Please note: The information displayed here is current as of Wednesday, November 20, 2019, but the official Course Catalog should be used for all official planning.

2019-2020 Course Catalog

Required for the major in Spanish

Students who complete the major will develop the following abilities in Spanish:

  • Communication: Use information from written and aural sources to present a synthesis and express opinions, in writing and orally. Participate in interpersonal and presentational communication, both in writing and orally. Use language that is semantically and grammatically accurate according to a given context.
  • Culture: Know and understand different cultures through their literatures, visual arts , films, and other cultural artifacts. Recognize cultural elements implicit in oral and written texts; demonstrate understanding of practices, perspectives, and products of the cultures studied.
  • Connections, comparisons, and communities: Make comparisons between Spanish and the student's native language and between the cultures in Spanish-speaking countries and the student's own culture, and participate critically in multilingual communities.

The major in Spanish requires the following:

  1. Spanish 202 or one Spanish class numbered at the 300 level (depending on placement)
  2. Two additional Spanish courses numbered at the 300 level
  3. Two Spanish courses numbered at the 400 level
  4. Four Spanish courses numbered at the 500 level
  5. One elective, to choose from:
    1. One Spanish course numbered at the 400 level or above
    2. Six units of academic internship
    3. One of the following approved courses in other departments or programs:
      • ARHI 230: Baroque Art
      • EDUC 563: Foreign Language Methods
      • ETST 355: Black and Latin@ Sociology
      • ETST 426: Black, Brown, and Queer in Film
      • HIST 155: Gender in Latin American History 1490-1800
      • HIST 178: Colonial Latin American History
      • HIST 179: Modern Latin American History
      • HIST 260: Culture & Power in Renaissance Europe
      • HIST 261: Rebellion & Discipline in Reformation Europe
      • HIST 275: Europe 1851-1990
      • HIST 371: Rise & Fall of American Empires
      • HIST 374: Visions of the Conquest
      • HIST 378: Ethnicity in Latin America
      • HIST 422: Revolt & Revolution in Latin America
      • LING 150: Introduction to Linguistics
      • ECON 203: Latin American Economic Development
      • ENG 150: Literary Analysis
      • ENG 448: Enlightenment Selves
      • ENG 525: Contemporary Critical Theory
  6. Completion of at least eight courses in the major that have Spanish as the sole or primary language of instruction, communication, and coursework.
  7. Completion of at least five courses for the major on campus, including two Spanish 500-level classes. (See "Off-campus study" section for equivalence of off-campus courses.)
  8. Approval of the completed Senior Experience: Spanish multimedia portfolio (see Moodle page "SPAN e-ports" for detailed information).

Senior Experience in Spanish

The Spanish department's Senior Experience consists of a multimedia portfolio that provides measurable evidence of the academic work, cultural competence, and communication skills required of Spanish majors. The portfolio is a requirement for completion of the major. It presents a collection of evidence that demonstrates a student's attainment of the learning goals established by the program. 

Spanish majors are required to submit their multimedia portfolio in the required electronic format to the Spanish department by the end of the fifth week of their final term at Lawrence. Spanish faculty evaluators will assess the portfolio and communicate the outcome of their evaluation to the students before the end of the term. Unapproved portfolios must be revised and resubmitted before the last day of classes in order for students to graduate.

The portfolio must include the following components:

1. A 2-3 page essay in Spanish, which will include the following:

  • An individualized portfolio theme
  • A description of the content of the portfolio
  • A narrative in which the student:
    • Evaluates their intellectual development as a Spanish major and reflects on the improvement gained throughout their career at Lawrence
    • Explains the selection of materials for the portfolio and connects each component to their academic interests and future goals.

2. A list of the courses completed for the major.

3. A minimum of 15 pages written in Spanish from 3 different courses of the student's choice at the 300-level and above. One of the three samples must be in the condition in which it was originally submitted and also revised. The other two samples must be revised and thoroughly edited in order to reflect the student's current level of proficiency.

