SPAN - Spanish
SPAN103 Intensive Elementary Spanish (4 Credits)
Covers speaking, reading, writing, listening, and culture of Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisite: Must have appropriate Foreign Language Placement Test (FLPT) score.
Restriction: Must not be a native/fluent speaker of Spanish.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN102 or SPAN103.
SPAN169 Special Topics in Study Abroad I (1-6 Credits)
Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.
Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.
SPAN203 Intensive Intermediate Spanish (4 Credits)
Covers speaking, reading, writing, listening, and culture of Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisite: SPAN103; or must have appropriate Foreign Language Placement Test (FLPT) score.
Restriction: Must not be a native/fluent speaker of Spanish.
SPAN204 Spanish Grammar Review (3 Credits)
An in-depth study and analysis of selected grammatical topics in a contextualized framework.
Prerequisite: SPAN203; or must have appropriate Foreign Language Placement Test (FLPT) score.
Restriction: Not open to fluent/native speakers of Spanish.
SPAN206 Spanish for Heritage Speakers I (3 Credits)
Review of oral and written Spanish for students who have native or near native knowledge of, but no formal education in Spanish. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Native or near native knowledge of and no formal education in Spanish.
SPAN207 Reading and Writing in Spanish (3 Credits)
Selected readings with emphasis on reading comprehension and the development of reading strategies. Work in composition writing and a review of selected grammatical topics. Complements material of SPAN204.
Prerequisite: Must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in SPAN204; or must have appropriate Foreign Language Placement Test (FLPT) score.
SPAN222 Cultural Difference in Contemporary Latin America (3 Credits)
Introduction to representations and expressions in Latin America: cultural stereotypes, representations of difference, forms of discrimination, sublimation of difference into national identity, and the staging of the other. Taught in English.
SPAN224 Violence and Resistance in the Americas (3 Credits)
Indigenous vision of violence and resistance in the Americas. Texts and maps from the European explorers and conquerors are also studied. Readings include primary texts from the 16th as well as from the 20th century. Taught in English.
SPAN225 Cultures of the Contact Zones - Seville, Al-Andalus and the Atlantic World (3 Credits)
Content is broad enough to deal with issues of multiculturalism in Spain but also specific enough to center on the city of Seville and the Andalusion region.Cross-listed with: HONR248E.
SPAN228 Selected Topics in Latin American Literature and Society (3-6 Credits)
Variable cultural studies topics on literature and society in contemporary Latin America. Taught in English.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs. Cross-listed with: PORT228.
SPAN229 Selected Topics in Latin American Culture (1-3 Credits)
Varied topics in Latin America culture.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SPAN234 Issues in Latin American and Caribbean Studies I (3 Credits)
Interdisciplinary study of major issues in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Latin America's cultural mosaic, migration and urbanization. Democratization and the role of religions. Taught in English.Cross-listed with: LACS234, PORT234.
Credit Only Granted for: LASC234, PORT234, SPAN234, or LACS234.
Formerly: LASC234.
SPAN235 Issues in Latin American and Caribbean Studies II (3 Credits)
Major issues shaping Latin American and Caribbean societies including the changing constructions of race, ethnicity, gender and class as well as expressions of popular cultures and revolutionary practices. Taught in English.Cross-listed with: LACS235, PORT235.
Credit Only Granted for: LASC235, PORT235, SPAN235, or LACS235.
Formerly: LASC235.
SPAN269 Special Topics in Study Abroad II (1-6 Credits)
Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.
Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.
SPAN301 Advanced Grammar and Composition I (3 Credits)
Practice of complex grammatical structures through reading and writing of compositions and essays. Specific lexical, syntactic, rhetorical, and stylistic devices will be highlighted.
Prerequisite: Must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in SPAN207.
SPAN302 Advanced Grammar and Composition II (3 Credits)
Practice in and writing of different types of compositions and essays, including narrations, descriptions, and persuasive writing. Review of problematic syntactical structures.
Prerequisite: SPAN301.
SPAN303 Approaches to Cultural Materials in the Hispanic World (3 Credits)
Development of proficiency in critical thought through the reading, viewing, and analytical discussion of major genres and styles of cultural materials selected from Spanish-speaking world. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN301.
Recommended: May elect to take SPAN311 and/or SPAN316 in same semester as SPAN303.
