Catalog 2023-2024

Spanish

Teaching Faculty

Professors Contreras-Silva and Vilahomat
Associate Professor Vidal-Torreira  (Spanish coordinator) 
Assistant Professor Yuste-Alonso
Assistant Professor and Murphy Fellow Brandner

Instructors Fabricio and French 

 

Description

The Department of Languages offers a major and a minor in Spanish. The program is designed to develop written and oral communication skills, to promote global awareness through the study of different cultures and peoples, and to encourage aesthetic appreciation through the study of literature.

Major in Spanish

9 courses above the basic sequence distributed as follows:

  • SPAN 310 Survey of Spanish Literature to 1700
  • SPAN 320 Survey of Spanish Literature since 1700
  • SPAN 330 Survey of Latin-American Literature
  • 6 electives including:
              Any course at the 300 level or above
                        at least one must be Peninsular (Spanish) in focus
                        at least one must be Latin American in focus
                        at least two must be at the 400 level
              Only one 200 level course can count as an elective but neither is required
                        SPAN 210 Conversation and Composition
                                  or
                        SPAN 220 Advanced Grammar and Composition   

Note(s):

The department encourages all students to have a study-abroad experience. Some things to remember include that, for a major and a minor, at least half of the courses taken to fulfill those requirements must be taken in residence. Courses taken abroad that transfer as SPAN courses must be  based on literary texts, approaches, or linguistics. If a student has not taken SPAN 210/220 at Hendrix, a course in conversation or basic grammar could transfer as an equivalent. Courses taken in Spanish but in other disciplines transfer as courses in those disciplines and do not count towards a Spanish major or minor.

Senior Capstone Experience

The Senior Capstone Experience for the Spanish major consist of an oral presentation and a written comprehensive examination, based on coursework in the major and on courses taken abroad, if applicable. Both are scheduled in the last fall semester to be completed prior to graduation in spring of the same academic year. The topic of the oral presentation is determined through discussion with the faculty. The format of the written examination may vary from question to question, but the test consists of five parts, and should  not exceed three hours in length. The grade for the Senior Capstone Experience is based on the examination and the oral presentation.

 

Minor in Spanish

5 courses above the basic sequence which may include:

5 courses above the basic sequence which must include:

  • At least one 400 level course
  • At least one course Peninsular in focus (SPAN 310 Survey of Spanish Literature to 1700 or SPAN 320 Survey of Spanish Literature since 1700 or any course from the Peninsular list below)
  • At least one course Latin American in focus (SPAN 330 Survey of Latin-American Literature or any course from the Latin American list below)
  • Only one 200 level course can count toward the minor, but neither is required
  • SPAN 210 Conversations and Composition
  • SPAN 220 Advanced Grammar and Composition

Courses by Requirement for the Major

  • Peninsular
    SPAN 370 Love in Modern Short Story
    SPAN 380 Cervantes
    SPAN 405  Queer Literature In Spain
    SPAN471 Twilight of the Spanish Empire
    SPAN 488 Echoes of the Spanish Civil War
  • Latin American
    SPAN 335 Latin American Poetry
    SPAN 340 Modernism & Vanguardism
    SPAN 350 Latin American Essay
    SPAN 351 Survey of Cuban Literature
    SPAN 375 Politics, Human Rights, & Vocation
    SPAN 410 Latin American Short Story
    SPAN 473 The Conquest of America
    SPAN 474 Indigenous Representations Latin Am
    SPAN 480 New Trends
    SPAN 485 Gender & Power in Latin Amer Novel

 

 

Program Course Listings

The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

Elementary Spanish Courses

SPAN 110

Fundamentals of Spanish I

An intensive language course which teaches the basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing the language. This course also includes relevant cultural material.

SPAN 120

Fundamentals of Spanish II

Continues the development of the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This course also serves as a brief introduction to the study of culture and literature. Prerequisite: SPAN 110, its equivalent, or credit by examination

SPAN 110, its equivalent, or credit by examination
Language LA
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Intermediate Spanish Courses

SPAN 210

Conversation and Composition

This course further develops language skills and introduces students to textual analysis and literary composition. Students who have already taken a 300-level course or higher in Spanish, are not to enroll in this course except by consent of instructor. Prerequisite: SPAN 120, its equivalent, or credit by examination

SPAN 120, its equivalent, or credit by examination
SPAN 220

Advanced Grammar & Composition

A study of advanced grammar and syntax. Open to students who have completed the basic sequence, this course further develops knowledge of grammar and writing skills. Students who have already taken a 300-level course or higher in Spanish are not to enroll in this course except by consent of instructor. Prerequisite: SPAN 120, its equivalent, or credit by examination

SPAN 120, its equivalent, or credit by examination
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Advanced Spanish Courses

The prerequisite for all advanced Spanish courses is SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor.