  1. Two spoken samples (two-minutes each) prepared and recorded independently by the student in a computer lab.
    1. Speech Sample #1: A five-minute audio recording of an academic presentation in Spanish.
    2. Speech Sample #2: A five-minute multimedia oral presentation about an off-campus experience dedicated to the development of intercultural proficiency such as a study abroad, internship, volunteer, or language immersion program that involved regular and sustained interaction with members of a Spanish-speaking community. It should include no fewer than 5 original photos, accompanied by an unscripted spoken narration in Spanish.

Submitted and approved portfolio materials can become part of a rotating showcase of students' work made available to on- and off- campus communities through departmental or Senior Experience websites

The entire portfolio must be submitted in electronic format through the required channels. 

Important: Students must register to take an Independent Study (SPAN 699) for one (1) unit (S/U) with their assigned faculty evaluator(s) during their final term at Lawrence.

Required for the minor in Spanish

  1. Spanish 202 or one Spanish course numbered at the 300 level (depending on placement)
  2. One Spanish course numbered at the 300 level
  3. One Spanish course numbered at the 400 level
  4. Two Spanish courses numbered at the 500 level
  5. One elective, to choose from:
    1. One Spanish course numbered at the 400 level or above
    2. Six units of academic internship
    3. One of the following approved courses in other departments or programs:
      • ARHI 230: Baroque Art
      • EDUC 563: Foreign Language Methods
      • ETST 355: Black and Latin@ Sociology
      • ETST 426: Black, Brown and Queer in Film
      • HIST 155: Gender in Latin American History 1490-1800
      • HIST 178: Colonial Latin American History
      • HIST 179: Modern Latin American History
      • HIST 260: Culture & Power in Renaissance Europe
      • HIST 261: Rebellion & Discipline in Reformation Europe
      • HIST 275: Europe 1851-1990
      • HIST 371: Rise & Fall of American Empires
      • HIST 374: Visions of the Conquest
      • HIST 378: Ethnicity in Latin America
      • HIST 422: Revolt & Revolution in Latin America
      • LING 150: Introduction to Linguistics
      • ECON 203: Latin American Economic Development
      • ENG 150: Literary Analysis
      • ENG 448: Enlightenment Selves
      • ENG 525: Contemporary Critical Theory
  6. Completion of at least five courses in the minor that have Spanish as the sole or primary language of instruction, communication, and coursework.
  7. Completion of least three courses in the minor on campus. (See "Off-campus study" section for equivalence of approved off-campus courses.)

 

Teacher certification in Spanish (K-12)

Spanish majors can seek certification to teach Spanish at the elementary and secondary levels. To be certified, students must study in a Spanish-speaking country for one term, and they must also pass an oral and writing proficiency test. Students can add an endorsement for a second area (such as another language or English as a second language) by completing the appropriate minor. Students who plan to seek teacher certification should review the requirements in the Education section of the catalog and meet with the director of teacher education before the end of their second year.

Course numbering

Courses numbered SPAN 101-201 are standards-based, proficiency-oriented Spanish language and culture classes. Their goal is to have students achieve an intermediate level of linguistic and cultural proficiency in accordance with the 5 Cs in national standards: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. Any SPAN 200-level class satisfies the general education requirement in language competency (SPAN 200, 201 or 202). Courses numbered 202 and above can satisfy requirements for a minor or major in Spanish.

SPAN 202 is a high-intermediate proficiency course that provides continued development of a student's written and oral expression in Spanish, as well as knowledge and analysis of pertinent cultural and linguistic topics. 

The content of 300/400/500 courses and seminars is connected to the research interests and areas of expertise of each faculty member. Courses numbered in the 300s provide communicative and intellectual development through the introductory study of specific areas of knowledge (literature, film, news media, linguistics, etc.) 400-level courses allow a more advanced exploration of cultural, socio-political, artistic, filmic and literary areas. Courses at the 500 level are seminars for advanced majors and minors, and they delve into very specific academic topics. In all courses, students are expected to actively participate in academic discussions and produce scholarly work appropriate for each stage in their education.

