College Bulletin 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 08, 2024  
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College Bulletin 2024-2025

Spanish

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Faculty and Staff

MARÍA LUISA GUARDIOLA, Professor of Spanish, Chair
NANCI BUIZA, Associate Professor of Spanish2
DÉSIRÉE DÍAZ, Associate Professor of Spanish3
LUCIANO MARTÍNEZ, Associate Professor of Spanish
JAIME HERNÁNDEZ, Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
EDUARDO MARTÍN MACHO, Instructor of Spanish
BEATRIZ RAMÍREZ CANOSA, Instructor of Spanish
JESSICA BAWGUS, Administrative Assistant

2 Absent on leave, spring 2025.

3 Absent on leave, 2024-2025.

Built on a solid competence in Spanish language, the major and minor develop students’ skills in critical analysis and provide an understanding of the literatures and cultures of Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Latinos in the United States.

The Academic Program

The Department of Spanish’s curriculum is organized in three tiers:

  • Spanish language courses: Our language courses give students ample opportunity for practice, encouraging the development of communicative proficiency and cultural competency. 
  • Introductory courses: Our writing courses enable students to move toward writing proficiency in Spanish and provide a panoramic view of the literary and cultural histories of the Hispanic world. 
  • Advanced courses and seminars explore specific trends and topics pertaining to the literatures and cultures of Spain, Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Hispanic Caribbean as well as those of Latino/a communities in the United States. Additionally, courses taught in English allow a wide range of students to explore this rich literary and cultural heritage.

With the goal of enabling students to communicate fluently in Spanish, we base our curriculum upon a linguistic and pedagogical continuum beginning at the elementary language level and culminating in the most advanced courses and Honors seminars.

Learning Goals for the Spanish Major and Minor

  1. Linguistic Competence. Students will achieve an advanced level of communication in Spanish using a variety of linguistic registers, acquiring a more idiomatic use of the language, and writing accurately and effectively in academic Spanish.
  2. Critical Thinking. Students will develop analytical skills to interpret and appreciate different texts including literature, media and visual arts, and other cultural practices, using various critical and theoretical approaches.
  3. Content Knowledge. Students will acquire knowledge of a range of literary movements and historical periods from Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Hispanic Caribbean, as well as those of Latino/a communities in the United States.
  4. Cultural Awareness. Students will gain an informed appreciation of the complex and diverse cultural, political, and socio-historical processes that shape the Spanish-speaking world.

Course Major

The Spanish major seeks to provide training in literary and cultural analysis while enabling students to acquire linguistic proficiency.

Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 8 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 department 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. The courses that count toward the major are SPAN 008  and beyond. All corses taken to fulfill the Spanish major need to be taught in Spanish. Note that neither AP nor IB credits will count towards the major.
  4. One of the 8 credits of advanced work may be taken in English from the courses listed under “Spanish Courses Taught in English” (LITR.S) that appear below.
  5. All majors are required to take one seminar in the department. 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 under special circumstances and with instructor’s approval. Seminars taken for 1 credit will not fulfill the major requirement).
  6. A minimum of four of the eight courses must be taken at Swarthmore.
  7. Students majoring in Spanish must spend one semester in a Spanish-speaking country enrolled in a program approved by the Department of Spanish. Only two courses taken abroad that pertain to the curriculum of the department 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 Department of Spanish. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the major.) The Spanish faculty will evaluate each case requiring a waiver individually
  8. Upon returning from abroad, students must enroll in a one-credit advanced course in the department.
  9. 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

The Spanish language ability of majors, as exhibited in the senior seminar’s final essay (15-20 pages), will be part of the major’s 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 credits required for the major.