SPAN306 Spanish for Heritage Speakers II (3 Credits)
Practice of complex grammatical structures through reading and writing of compositions and essays. Specific lexical, syntactic, rhetorical and stylistic devices will be highlighted. Designed for Spanish speakers educated in English. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN206.
SPAN307 Oral Communication Skills for Heritage Speakers of Spanish (3 Credits)
Development of techniques for formal public speaking in Spanish. Writing and delivering oral presentations for varied audiences and purposes. Includes strategies for organization, the use of rhetorical patterns, and the development of effective discourse. Designed for Heritage speakers of Spanish with native or near native knowledge of Spanish, but no formal education in Spanish. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Native or near native knowledge of and no formal education in Spanish.
SPAN311 Advanced Communication I (3 Credits)
Further development of listening, speaking, and writing skills in Spanish. Opportunity to develop oral and written fluency, improve pronunciation and increase vocabulary. Individual and/or group oral presentations. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN301; and must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in SPAN303.
Restriction: Must not be a native/fluent speaker of Spanish.
SPAN312 Advanced Conversation II (3 Credits)
Continued mastery of listening and speaking skills in Spanish. Opportunity to develop oral fluency, improve pronunciation, and increase vocabulary. Emphasis on colloquial and technical language as well as development of linguistic accuracy. Individual and/or group oral presentation.
Prerequisite: SPAN311.
Restriction: Must not be a native/fluent speaker of Spanish.
SPAN316 Spanish Translation I (3 Credits)
Translation of texts into Spanish and/or English. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN301; and must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in SPAN303.
SPAN317 Translation II (3 Credits)
Translation of non-literary, non-technical texts into Spanish and/or English.
Prerequisite: SPAN316.
SPAN318 Translation of Technical Texts (3 Credits)
Specialized texts in law and international affairs into Spanish and/or English. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and (SPAN311 or SPAN316).
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SPAN325 Hispanic Linguistics I: Grammar and Society (3 Credits)
Sociolinguistic approach to Spanish grammar focusing on real-life exploration of the ways linguistic structures change and are used in different parts of the Spanish-speaking world. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and (SPAN311 or SPAN316).
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN310 or SPAN325.
Formerly: SPAN310.
SPAN331 Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature I: Medieval Times (3 Credits)
The exploration of cultures of the Iberian Peninsula from its origins until the 15th century as well as the study of historical and political events that gave rise to the Spanish state. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN332 Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature II: Renaissance and Baroque (3 Credits)
An overview of cultural and literary production of Spain from the late 15th through late 17th centuries, exploring the production of literary texts in their socio-historical, political, religious and cultural contexts and development. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN333 Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature III: Modern Times (3 Credits)
An overview of cultural and literary production of Spain from the late 17th century through the present day, exploring the production of literary texts in their socio-historical, political, religious and cultural contexts and development. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN335 Cultural History of Seville (4 Credits)
Cultural History of Seville: An exploration of the Iberian, Mediterranean, and transatlantic contexts shaping the history, identity, and cultural and artistic expressions of Seville. Includes texts from the Middle Ages to the twenty first century. Focus on the historical, literary and cultural evolution of Seville from the Roman Empire and the Moorish occupation to the discovery and conquest of America until present times. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN301.
Recommended: SPAN303.
SPAN359 Spanish for the Professions (3-9 Credits)
Exploration of cultural and linguistic skills for different professional contexts including vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and strategies. No experience in the professional area necessary. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN316; or permission of department.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SPAN361 Latin American Literatures and Cultures I: From Pre-Columbian to Colonial Times (3 Credits)
Overview of cultural history of Latin America from pre-Columbian civilizations to the Colonial period, exploring the foundations of the Spanish American cultural and literary tradition to approximately 1770. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN362 Latin American Literatures and Cultures II: From Independence to Nation Formation (3 Credits)
An overview of cultural and literary production of Latin America from the 18th Century to approximately 1900, exploring the production of literary texts in their socio-historical, political, and cultural contexts and development. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN363 Latin American Literatures and Cultures III: From Modernism to Neo-Liberalism (3 Credits)
An overview of cultural and literary production of Latin America from the late 19th through the early 21st centuries, exploring the production of literary texts in their socio-historical, political, and cultural contexts and development. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN369 Special Topics in Study Abroad III (1-6 Credits)
Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.
Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.
SPAN370 Spanish for Business I (3 Credits)
Business Spanish terminology, vocabulary and practices. Emphasis on everyday spoken and written Spanish. Readings and discussions of Spanish commercial topics. May include exposure to Spanish commercial topics. May include exposure to Spanish business environments. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and (SPAN311 or SPAN316).
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN315 or SPAN370.
Formerly: SPAN315.
SPAN371 Spanish for the Health Professions (3 Credits)
Exploration of cultural and linguistic skills for the health professions including vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and strategies. No experience in the professional area necessary. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN372 Spanish and the Law (3 Credits)
Offers students the opportunity to enhance Spanish linguistic and intercultural communication skills in contexts of legal practice through the translation of a variety of legal documents. Introduces Spanish legal terminology in areas such as immigration, consumer protection, and criminal/employment/housing/family law. Students will learn how to apply these language and cultural skills as future legal practitioners interacting with clients who possess limited English proficiency. Native or fluent guest participants will expose students to legal terminology, registers, and dialects from various Spanish-speaking countries. The goal of the class is to enable students to, at a minimum, conduct intake interviews in a culturally competent fashion with Spanish-speaking clients without the assistance of interpreters. The course is designed to be beneficial for students with varying levels of Spanish language ability, up to and including students who are native or heritage speakers of Spanish. Taught in Spanish
Prerequisite: SPAN311 or SPAN316.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN372 or SPAN359O.
Formerly: SPAN359O.
SPAN373 Spanish in the Media (3 Credits)
Exploration of Spanish in current events in the Hispanic world in local and international press and varied media, and production of journalistic articles.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and (SPAN311 or SPAN316). Or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN373 or SPAN359A.
Formerly: SPAN359A.
SPAN374 Spanish in the Community (3 Credits)
Provides students with context for understanding, communicating with, and working with the Spanish-speaking community. Topics include Latino/a demographics, cultures, communities, work opportunities and local uses of Spanish. Requires outside service-learning work.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and (SPAN311 or SPAN316). Or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN374 or SPAN359B.
Formerly: SPAN359B.
SPAN375 Spanish in the Life Sciences (3 Credits)
Communication and critical thinking skills in Spanish through the study of materials related to science. The course engages students in class discussions about a variety of topics in different formats, such as book chapters, articles, film, art, and literary works. The course is divided into five units that will allow the study of specific geographies, topics, and cases in the Spanish-speaking world. Assignments include a research proposal and visits to the National Zoo and the National Museum of Natural History. No technical knowledge is necessary, as we will emphasize the language of science, not the content itself. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303 and SPAN311; or SPAN316; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN359L or SPAN375.
Formerly: SPAN359L.
SPAN386 Experiential Learning (3-6 Credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
SPAN388W Writing Center Internship (1-6 Credits)
Examines face-to-face and online writing center theory and practice through readings, exercises, and supervised tutoring. Students investigate the writing process and help other writers to negotiate it.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Writing Center (1205 Tawes Hall).
Repeatable to: 12 credits. Cross-listed with: ENGL388W.
SPAN399 Independent Study in Spanish (1-3 Credits)
Specific readings in literature or a translation project under the supervision of a faculty member of the department.
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 3 credits.
SPAN401 Advanced Composition I (3 Credits)
Compositions and essays with emphasis on stylistics, idiomatic and syntactic structures. Organization and writing of research papers.
Prerequisite: SPAN302; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SPAN402 Advanced Composition II (3 Credits)
Compositions and essays with emphasis on stylistics, idiomatic and syntactic structures. Organization and writing of research papers.
Prerequisite: SPAN401; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SPAN404 The Bright Middle Ages (3 Credits)
The period that precedes the Renaissance has been traditionally labeled as the "dark" Middle Ages and it is common to associate an evil, brutality and barbarian life style with the time span comprised of between the 5th and the 15th centuries. This undergraduate seminar does not intend to embellish the truth or to minimize the hardships of life and death at the time of the Crusades. In fact, an objective timeline of historical events that marked that period as middle will be provided, and the central question to be addressed in this class is, "Middle of what"? As we try to answer it, we will be able to examine many "modern" aspects of the Middle Ages. Some of them have been highlighted since the beginning of the 20th century and justify a view of the Middle Ages as a bright and "modern" period in which, while overcoming despicable difficulties and a lack of facilities, the most precious treasures of our times were intellectually conceived, manufactured, built, and written. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN404, or SPAN408I.