Tutorial studies and independent projects can be pursued in courses numbered in the 390s and 590s, subject to faculty availability. Spanish does not offer tutorials or directed studies below the 300 level. Some internships are eligible to become a 595 course, subject to approval by the chair of the department and the availability of a faculty supervisor. 

The Senior Experience requires registration for a one-unit independent study with the assigned evaluator(s) (SPAN 699 Spanish Multimedia Portfolio). This project allows students to connect, reflect on, and demonstrate different areas of knowledge and proficiency achieved in the major. SPAN 699 is graded S/U.

All learners of Spanish as a second language, as well as native and heritage speakers of Spanish, are strongly encouraged to take the online placement exam and enroll in Spanish courses at the recommended level. 

Off-campus study

The Spanish department strongly advises its majors and minors to participate in sponsored academic programs in Spain or Latin America, although off-campus study is not required for completion of a Spanish major or minor. Other students are also encouraged to participate.

Transferring off-campus credits to complete major or minor requirements in Spanish

Conversion of semester credits to Lawrence units:

  • 3 credit hours = 5 units
  • 4 credit hours = 7 units

Lawrence course levels and types of equivalent classes off campus:

A detailed chart of specific off-campus courses and their corresponding course level at Lawrence can be on the Advising section of the Spanish website or by clicking on this link. Below are the general guidelines for these equivalencies:

Spanish 202

  • A high-intermediate Spanish language and culture course (i.e. courses solely focused on improving communicative proficiency in Spanish and general knowledge of cultural products, practices and perspectives in Spanish-speaking communities). Similar in difficulty to Spanish 202.

Spanish 300-level

  • A low-advanced Spanish course focused on introductory linguistic analysis (e.g. advanced grammar). It generally includes short writing assignments (1-2 pages) and brief oral presentations. Similar in difficulty to Spanish 300-level courses on campus. 
  • A low-advanced Spanish course focused on basic literary, artistic, filmic and/or cultural analysis, narrative writing or similar. It generally includes short writing assignments (1-2 pages) and/or brief oral presentations. Similar in difficulty to 300-level courses on campus.

Spanish 400-level

  • An advanced Spanish class with a focus on the history, political system, music, art, environment or society of the host country or region. It generally includes medium-length writing assignments (3-5 pages) and/or more specialized oral presentations. Similar in difficulty to 400-level courses on campus.
  • A course taught in Spanish in a discipline other than Hispanic Studies (e.g. GOVT, ECON, PSYC, ENST, BIOL, ARHI, HIST, EDUC, etc.) Important: Contact the appropriate department in advance if you want these credits to satisfy requirements in a program other than Spanish.
  • An interdisciplinary course with an internship, volunteering, professional shadowing or field study component that requires a significant amount of oral and written communication in Spanish outside of class, as well as reporting and research work in Spanish, as appropriate.

Spanish 500-level

  • A seminar-type Spanish class with an advanced focus on a specific topic or time period in the cultural production (e.g. literature, cinema  television or similar cultural narratives) of Latin America, Spain or other Latinx communities. Readings and assignments have a strong theoretical component and must be equivalent in length and difficulty to those in Spanish 500-level classes on campus.
  • A seminar-type Spanish class in advanced linguistics. Readings and assignments must be equivalent in difficulty to those in Spanish 500-level classes on campus.

IMPORTANT: If students take off-campus courses that do not fit any of the categories above (e.g. courses with a primary focus on pre-professional training or recreational activities), these credits may transfer as general Lawrence units, but they cannot fulfill major or minor requirements in Spanish. Students must always obtain the approval of their Spanish advisor or the Spanish chair for applying off-campus credit to the completion of requirements for the major or minor.