Course Minor

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. Courses taught in English will not count towards fulfillment of the minor.
  3. All minors must take either SPAN 022  or SPAN 023 , except in special cases when the department waives this requirement.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. All minors are strongly encouraged to take seminars offered by the department. Students can take a seminar after they have completed one advanced course (numbered 040 to 089). Seminars count as one credit toward the minor.
  7. Completion of at least one semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country in a program approved by the Department of Spanish. Only two courses taken abroad that pertain to the curriculum of the department 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 Department of Spanish. (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.
  8. Upon returning from study abroad, students are expected to register in a one-credit advanced course in the department.
  9. 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.

Honors Major and 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 Swarthmore.
  2. Completion at Swarthmore of either SPAN 022 or SPAN 023 (except in cases when the department waives this requirement or approves a similar course taken abroad) 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 Department of Spanish. (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 off-campus study program.)
  4. Demonstrated linguistic ability in Spanish in academic settings.
  5. Present fields for external examination based on Honors seminars offered by the department. (In exceptional cases, a two-course combination approved by the department might be used as an Honors preparation. Students must consult with their sophomore plan advisor and/or department chair.)
  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.
  7. Honors majors and minors must submit a Senior Honors Study (SHS) portfolio to be assessed by the examiner(s). 

Senior Honors Study

Senior Honors Study (SHS) portfolio materials are Honors materials sent to the examiner to be used as part of the evaluation.

All honors majors and minors will select one paper from each seminar to be sent to the external examiner for that seminar. The student is free to submit the paper with minor or major revisions or no revisions at all. 4,000 words is the senior honors limit set by the college.  Majors will, therefore, submit three such papers, and minors will submit one.

The Honors Exam for Majors and Minors

Majors will take three (3) three-hour written examinations prepared by the external examiners, as well as three (3) 45 minute 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, senior honors study portfolio materials, and their overall preparation in the field presented.

All Honors exams will be conducted exclusively in Spanish.

Special Majors

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. Spanish Courses Taught in English (LITR.S) will not count towards the fulfillment of the three-credit requirement.
  4. In special circumstances, by permission of the Department of Spanish, 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 Department of Spanish 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 Department of Spanish 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 PreK-12 certification to teach Spanish in primary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The following courses of studies are available:

  • Course Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies 
  • Course Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies with PA Spanish Teacher Certification
  • Course Major in Spanish, and Educational Studies Minor with PA Spanish Teacher Certification

Students can also seek PreK-12 Spanish certification without the need to pursue a special major, or major/minor in either department, as long as they take the required Spanish and Educational Studies courses.

  • For further information about the relevant requirements, please refer to the academic requirements chart that appears below, and read the section PA Teacher Certification on the Educational Studies Department website (which also discusses how students can explore whether PA certification will transfer to other states).

Review department specific requirements for Spanish & Educational Studies [pdf].

Requirements for the Special Major in Spanish and Educational Studies

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

  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 Department of Spanish. 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.) This requirement may be waived; consult the catalogue/department for study abroad waiver information.
  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 PA Spanish Teacher Certification

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

  1. Students must complete 6 credits of work in courses numbered SPAN 008  and above.
  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 of the 6 credits may be taken in English from the courses listed under “Spanish Courses Taught in English” (LITR.S) that appear below.
  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 Department of Spanish. Only two courses taken abroad may count toward the 8 credit requirement. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the major.) This requirement may be waived; consult the catalogue/department for study abroad waiver information.

See Educational Studies for department specific requirements. 

Application Process for the Major or the Minor

In addition to the process described by the Dean’s Office and the Registrar’s Office for how to apply for a major/minor, we recommend you to meet with the Spanish faculty to discuss your plans. If after applying you are denied admission to the major/minor, you may apply again once you have addressed the recommendations made by the Department of Spanish. If your application is deferred, the department will make a decision immediately after you have taken the necessary steps to address the reasons for being deferred.

PreK-12 Spanish Teacher Certification

Students can also seek PreK-12 Spanish certification without the need to pursue a special major, or major/minor in either department, as long as they take the required Spanish and Educational Studies courses.