Formerly: SPAN408I.
SPAN405 North American Neomedievalism: the U.S. East Coast and 16th-Century Spain (3 Credits)
The fall of the Roman Empire certainly did not affect North America, but the European Middle Ages created several patterns of expansion that, with considerable transformations, are present in North America and all over the world. Through the study of Neomedievalism, students will be able to better understand today's national and international relations. We will read scholarship that helps us understand that it is not an accident that we have replicas of medieval villas and that we are increasingly interested in developing games and producing movies that replicate medieval life. We will also study why the failure and success of social and economic systems of the past have influenced modern civilizations and why the loaded concepts of "barbarian" and "foreign" have not disappeared. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN405 or SPAN408C.
Formerly: SPAN408C.
SPAN406 Don Juan Manuel's Fictional and Historical Prose (3 Credits)
Dedicated to the literary production of an important author: Don Juan Manuel. By examining the interaction among writing, reading and the oral acquisition of knowledge in his works, special attention will be given to how the border between fact and fiction is constructed in the Middle Ages.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN407 Early Modern US and Early Modern Spain: A Common History (3 Credits)
The impact of Spanish early modern literature, cartography and architecture in the US Atlantic Coast (Labrador Peninsula to Florida). The class will start with readings that will provide a general overview of the Spanish presence in the US and its role in the early history of this country. We will continue reading about the voyages of exploration to the US East Coast of 1521-1526, which were sponsored by a Spaniard, Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon. These voyages subsequently resulted in a territory named "Tierras de Ayllon" (from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay). These Lands of Ayllon were located on the settlement of Chicora and the Missions of Ajacan and San Miguel de Gualdape. We will focus on the history and the geographical location of these Spanish establishments; they paralleled geographically and anteceded chronologically those of the British colony at Roanoke (1585) and the eventual establishment of Jamestown (1607). Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
SPAN408 Special Topics in Iberian and Latin American Studies (3 Credits)
Special topics in (a) the literature and film of Spain, Spanish-speaking Latin America, and U.S. Latina/o communities; (b) Spanish linguistics; and (c) Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Latino cultural studies. Each topic will be announced when the course is offered.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN410 Libro de Buen Amor: Literary Matchmaking, Theory, and Praxis (3 Credits)
Literary traditions in the Libro de buen amor. Taught in Spanish
Prerequisite: One of the following SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN410 or SPAN413.
Formerly: SPAN413.
SPAN412 Women in the Middle Ages: Myths and Daily Life (3 Credits)
Explores the role of women during the Middle Ages and analyzes the active participation of women in a society in which men's occupation was warfare. Also explores "feminine voices" and female representations in the literature of the times.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN417 Practicum in Translation VI (3 Credits)
Translation of complete literary texts from Spanish into English. Evaluation of different versions of the original. Problems of interpretation, literary structure and analysis.
Prerequisite: SPAN316; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SPAN418 Hispanic Literature in Translation (3 Credits)
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SPAN420 Spanish and Spanish-Speaking Communities in the US (3 Credits)
Lays the foundations for the historical, linguistic, cultural, sociological, and political study of Spanish in the United States (US). The main goal of the course is to develop critical awareness about the relationship between language, individuals, and society within the diverse Spanish-speaking communities of the US. To this end, the course will analyze issues concerning, first, the historical and dialectal characteristics of the Spanish language in different regions of this country; second, the acquisition of Spanish as a minority language and in contact with both English and a large number of Spanish dialects; and third, the space that Spanish occupies in US public life now and in the future. The design of activities, assignments, and assessment procedures is based on promoting individual and collective awareness about crucial topics related to the present and the future of Spanish as one of the national languages of the US.
Prerequisite: SPAN325, SPAN425, or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN478A or SPAN420.
Formerly: SPAN478A.
SPAN422 Intercultural Communication and Negotiation (3 Credits)
Focuses on the relationship of language and culture of those operating in world markets. Particular attention will be given to intercultural communication, linguistic systems, culture specific perceptions of, and negotiation with, the Spanish-speaking world. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN370 OR SPAN371 OR SPAN373 OR SPAN 374.
Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
SPAN425 Hispanic Linguistics II: Structures of Spanish (3 Credits)
This course begins with an introduction to general concepts in linguistics, from language function and the brain to communication, culture, and thought, and their relation to other disciplines in the social sciences. The main purpose of this course is to provide an overview of Hispanic linguistics through multiple perspectives, while exploring the areas of Spanish morphology, syntax, and semantics. This course will also focus on the structural tendencies of Spanish through a variety of practical activities. Taught in Spanish.
SPAN426 Hispanic Linguistics III: Language in Use (3 Credits)
Designed for students without previous experience in Linguistics. Focus on language variation and use, linguistic change, and bilingualism. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and SPAN311 or SPAN316 or SPAN325. Also offered as: SPAN626.
SPAN427 Visions and Fictions from Spain (3 Credits)
Overview of Spanish Cinema from the end of the 19th century through present day Spain. Exploration of the production of literary and cinematic texts in their sociohistorical, political, religious and cultural contexts. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, or SPAN333; or students who have taken courses with comparable content may contact the department; or permission of ARHU-Spanish & Portuguese Languages & Literatures department. Cross-listed with: CINE427.
Credit Only Granted for: CINE427, FILM427 or SPAN427.
Formerly: FILM427.
SPAN431 Mexican Women Writers (3 Credits)
Focuses on Mexican women writers from the colonial period to the present. It consists of various types of texts, including poetry, short story, essay, and novel. Its principal themes include the relations among experience, knowledge, and expression; the presence or absence of women in literary histories, including Wikipedia pages; feminism; and the opportunities and challenges presented by the category of women writers. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN431 or SPAN408G.
Formerly: SPAN408G.
SPAN432 Colonial Latin American Literature (3 Credits)
Examines the key themes, writers, literary movements, and cultural debates of the colonial period.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN433 Women and Culture in Colonial Latin America (3 Credits)
Considers questions of women and historical production, women writers in colonial times, and contemporary literary interpretations of colonial realities. Debates the continued legacy of female archetypes from the colonial period to the present, and epistemological questions regarding the production of knowledge.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN434 The Usable Past: Reflecting on Archives in Contemporary Fictions and Films from the Southern Cone (3 Credits)
Che Guevara on a t-shirt, Eva Peron in a Broadway musical, Bolivar as trans on a postcard, Gabriela Mistral on a peso bill, Pablo Neruda as a postman's friend, Frida Kahlo as a feminist icon, Artigas in a blues band ... The list goes on. Nevertheless, what all these cultural appropriations have in common is that the present has used the past to inscribe a functional narrative for that time. This course will not ask if we can know past events as they really happened, but rather it will explore how contemporary fictions, films, and visual art from the Southern Cone construct usable cultural archives for their present. Also, this seminar traces the ways in which contemporary authors, filmmakers, and visual artists reflect on the past in order to critically read their present. Concentrating on the past as both the subject of fiction and as a force for inscribing fiction, this seminar inscribes an approach to time that moves away from a linearity.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN434 or SPAN408F.
Formerly: SPAN408F.
Additional Information: Taught in Spanish.
SPAN435 Ecuador: Andean Spaces-Traversing the Colonial City and the Natural World (3 Credits)
Introduces students to the history and cultures of Ecuador from the colonial period to the beginning of the 19th century. By studying the socio-spatial configuration of the colonial city as exemplified by Quito, students will be immersed in the art, architecture, and other rich cultural legacies of Ecuador. Quito, a World Heritage site, offers students visually stunning churches, monasteries, colonial squares, a famed tradition of Baroque painting and sculptures, and vibrant indigenous and mestizo communities. As a contrast, students will explore also travel narratives that represent the natural Andean world while visiting Quito's surrounding areas. This course will interrogate the European influence on urban design and representations of the landscape of the Americas. Understanding this colonial past enhances the understanding of the modern history of the Andean region and Latin America as a whole. The students will gain a full appreciation of the European and Indigenous living heritage that composes the region today. Taught in English.Cross-listed with: ARTH472.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN435, SPAN448E, ARTH472 or ARTH369E.
Formerly: SPAN448E and ARTH369E.
