Modern Languages and Literatures: Spanish

Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 8.5 credits of work in courses numbered 008 and above. One of these courses must be SPAN 022  or SPAN 023 , except in special cases when the section waives this requirement.
2. Majors must maintain a curricular balance in their overall program. Students are encouraged to choose courses representing each one of the following areas: Caribbean, Mexico/Central America, South America, and Spain.
3. Students may count only one of these courses toward the major: SPAN 008  or SPAN 012  . Note that neither AP nor IB credits will count towards the major.
4. One of the 8.5 credits of advanced work may be taken in English from the courses listed in the catalog under “Literatures in Translation: Spanish” (LITR.S) offered by the section.
5. All majors are encouraged to take at least one seminar in the section. Students can take a seminar after they have completed one advanced course (numbered 040 to 089). Only one seminar in the major will count for two credits. (A seminar can also be taken for 1 credit depending on student’s needs.)
6. In the spring semester of their senior year, Spanish majors will register in SPAN 095  (0.5 credits) to prepare their Spanish final paper.
7. A minimum of four of the eight courses must be taken at Swarthmore.
8. Students majoring in Spanish must spend one semester in a Spanish-speaking country enrolled in a program approved by the section. Only two courses taken abroad that pertain to the curriculum of the section may count toward fulfillment of the major. For full immersion, all courses taken abroad must be taken in Spanish. Only advanced language courses taken abroad may receive Spanish credit. Exceptions to the study abroad requirement: In special cases, depending on the student’s language proficiency, this requirement may be waived or fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program identified and approved by the Spanish section. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the major.) The requirement will be waived for students who have recently arrived in the US and/or have had extensive schooling in Spanish in Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish/English bilingual students who have grown up in Spanish-speaking environments in the United States may petition to have the requirement waived or fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program. The Spanish faculty will evaluate each case individually.
9. Upon returning from abroad, students must enroll in a one-credit advanced course in the section.
10. To graduate with a major in Spanish, a student must maintain a minimum grade of B in the discipline, and a C average in course work outside the department.

Culminating Exercise/Final Examination

Along with development of analytical literary and cultural abilities, majors are expected to reach an advanced level of linguistic proficiency. The Spanish Final Exam has oral and written components, both entirely in Spanish.

In the spring semester of their senior year, Spanish majors will register in SPAN 095 to develop their Spanish final paper and prepare for their oral examination. Spanish majors will re-write one of the best term papers they wrote for courses in the section. The new research paper will: a) deepen the original analysis; b) enhance the critical work on which it is based to include ample documentation; and c) increase the paper’s length to at least 20 pages, plus bibliography.

Once the student has selected the paper to be revised, he/she needs to meet with the specific Spanish faculty member to agree on a timeline to turn in drafts, and discuss changes and revisions. 

The oral examination is based on the content of the written essay and on overall course preparation. This essay-and the student’s overall course preparation-will provide the basis for the oral examination in May, conducted exclusively in Spanish. The Spanish language ability of majors, as exhibited in this paper and the oral examination, will be part of the final evaluation.

Acceptance Criteria

For admission to the course major, the student needs a minimum of B level work in courses taken at Swarthmore taught in Spanish or the required introductory-level literature course (SPAN 022   or SPAN 023  ), demonstrated ability and interest in language and literature, and a minimum C average in course work outside the department.

Prerequisite: SPAN 004   or its equivalent is the language prerequisite for entering the Spanish major. It does not count as one of the 8.5 credits required for the major.

Requirements

1. All minors must take a total of five courses and/or seminar offerings numbered 008 and above. Only one of these may overlap with the student’s major or other minor. Note that AP and IB credits will not count towards the minor.
2. All minors must take either SPAN 022  or SPAN 023 , except in special cases when the section waives this requirement.
3. Minors must maintain a curricular balance in their overall program. Students are encouraged to choose courses representing the following areas: Caribbean, Mexico/Central America, South America, and Spain.
4. Students may count only one of these courses toward the major: SPAN 008  or SPAN 012 . Note that neither AP nor IB credits will count towards the major.
5. All minors are strongly encouraged to take seminars offered by the section. Students can take a seminar after they have completed one advanced course (numbered 040 to 089). Seminars count as one credit toward the minor.
6. Completion of at least one semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country in a program approved by the Spanish section. Only two courses taken abroad that pertain to the curriculum of the section may count towards fulfillment of the minor. To ensure full immersion, all courses taken abroad must be taken in Spanish. Only advanced language courses taken abroad may receive Spanish credit. Exceptions to the study abroad requirement: In special cases, depending on the student’s language proficiency, this requirement may be waived or fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program identified and approved by the Spanish section. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the minor.) The requirement will be waived for students who have recently arrived in the US and/or have had extensive schooling in Spanish in Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish/English bilingual students who have grown up in Spanish-speaking environments in the United States may petition to have the requirement waived or fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program. The Spanish faculty will evaluate each case individually.
7. Upon returning from study abroad, students are expected to register in a one-credit advanced course in the section.
8. To graduate with a minor in Spanish, a student must maintain a minimum grade of B in the discipline, and a C average in course work outside the department.

