SPANISH
Department of Modern Foreign Languages
Leonard Koos, Chair
Elizabeth F. Lewis, Career Advisor
Faculty
Associate Professors
Ana Garcia Chichester
Elizabeth F. Lewis
Jose Angel Sainz
Assistant Professors
Zennia D. Hancock
Jeremy G. Larochelle
Jessica C. Locke
Maria Isabel Matrinez-Mira
Shara G. Voisard
Senior Lecturer
Maria C. Riegger
The Spanish Program
Through courses in Spanish, students gain proficiency in understanding, reading, writing, and speaking the language. Classes are conducted in Spanish from the beginning levels. Through classroom instruction, individual research, and department-sponsored organizations, students come to know the varied Hispanic cultures around the world. Internships and service learning opportunities in local and regional agencies and organizations that serve the growing Latino population offer students valuable experience outside the classroom.
Students wishing to major in Spanish may select from courses in language, literature, linguistics, and culture. Students may reside in the Spanish speaking residence hall which sponsors various inter-cultural programs each year. Every year a student from a Spanish speaking country spends a year in residence teaching and promoting the Spanish language.
UMW has a well established study abroad program in Bilbao, Spain with the Universidad de Deusto. Students may chose from summer, semester, or year-long courses of study in language, culture, and literature as well as courses in business, economics, and international affairs. Summer and semester programs are also offered in Quito, Ecuador, where students may choose home stays with Andean families and focus on community-oriented projects. Additionally, the university cooperates with a variety of other overseas study programs, advises and encourages students wishing to study abroad, and helps in planning their international study programs.
Students interested in international business and economics may choose to complete the MDFL Business Language Certificate program in Spanish, which includes courses in language and specialized business terminology.
Graduates in Spanish pursue careers in government, the business sector or private fields in which the knowledge of this language and culture is essential. These include careers in education, business, interpreting and translating, research, social services, law and law enforcement, or international relations.
*For information regarding General Education language requirements for students not currently majoring in Modern Foreign Languages, please see page 53 in this Catalog.
Requirements for the Spanish Major
Thirty-nine (39) credits in language, literature, linguistics, and culture courses, including Spanish 314, 317, 318, 323, 324, 327, 328 and 413; either Spanish 393 or 414 or 483; two advanced literature courses; and two additional courses in literature or culture (Spanish 315, 316, 320 or 416) or a combination of one literature and one culture course.
Spanish Course Offerings
101, 102 – Beginning Spanish (3, 3)
105 – Intensive Beginning Spanish (6)
Grammar, conversation, reading, laboratory use.
201, 202 – Intermediate Spanish (3, 3)
205 – Intensive Intermediate Spanish (6)
Grammar review, reading, oral work, laboratory use.
310 – Spanish for Native and Heritage Speakers (3)
Class addresses special problems in grammar and spelling. Only open to native and heritage speakers of the language.
314 – Spanish Pronunciation and Oral Use (3)
Introduction to phonetics and intensive oral practice above the intermediate level.
315 – Spanish Civilization (3)
Geography, history, and the social, political and cultural background of Spain and the Spanish people.
316 – Latin American Civilization (3)
History, geography, and the social, political and cultural backgrounds of Latin America and the Latin American people.
317 –Grammar and Composition (3)
Studies in grammar and composition.
318 –Grammar and Conversation (3)
Studies in grammar and oral skills.
320 – Topics in Hispanic Culture (3)
Explores cultural issues dealing with the Hispanic culture.
323, 324 – Introduction to Spanish Literature (3, 3)
Survey of Spanish literature from the Middle Ages to present day.
327, 328 – Introduction to Latin American Literature (3, 3)
Survey of Latin American Literature from pre-colonial to present day.
375 – Spanish Realism and Generation of 1898 (3)
Prerequisites: Any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323,324, 327, 328). Representative authors or themes from nineteenth-century Spanish Realism and Naturalism through the Generation of 1898 in Spain.
378 – Latin American Poetry (3)
Pre-requisite: any two courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327 or 328). A study of representative poetic works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassic, Romantic, Modernista and/or contemporary periods in Latin America.
383 – Contemporary Spanish Prose (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Novels and short stories selected from the beginnings of the 20th century to the present.
385 –Latin American Novel (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Great works from Latin America selected from the period of the Boom and Post-Boom.
386 – The Twentieth-Century Latin American Short Story (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Collections of short fiction from the avant-garde to present day.
388 – Twentieth-Century Latin America Drama (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Major Latin American dramatists plus collective theater and works written by U.S. Latino(a) playwrights.
393 – Spanish for Professional Use (3)
Prerequisites: Spanish 317, 318. Study of specialized vocabulary, cultural variances, and their application to various professions.
413 –Advanced Grammar and Composition (3)
Prerequisite: Spanish 317, 318. Formal and creative application of writing skills.
414 – Spanish for Translation (3)
Prerequisites: Spanish 317. English-Spanish and Spanish-English translation of texts from different disciplines. Includes studies in history and theory of translation.
415 – Advanced Conversation (3)
Prerequisites: Spanish 318. Oral communication at an advanced level. Students practice conversation skills through individual presentations, group discussions, and other formats.
416 –Topics in U.S. Latino Issues (3)
Prerequisites: Spanish 315, 316 or 320. Issues dealing with the culture and concerns of U.S. Latinos are explored. Topics will vary.
420 – Spanish Cinema (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Selected topics in film.
451 – Cervantes (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Reading and intensive study of Don Quijote.
475 –Hispanic Women Writers (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Study of women writers from Spain and Latin America.
481 – Spanish Seminar (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Selected topics in literature from Spain.
483 – Topics in Spanish Linguistics (3)
Prerequisite: Spanish 314 or permission of the professor. Selected topics in linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, and history of the language.
485 – Latin American Seminar (3)
Prerequisite: any two survey courses in Spanish or Latin American literature (323, 324, 327, 328). Selected topics in literature and film from Latin America.
491, 492 – Individual Study (3, 3)
Intensive study of a topic selected by student in consultation with instructor. By permission of the department.
499 – Internship (Credits variable)
Supervised off-campus experience, developed in consultation with a faculty advisor and the office of Career Services.