SPAN436 Representations of Childhood and Youth in Latin American Literature and Film (3 Credits)
Focuses on the representation of childhood and youth in films and works of fiction from various regions of the Spanish-speaking Americas, including Mexico, the Caribbean, the US, and Peru. We are going to read various short stories and novels, and watch two films, all of which develop in different ways the topics of childhood and youth. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
SPAN437 Love, Science, Religion and the Pursuit of Criollo Independence in 18th-Century Mexico (3 Credits)
Explores the 18th century from the periphery of traditionally studied centers of Enlightenment. By focusing on pre-independence Mexico, we will study the emergence of alternative scientific and religious discourses in an American context that leads to social and political changes at the onset of the 19th century. Students will watch the Mexican telenovela "Alborada" (2005-6), which fictionally explores many of the topics that are relevant for the course. Students will also read a variety of materials on the following subtopics: imperial designs, cultural production, inquisitional realities, medical discourse, individual and political rights, criollo consciousness, etc. All writing and discussion will be in Spanish. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN437 or SPAN408V.
Formerly: SPAN408V.
SPAN438 Special Topics in Colonial Latin America (3 Credits)
The conquest and colonization of the New World produced a textual corpus of invaluable importance for the foundation of Spanish American literary tradition. Special topics (themes, authors, debates, etc.) relevant to the Colonial period will be addressed.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SPAN440 Speaking Up/Out: Women Writers and Feminist Social Movements in Contemporary Latin America (3 Credits)
This seminar will explore how feminist subversion of naturalized power relationships has become a social force that is reshaping Latin American culture in the last several decades. Also, we will study how contemporary cultural artifacts contest value systems while rejecting entrenched hierarchies and norms. By reading contemporary women writers and by working on contemporary feminist social movements, this course will explore what the anthropologist Rita Segato has defined as "the war against women." Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
SPAN442 Detective Fiction in Latin America (3 Credits)
Focuses on Latin American detective fiction, including novels and short stories, whodunits and thrillers. Detective fiction's origins are primarily from outside of Latin America. Therefore the course will also include important texts from other traditions, including the US, English, and French. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN303; and SPAN311 or SPAN316; and one from (SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363) or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408T or SPAN442.
Formerly: SPAN408T.
SPAN448 Special Topics in Latin American Civilization (3 Credits)
Intensive independent study of a selected topic related to Latin American civilization.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SPAN449 Special Topics in Spanish Civilization (3 Credits)
An intensive study of a selected topic related to Spanish civilization.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SPAN450 The Hispanic Caribbean: What is a Beach? (3 Credits)
Explores the Hispanic Caribbean as "island spaces" of multiple migrations and cultural identities, as sites of colonial experiences and post-colonial debates.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408C or SPAN450.
Formerly: SPAN408C.
SPAN451 Paradise Lost: Cuban Cinematic Culture (3 Credits)
Explores the cinematic journey of the Cuban revolution from socialist utopia to bitter disillusionment. Taking as a point of departure the national postulates of an "Imperfect Cinema" and the different theorizations of "New Latin American cinema," the course will concentrate on the emergence and development of Cuban cinematic culture that has taken place during the revolution. Our objective is to explore how art and politics collide to reveal contested visions of a social process. Visual materials will include films and documentaries. Readings will include selections from historiographic and literary works, as well as contemporary critical studies. Taught in Spanish
Prerequisite: One course from SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN451 or SPAN408P.
Formerly: SPAN408P.
SPAN452 Reflecting on Neoliberalism and Contemporary Southern Cone Culture (3 Credits)
An exploration of how neoliberalism and its market-driven economy have shaped Latin American culture of the last decades. In particular, we will explore how contemporary cultural artifacts are inscribed into a value system that quantifies the unquantifiable, that is to say, a system that only values a book or an artist based on sales. In this class, we will work with a variety of cultural artifacts from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay--films, chronicles, music, newspapers, cartoons, literature, and documentaries--to map how culture and markets intersect. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN452 or SPAN448T.
Formerly: SPAN448T.
SPAN453 Seeking Adventure and Glory: Don Quixote (3 Credits)
Widely acknowledged as the first modern novel, Don Quixote tells the story of a middle-aged Spanish gentleman who, obsessed with the chivalrous ideals found in romantic tales, decides to take up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked. Seated upon his horse Rocinante and accompanied by his loyal squire Sancho Panza, Don Quixote sets out on the roads of Spain seeking adventure and glory. The course will consist of a close reading of Don Quixote. We will analyze and comment on the novel at the literal and historical levels, as well as in its symbolic and widely anthropological dimensions. We will also establish a dialogue between Don Quixote and the narrative and philosophical traditions of Europe, United States and Latin America. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: One of the following: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN430 or SPAN453.