Acceptance Criteria

For admission to the course minor, the student needs a minimum of B level work in courses taken at Swarthmore taught in Spanish or the required introductory-level literature course (SPAN 022 ) or (SPAN 023 ), demonstrated ability and interest in language and literature, and a minimum C average in course work outside the department.

Prerequisite: SPAN 004  or its equivalent is the language prerequisite for entering the Spanish minor. It does not count as one of the 5 credits required for the minor.

Requirements

Candidates for the major or minor in Spanish must meet these requirements to be accepted into Honors:

1. A “B” average in Spanish coursework at the College.
2. Completion at Swarthmore of either SPAN 022   or SPAN 023   (except in cases when the section waives this requirement) and one course numbered 040 to 089.
3. Completion of one semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country in a program approved by the Spanish section. Depending on their linguistic proficiency, as evaluated by the Spanish faculty, honors majors and minors may petition to have the requirement waived or fulfilled with a summer-long study abroad program.
4. Demonstrated linguistic ability in the language.
5. Present fields for external examination based on either two-credit seminars offered by the section, or the combination of two advanced courses numbered between 050-089 that form a logical pairing.
6. All majors in the Honors Program must do three (3) preparations for a total of six units of credit while all minors must complete one (1) preparation consisting of two units of credit.

The Honors Exam for Majors and Minors

Majors will take three (3) three-hour written examinations prepared by external examiners, as well as three (3) half-hour oral exams based on the contents of each field of preparation.

Minors will take one (1) three-hour written examination prepared by the external examiner, as well as one (1) half-hour oral exam based on the contents of the written examination and their overall preparation in the field presented.

All Honors exams will be conducted exclusively in Spanish.

Special Major in Linguistics and Languages

Spanish requirements for the special major: 

1. Complete three credits numbered above SPAN 022  .
2. One of the three credits must be SPAN 022  or SPAN 023   but not both.
3. Courses in translation will not count towards the fulfillment of the three-credit requirement.
4. In special circumstances, by permission of the Spanish section, one of the introductory writing courses (SPAN 008  or SPAN 012 ) could count toward the three-credit requirement. 
5. If the student is pursuing study abroad in a Spanish speaking country, only one literature course taken abroad that pertains to the curriculum of the Spanish section may count toward fulfillment of the three-credit requirement. For full immersion, all courses taken abroad must be taken in Spanish. (Advanced language courses taken abroad may receive Spanish credit but will not count toward the special major’s three-credit requirement.) 

See Linguistics for department specific requirements. 

Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies

The Spanish Program and the Department of Educational Studies prepare students who wish to pursue a special major in Spanish and Educational Studies, and also those who are seeking certification to teach Spanish in primary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the 45 states with which Pennsylvania certification is reciprocal.

Requirements for the Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies

1. Students must complete 6 credits of work in courses numbered 008 and above. None of these courses may be taught in English.
2. Only one of the following courses may count toward the 6-credits requirement: SPAN 008  or SPAN 012 . One of the 6 credits must be SPAN 022  or SPAN 023 .
3. One credit special major thesis in Educational Studies and Spanish
4. One semester/summer abroad in a Spanish speaking country in a program approved by the Spanish section. Only two courses taken abroad may count toward the 6 credit requirement. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the major.)
5. Students must complete 5 credits in Educational Studies.

Note: The special major itself does not constitute preparation toward certification. The required Educational Studies courses are described elsewhere. 


See Educational Studies for department specific requirements.

Requirements for the Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies with Teacher Certification

In addition to the requirements of the Department of Educational Studies, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Students must complete 8 credits of work in courses numbered SPAN 008  and above.
2. Only one of the following courses may count toward the 8-credits requirement: SPAN 008  or SPAN 012 . One of the 8 credits must be SPAN 022  or SPAN 023 .
3. One of the eight credits may be taken in English from the courses listed in the catalog under “Literatures in Translation: Spanish” (LITR.S) offered by the section.
4. One credit special major thesis in Educational Studies and Spanish
5. One semester/summer abroad in a Spanish speaking country in a program approved by the Spanish section. Only two courses taken abroad may count toward the 8 credit requirement.

See Educational Studies for department specific requirements. 

Seminars

Students wishing to take seminars must have completed at least one course in Spanish numbered 040 and above. Students are admitted to seminars on a case-by-case basis by the instructor according to their overall preparation.

• SPAN 101. Alejo Carpentier
• SPAN 108. Jorge Luis Borges

Spanish Courses Not Currently Offered

• SPAN 040. Colonial Latin America and its New World
• SPAN 049. Cervantes’ Don Quixote: The Narrative Quest
• SPAN 050. Afrocaribe: literatura y cultura visual
• SPAN 051. Cuba contemporánea: utopía, revolución y reforma
• SPAN 063. Cine contemporáneo español
• SPAN 066. Escritoras españolas: una voz propia
• SPAN 070. Género, diversidad y minorías en Latinoamérica
• SPAN 074. Queer Issues in Latin American Literature & Cinema
• SPAN 078. Laberintos borgeanos
• SPAN 104. La voz de la mujer a través de los siglos
• SPAN 107. Héroes y villanos: el siglo XIX español y la democratización literaria