Modern Languages»Hispanic Studies

Hispanic Studies

Before entering the Hispanic Studies major students should have completed Intermediate Spanish or its equivalent. Those entering the major begin their study with either HPS 301,302 (Advanced Spanish Proficiency I & II) or HPS 303,304, or 305 (Introduction to Literature).

A total of eight courses at the 300- or 400-level are required for the major. Students are strongly encouraged, however, to continue to take courses in the language throughout the period up to graduation. Students may also count ILC (International Literature & Culture) ourses that deal with Hispanic culture in English, if they do all written work in Spanish and as much reading and research in that language as possible. A credit-bearing internship (HPS 490 Spanish and Community Health) is available and counts for the major. All majors are required to complete a semester of overseas study in a Spanish-speaking country. A summer program of appropriate length and content may be substituted. Majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a full year.

The Department attempts to offer the courses listed below on a regular rotating basis. Sometimes, however, Special Topics courses break the rotation. We welcome student input into the process of formulating the semester schedule of course offerings.

Senior Project

All majors must complete a project during their senior year. Students have several options to fulfill this requirement. They may take comprehensive examinations, consisting of both written and oral sections. Those students with a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 or with permission of the departmental faculty may choose to do a thesis on a literary or cultural topic or a translation of a work into English with an introductory essay written in Spanish. Performances or exhibits with appropriate written documentation, as well as pedagogical or computer-related projects may also be considered in consultation with the faculty.

Hispanic Studies Alumni Career Panel Highlights

In Spring 2012, several alumni gathered to offer some perspective and advice to current Spanish students.

Wes Schantz ‘08:

Akin Walker ‘10:

Native Language Assistants

This video highlights some of the department’s Spanish language assistants from previous years.

Course Offerings

101, 102. Elementary Spanish

Designed to develop basic proficiency in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. A native Spanish-speaking assistant serves as tutor for the course. Three class meetings and one or two laboratory sessions per week at the discretion of the instructor.

200. Review of Introductory Spanish

A review of the material covered in HPS 101 and HPS 102 for those who need a refresher in the basics but have enough experience to progress to more advanced language production. The objective of this course is to expand basic proficiency in the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as to help students interact with various elements of the culture from different Spanish speaking countries. HPS 200 is only appropriate for those with no prior Spanish experience at the university level who have had a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years at the high school level. Students who have completed HPS 201, HPS 102, or HPS 201 at the college level may not take this course. Three class meetings and one laboratory session per week. Prerequisite: Appropiate placement score, or permission of the instructor.

201, 202. Intermediate Spanish

Review and intensified practice of language skills. Readings cover a wide range of topics in Spanish and Spanish American culture and literature. A native Spanish-speaking assistant serves as tutor for the course. Three class meetings and one or two laboratory sessions per week at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisite: Spanish 102, appropriate placement score, or permission of the instructor.

301. Advanced Spanish Proficiency I

A course designed to improve reading and writing skills and to augment vocabulary through the use of literary and cultural texts, including film. Spanish grammar is thoroughly reviewed with emphasis on those elements of the structure of Spanish that are often the most troubling to non-native learners. Prerequisite: Spanish 202, appropriate placement score, or permission of the instructor.

302. Advanced Spanish Proficiency II

A continuation of 301, this course is designed especially to improve speaking and listening comprehension skills, again through the use of cultural and literary materials, including film. Emphasis will continue to be placed on vocabulary building and the review of Spanish grammar. Prerequisite: HPS 202; HPS 302 may be taken before Spanish 301.

303. Introduction to the Literature of Spanish America

An introduction to the literature of Spanish America. This course provides students with the analytic tools that will facilitate the reading and interpretation of the literature of various Spanish American countries and their representative authors. The course includes works of poetry, drama, short story, novel and film. Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 or permission of the instructor.

304. Introduction to the Literature of Spain

An introduction to Spanish literature. This course provides students with the analytic tools that will facilitate the reading and interpretation of the literature of Spain and its representative authors. The course includes works of poetry, drama, short story, novel, and film. Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 or permission of the instructor.

305. Introduction to the Literature of Spain and Latin America

An introduction to Spanish and Latin American literature. This course provides students with the analytic tools that will facilitate the reading and interpretation of the literature of Spain and Latin America and their representative authors. The course includes works of poetry, drama, short story, novel, and essay. This class combines key texts from HPS 303 and HPS 304 and prepares HPS majors for their Senior Capstone Experience. Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 or permission of the instructor.