Formerly: SPAN430.
SPAN456 Construction of Gender and Sexuality in the Spanish Realist-Naturalist Novel (3 Credits)
Examines 19th-century Spanish normative notions regarding gender expression and identities as well as men's and women's sexualities in the Realist and Naturalist novel. Also, we will discuss representations of men and women whose behavior ran afoul of a heteronormative system that valued domestic privacy as a space of honor and virtuous masculinity and femininity. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: One of the following: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SPAN333.
SPAN457 Comedy, Foppery, and Foreignness in Eighteenth-Century Spain (3 Credits)
We will explore the comical and satirical elements in 18th-century Spanish literary works, situating them within the social and historical context of the aesthetic tastes of the Spanish reading public and how those tastes impacted the production of literature and other cultural artifacts. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: One of the following: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SPAN333.
SPAN460 The Sublime and the Grotesque in Spanish Romantic Plays and the Visual Arts (3 Credits)
An exploration of the notions of the sublime and the grotesque in theatrical works as well as in the visual arts of the Romantic movement in Spain. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
SPAN461 Queer Spain (3 Credits)
Explores discursive representations of Spaniards who were judged as non-normative by their society during the modern and contemporary period. Putting a critical lens to various cultural artifacts (visual arts, fiction, film, and journalism), we will interrogate what it means to be "(ab)normal" in terms of gender expression, erotic desire, sexuality, and anatomical sex in Spain at critical junctures in modern history. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: One of the following: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362 or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SPAN333.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408A or SPAN461.
Formerly: SPAN408A.
SPAN462 Twentieth Century Drama (3 Credits)
Significant plays of the twentieth century.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN463 Cultural Artifacts of Contemporary Spanish Crises from 1898 to the COVID Pandemic (3 Credits)
An overview of Spain from the end of the 19th century through the present day and studies some of its main crises. The course explores the production of literary, cultural, and cinematic texts in their sociohistorical, political, religious and cultural contexts and development. This interdisciplinary course covers topics such as political, historical, religious, racial, ethnic, gendered/sexual, cultural, and ethno-geographical, literary and cinematic diversities and differences in Contemporary Spain. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
SPAN464 Contemporary Spanish Poetry (3 Credits)
Spanish poetry from the generation of 1927 to the present.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN465 Spanish Exiles and Totalitarianisms (3 Credits)
An overview of the cultural and literary production regarding the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and its aftermath in the context of political exile from the early 20th century through present-day Spain. The course explores the production of literary texts in their sociohistorical, political, and cultural contexts and development as a reflection of that crisis in the conscience of present-day Spain. This interdisciplinary course covers topics such as political, historical, religious, racial, ethnic, gendered/sexual, cultural, and ethno-geographical diversities and differences concerning the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SPAN333.
SPAN466 The Contemporary Spanish Novel (3 Credits)
The novel and the short story from 1940 to the present.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN467 Visions and Fictions from Spain (3 Credits)
Overview of Spanish cinema from the end of the 19th century through present day Spain. Exploration of the production of literary and cinematic texts in their social, historical, political, religious, and cultural contexts.
Prerequisite: One course from SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362 or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SPAN333. Cross-listed with: CINE467.
Credit Only Granted for: CINE427, CINE467, FILM427, SPAN427, or SPAN467.
Formerly: FILM427, CINE427, and SPAN427.
SPAN468 Modernism and Post-Modernism in Spain and Spanish-America (3 Credits)
A study of the most important works and authors of both movements in Spain and Spanish-America.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SPAN469 Study Abroad Special Topics IV (1-6 Credits)
Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.
Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.