For further information about the relevant requirements, please refer to the academic requirements chart that appears below, and read the section PA Teacher Certification on the Educational Studies Department website (which also discusses how students can explore whether PA certification will transfer to other states).

Review department specific requirements for Spanish & Educational Studies [pdf].

The Language Requirement

To receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, candidates must fulfill a foreign language requirement. The foreign language requirement can be fulfilled by:

  • (a). successfully completing 3 years of a single foreign language during grades 9 - 12 (work completed before grade 9 cannot be counted, regardless of the course level);
  • (b). successfully completing the final term of a college-level, year-long, introductory foreign language course or a semester-long intermediate or advanced foreign language course; or,
  • (c). for students who have learned English as a foreign language; demonstrate proficiency in another language.

Students whose Spanish placement recommendation is above the language sequence should consider taking introductory and/or advanced Spanish courses, many of which fulfill the College’s writing requirement.

Spanish Placement Test

The Department of Spanish offers a placement test so as to appropriately position students in language classes when they arrive on campus. New students who have previously studied or have fluency in Spanish should plan to take the placement test.

The Spanish Placement Test is in an online multiple-choice format, which allows you to take it at your convenience. Immediately upon completion of the test, you will receive a score and placement recommendation. You may register in the designated course during the registration period, unless an oral interview is required.

It is important to emphasize that the online placement test and survey are for diagnostic purposes only. These diagnostic tools may be supplemented by your instructor’s evaluation during the first week of classes, at which time he or she may recommend a change of course level.

The test must represent your own work. When taking it, you will be bound by Swarthmore College’s Code of Academic and Personal Integrity. You may take this test only once. Please remember to complete the language survey that appears at the beginning of the test.

  • First-year students and new transfer students must log into Moodle after July 15 and select the New Student Orientation course. In the Placement Exams section of the course, you will find detailed instructions on how to access placement exams. It is important that you complete the language survey that appears at the beginning of the test. Upon completion of the exam, students can register in the designated course during the registration period, unless an oral interview is required.

  • Upper-class students interested in taking the test should contact the Spanish department for information and instructions at spanish@swarthmore.edu.

The Spanish Placement Test is not a substitute for an official standard achievement test of a foreign language (such as the College Board exams or the International Baccalaureate). Therefore, it does not serve as proof of achievement for the purpose of fulfilling the language requirement. This test is only intended to assist instructors in placing students in the appropriate Spanish courses at Swarthmore.

The Spanish Placement Test is required for all students with previous experience in the language, including students with AP/IB scores.

Advancement Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

The department will grant 1 credit for incoming students who achieved a score of 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement Spanish examinations once they have successfully completed a one-credit course in Spanish at the College.

The department will grant 1 credit for incoming students who have achieved a score of 6 or 7 in a foreign language on the International Baccalaureate once they have successfully completed a one-credit course in Spanish at the College.

Note: Students with Spanish AP-IB scores are nonetheless required to take the online placement test.

Off-Campus Study

Academic Benefits of Off-Campus Study

Off-campus study is an enriching intellectual experience when it is fully integrated into the student’s overall academic experience at Swarthmore. Since the principal educational advantages of study abroad are in-depth cross-cultural exposure and language learning, the best study abroad programs are those that maximize these benefits by fully immersing students in the host country’s culture and society. This goal can only be effectively achieved by choosing full immersion off-campus study programs. Pursuing academic coursework in English in a Spanish-speaking country does not comply with the academic goals and mission of the Department of Spanish.

All Spanish majors and minors are required to complete an off-campus study program in a Spanish-speaking country. The Department of Spanish recommends students interested in studying abroad several programs listed in its website under the Off-Campus Study section (https://www.swarthmore.edu/spanish/study-abroad-0).