307. Spanish for International Business

Designed to give students a foundation in the vocabulary of business and international trade and in the expression of basic business concepts in Spanish. Practice in presenting oral reports on business and cultural topics, in reading business reports and other texts of a cultural nature, and in writing various kinds of business correspondence, including résumés, memos, and letters. All materials are presented within a cultural context intended to expand the student’s knowledge and understanding of the manners and mores of Spain and the Spanish-speaking republics of Latin America, as well as of demographic, geographic, and other data related to those nations. Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

194, 294, 394, 494. Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

The intensive study of a selected author, movement, genre, or theme in literature or film or a study of the culture of a particular period, region, or nation. Prerequisite: Spanish 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

401. The Civilization of Spain

The course begins with a look at the geography of Spain, followed by a study of the early cultures that contributed to the formation of Spanish character and civilization. It continues with the a study of the evolution of Spain’s civilization from the Middle Ages up to the present time. A major emphasis is on contemporary Spanish society, its institutions and forms of cultural expression. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

402. The Civilization of Spanish America

The course begins with consideration of the geography of the Spanish-speaking republics from Mexico through Central and South America and the Caribbean. It moves then to the study of the major pre-contact indigenous cultures (the Mayas, the Aztecs, and the Incas), continuing with the Spanish conquest and a study of colonial society and culture. It then moves to the struggle for independence from Spain and cultural developments in the 19th and 20th centuries. A major emphasis of the course is on general characteristics of Spanish American society, its institutions and forms of cultural expression in the contemporary period. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

410. History of Spanish

A study of the evolution (phonological, morphological, semantic and syntactic of spoken Latin into Castilian through the reading and analysis of medieval texts. The class will also consider the major historical events (social and political that contributed to the formation of modern Spanish. Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 or permission of the instructor.

415. Studies in Early Modern Spanish Literature

Spanning the medieval era to the XVIII century, this course focuses on selective works of history, essay, poetry, prose, and theatre that are representative of literary periods such as Medieval, Golden Age, Baroque, and/or the Enlightenment. This class emphasizes close reading as well as contextual analysis, considering the major historical, social, and political events that contributed to each period formation. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304 or 305 or permission of the instructor.

416. Studies in Colonial Latin American Literature

Spanning the pre-hispanic era to the XVIII century, this course focuses on selective works of history, essay, poetry, prose, and theatre that are representative of literary periods like Pre-Hispanic literature, Colonial Baroque, and/or the Enlightenment. This class emphasizes close reading as well as contextual analysis, considering the major historical, social, and political events that contributed to each period formation. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304 or 305 or permission of the instructor.

418. Narratives of Mexico

An examination of modern Mexican society through representative works of cultural production, this course aims to enhance students’ understanding of Mexican literature, film, art, history, and politics, by focusing on critical analysis of narrative forms that derive from a wide range of aesthetic and ideological approaches, including the idea of Mexico, imagined communities, national consciousness, representation of stereotypes, border culture and migration, democracy, human rights, justice (environmental and social), the Mexican Revolution, free trade, the Zapatista Rebellion, and violence (gender-based and narco). Successful completion of this course will enhance proficiency in technical vocabulary for writing and speaking about cultural analysis. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

419. Weapons, Words, Images: Perspectives on the Spanish Civil War

Few events on the 20th century have ignited the imagination, caused ideological discussions, inspired historical studies and shaken more passions inside and outside Spain than the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). This course analyzes this conflict in depth and shows how the Civil War has been and continues to be the center of an extraordinary cultural energy and a center of reflection in popular culture, art, literature, politics and the society of Spain today. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

420. I Am No Angel: Post-Franco Literature Written by Women

Literature representations throughout the centuries reflect the belief that the aspirations of the Spanish woman must be subordinated to the roles of mother, saint, virgin… the ‘prudente’. This course explores representative literary works written by women after General Franco’s death. In this moment of political change, a significant tendency is the emergent depiction of female characters that show a clear self-consciousness and express fully their thoughts, emotions and desires. Throughout the course we will examine poems, short stories and plays that allow us to consider the possibility of the production of new ideologies at a moment in which new models of “la mujer espanola” coexist and come into conflict with the old ones. Prerequisite: HPS 303, 304, or 305 or permission of the instructor.

190, 290, 390, 490. Internship

195, 295, 395, 495. On-campus Research

196, 296, 396, 496. Off-campus Research

197, 297, 397, 497. Independent Study

SCE. Senior Capstone Experiencein Hispanic Studies

The senior capstone seminar is required for graduation and is devoted to the completion of a thesis or other project or to preparation for a comprehensive examination in the field of Hispanic Studies. Senior Hispanic Studies majors register for this course in the last semester in which they have full-time status at the College. While much of the work is done by each student independently in consultation with a faculty advisor, there are occasional group meetings in which those students writing theses or developing other projects report on the progress of their work and in which students preparing for the comprehensive examination discuss the texts and other materials they are studying. All students will give a formal oral presentation in the target language before their peers and the faculty at the end of the seminar. Thesis students will present their research. Students who are taking the comprehensive examination will choose a topic for their presentation in consultation with the faculty advisor. The Senior Capstone Experiencewill be graded Pass, Fail or Honors.