SPAN471 United States Latina Fiction (3 Credits)
An introduction to United States latina fiction through the study of short stories, novels, poetry, etc. It explores strategies of representation by women of color.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN472 Latina/o Communities and Language Struggles (3 Credits)
Explores the history of Latina/o communities and their language "choices," negotiations, and struggles in the United States, starting with the Spanish conquest of North America through the 21st century. We examine the lasting impact of the War of 1848 by which the U.S. colonized the southwest and consider how the Spanish-American War of 1898 imposed U.S. rule in the Hispanophone Caribbean. In this context of struggle, we examine how language repression and expression gave voice to the Latinx civil rights movements in the 1960s and 1970s as well as current immigration and education movements. Texts include Spanish cronicas, U.S. political treaties, the Hispanic press, manifestos, novels, poetry, spoken word, film, music, among others. Course format consists of lectures, discussions, group work, short essays, presentations, and examinations. Students should expect to participate in a community engagement project. Taught in Spanish and discussions in Spanglish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of the instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408T or SPAN472.
Formerly: SPAN408T.
SPAN473 U.S. Latino Performance (3 Credits)
An introduction to United States Latino Performance texts by Chicano, Nuyorican, Cuban-American, Dominican, Central-American and others.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN474 Central American Literatures, Cultures, and Histories (3 Credits)
An overview of Central American history and cultural production, focusing primarily but not exclusively on literary texts.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
SPAN475 Central America: 21st-Century Literature & Culture (3 Credits)
Explores the discursive construction of Central America in the 21st century, from banana republic to northern triangle. While we study issues of violence, crime, feminicide, impunity, corruption, migration, human and drug trafficking, and climate change, we will moreover focus on people's struggles for equality, human rights, environmental justice, food security, healthcare, education, and employment in the region. We seek to understand the root cause of local and global conditions in Central America as well as the creative and resilient ways that Central Americans respond to them. Texts include novels, short stories, cronicas, news, films, photography, and other re/sources. Course format consists of lectures, discussions, group work, short essays, presentations, and examinations. Students should expect to participate in a community engagement project. Taught in Spanish and discussions in Spanglish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408L or SPAN475.
Formerly: SPAN408L.
SPAN476 Central Americans in the DMV (3 Credits)
Explores the history, migration, and cultural representation of Central Americans in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) in the larger context of transnational relations between Central America and the United States. We ask how and why the DMV is home to one of the largest concentrations of Central Americans, especially Salvadorans, in the nation, as well as examine the diaspora as a transnational process. We study plays, short stories, poetry, spoken word/ performances, films, music, photography, zines, social media, and other interdisciplinary re/sources, and engage one-on-one with local and international artists, activists, and community organizations. Course format consists of lectures, discussions, group work, short essays, presentations, and examinations. Students should expect to participate in a community engagement project. Taught in Spanish and discussions in Spanglish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408W or SPAN476.
Formerly: SPAN408W.
SPAN477 Between Worlds: Central American Diasporas (3 Credits)
Examines Central America as a locus of diasporas, from its geological formation as an isthmus to the current movement of peoples across El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and beyond. It offers a broadscale view of Central American societies, histories, (geo)politics, social and revolutionary movements, and cultural and literary production, and situates diasporic literature in relation to migration, war, genocide, violence, transnationalism, globalization, among others. Because the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area is a significant site of the Central American diasporas, we will explore our particular location and engage with local diasporic communities. Course format consists of lectures, discussions, group work, short essays, presentations, and examinations. Students should expect to participate in a community engagement project. Taught in Spanish and discussions in Spanglish.
Prerequisite: SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN362, or SPAN363; or permission of instructor.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN408R or SPAN477.
Formerly: SPAN408R.
SPAN478 Special Topics in United States Latino Cultures (3 Credits)
Explores special topics in US Latino Cultures, ranging from Chicano, Nuyorican, Cuban-American, Dominican, Central-American and other border cultural identities.
Prerequisite: SPAN333, SPAN361, SPAN331, SPAN332, SPAN362, or SPAN363.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SPAN479 Honors Thesis (3-6 Credits)
Researching and writing an honors thesis under the direction of a professor.
Restriction: Must be in Spanish and Portuguese Honors.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SPAN480 Spanish for Business II (3 Credits)
Business Spanish terminology, vocabulary and practice. Emphasis on everyday spoken and written Spanish. Readings and discussions of international topics. Cross-cultural considerations relative to international business operations, including exporting and banking. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Must have completed SPAN370.
Restriction: Sophomore standing or higher.
Credit Only Granted for: SPAN470 or SPAN480.
SPAN495 Honors Reading (3 Credits)
Supervised reading.
Prerequisite: Must be in Spanish and Portuguese Honors; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.