediacy skills," listening and speaking, at the Advanced-Low to Advanced-High level according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Goal 2: Intercultural Competence
LO 3:Diversity, inclusion, and social justice:Majors can identify and explain fundamental issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice in historical and current contexts of the Spanish-speaking world.
LO 4:Intercultural competence:Majors can demonstrate the capacity to interact appropriately and effectively within diverse social settings and cultural contexts in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond.

Goal 3: Knowledge, Understanding, and Critical Thinking
LO 5:Knowledge and understanding:Majors can identify and cogently explain the historical significance of principal figures, works, and tendencies in the literature and other forms of cultural production throughout major historical periods of the Spanish-speaking world.
LO 6:Critical thinking:Majors can critically analyze a text, define a position, and substantiate it using thorough research techniques, the integration of disparate areas of knowledge, and innovative thinking.

Coursework

A working knowledge of the fundamentals of Spanish grammar and syntax, correct pronunciation, and ease in oral expression (12 units of lower-division or equivalent) are required to proceed to upper-division course work.

The 27 units of upper-division work, which must be selected from Spanish courses numbered 300 or above, must include:

  • 301
  • 302
  • 303
  • 304
  • One 400-level course in Spanish Peninsular Literature
  • One 400-level course in Latin American Literature
  • One 400-level course in Latin American or Spanish Peninsular Literature.

A minimum of 15 upper-division units must be taken on the USD campus. The experience of living and studying in a Spanish-speaking country is highly recommended.