Waiver of the study abroad requirement for students of Spanish: Majors and minors of Spanish who cannot go abroad for one semester due to academic or other constraints should speak to the chair of the department to discuss their circumstances. In special cases, depending on the student’s language proficiency, the off-campus study requirement may be waived or fulfilled with a summer-long off-campus study program identified and approved by the department. (For summer programs, only one relevant course taken abroad may count towards fulfillment of the minor or major.) Please contact the department chair if you have any questions. 

Upon returning from abroad, majors or minors must enroll in an advanced course in the department.

Advising

We strongly suggest that majors and minors as well as non-specialists meet with a Spanish faculty member to discuss the possibilities and find the program that best suits their academic needs and interests.

Our primary role in study abroad advising is to help students choose an international experience that complements their intellectual pursuits and their Swarthmore education. We help students frame their goals for study abroad as they prepare for living and studying while immersed in a foreign culture. Many students in our department who succeed in obtaining post-graduate fellowships, such as the Fulbright, have studied abroad.

Students on financial aid may apply that aid to designated programs of study abroad.

The Department of Spanish encourages students to choose programs that build on previous language study. In order to be better prepared for academic work in Spanish, we recommend students take a writing course in Spanish (SPAN 008, SPAN 012, SPAN 022, or SPAN 023) at Swarthmore prior to going abroad.

Pre-Estimation and Final Credit Review

By College regulation, to receive credit for college level work done elsewhere, domestic or abroad, it must be pre-approved and evaluated upon completion by the appropriate Swarthmore academic department to determine how much Swarthmore credit it may receive. (Technically, Swarthmore doesn’t transfer credit. We award credit for work done elsewhere, and we casually call this transfer credit.) 

Students enrolled at the college may, at the department’s discretion, receive transfer credit for Spanish courses taken at comparable universities during the summer or semester on leave. Under no circumstances will students be given credit for a college class taken prior to enrolling at Swarthmore. Generally, neither study-abroad nor off-campus courses in Spanish fulfill the College’s Language Requirement.

Once you have been admitted to an off-campus study program, you must get credit pre-approval for the courses you intend to take abroad, using the OCS Credit Evaluation System (https://www.swarthmore.edu/off-campus-study-office/ocs-credits). The amount of credit granted for each Spanish course will be determined by the OCS office following the department’s recommendation.

Students are encouraged to take courses that do not duplicate those offered in the Spanish department. Neither vocational-technical courses nor orientation sessions can receive academic credit.

Before departure, you must consult with the department’s transfer credit advisor to get your proposed Spanish courses pre-estimated for credit. Pre-approved courses will not receive credit until a final evaluation of the coursework completed is done, which must correspond to what was pre-approved. (It is important you keep all notebooks, assignments, and exams from the class, and upload them to OCS Credit Evaluation System for final review.)

For additional information please consult the OCS website. https://www.swarthmore.edu/off-campus-study-office

Spanish Courses

Students wishing to major or minor in Spanish should plan their program in consultation with the department. Spanish is the only language used in class discussions, readings, and assignments in all courses, except in courses taught in English (LITR.S).

Language Courses

Our language courses give students ample opportunity for practice, encouraging the development of communicative proficiency and cultural competency.

Introductory Courses

Our writing courses enable students to move toward writing proficiency in Spanish and provide a panoramic view of the literary and cultural histories of the Hispanic world.

Advanced Courses and Seminars

These courses explore specific trends and topics pertaining to the literatures and cultures of Spain, Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Hispanic Caribbean as well as those of Latino/a communities in the United States.

Students must have taken SPAN 022  or SPAN 023  before they can take an advanced literature, culture or film course in Spanish unless they receive special permission from the instructor. Courses numbered 040 to 089 belong to the same level of complexity, requiring the same level of preparation. The numbering does not imply a sequence. 

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.

Spanish Courses Taught in English

Spanish majors may count one course taught in English from the courses listed below towards the fulfillment of their course major requirements. Courses taught in English will not count towards fulfillment of the minor.

Spanish Courses Not Currently Offered

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