SPAN 310

Survey Spanish Literature to 1700

An overview of Spanish literature from late medieval period to 17th century. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 320

Survey Spanish Literature sn 1700

An overview of Spanish literature from the neoclassic movement of the 18th century to contemporary works. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 330

Survey of Latin American Literature

An overview of Spanish-language Latin-American literature from pre-Columbian times to the present. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 335

Latin American Poetry

A study of the most recognized figures in Latin American poetry. Special attention will be given to works produced by women and working-class poets. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 340

Modernism & Vanguardism

A study of the Iberoamerican literature of the late 19th and first half of the 20th century. The course includes the study of figures such as Ruben Dario, Jose Mari, Antonio Machado, Federico Garcia Lorca, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, etc. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 348

Graphic Narratives in Conversation

Using the study of comic and graphic narratives as a medium, this course focuses on the student’s ability to express themselves orally through in-depth conversations, discussions, and presentations. This course is designed to strengthen the student’s capacities to comprehend spoken Spanish and to express themselves in Spanish. The graphic narratives that this course explores are contemporary works written by Spanish authors. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN 350

Latin American Essay

An overview of the history and evolution of Latin American thought through fundamental essays that focus on the political positions, ideologies, identity, economic programs, and philosophical perspectives of great essayists of Spanish letters. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 351

Survey of Cuban Literature

The course studies relevant Cuban authors of different aesthetic periods, giving emphasis to modernism, the Latin American boom literature and postmodernism. The work of authors such as Heredia, Martí, Carpentier, Arenas and Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, produced in and out of Cuba, are studied in depth. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor.

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor.
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 365

Mexican National Identify in Lit

This course studies how Mexican national identity is constructed and seen in literary and artistic works. Special attention is paid to how the indigenous past and questions of race and class are worked into the modern narrative. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN 370

Love in Modern Short Story

In this course we read contemporary peninsular short stories that deal with love in its various forms, including familial love, romance, sexual and erotic relationships. We examine previously ignored topics in Spanish literature including domestic violence, fetishism and the use of new technologies in personal relationships. Special attention is paid to issues of gender when reading authors such as Lucia Etxebarria, Espido Freire and Jasone Osoro. Some Spanish translations from Galician and Basque—other official languages of Spain—are also treated. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 375

Politics, Human Rights, & Vocation

An introduction to major works and literary figures that have shaped the political and cultural landscape of Latin America. This course examines the way that a person's vision of social change has entered into political discourse and the role that vocation plays in that interaction. Prerequisites: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN 380

Cervantes

In this class students read a selection of Cervantes' most famous novellas, or what we now call short stories. Because Cervantes was considered the father of the modern European novel, we also read some extracts of his renowned novel Don Quixote, as well as one his plays. In order to understand Cervantes and his time we explore the history and society of the Spanish Golden Age. Prerequisites: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 390

Topics in Spanish

A topics course on the Spanish language. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught. Cross-listed as LITR 390. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN 405

Queer Literature in Spain

This course explores peninsular Spanish literary production of topics related to queer and gay during the 20th and 21st centuries in Spain. Objectives include acquisition of broad knowledge about LGBTQ works and authors, recognition of the diversity in style and topics of this literary production, and an understanding of the evolution of Spanish gay literature from the early 20th century to the present. Genres treated include novels, essays, poetry and short stories. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 410

Latin American Short Story

A study of the genre with particular emphasis on works of the 20th century. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 471

Twilight of the Spanish Empire

A study of 19th century literary and cultural movement in Spain (enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, and Modernity). The course will focus on: the analysis of literary techniques and structures presented in the canonical works of the 19th century; the study of connecting links between plays, poetry, essays, novels and short stories; the exploration of historical, social and cultural ideas, attitudes, sensibilities and points of view that can be exemplified through the readings. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 473

The Conquest of America

A study of the conquest and colonization of Latin America as portrayed by historical and literary texts. Indigenous accounts and the chronicles of conquistadors such as Columbus and Cortés are studied. Theoretical interpretive texts by Tzetvan Todorov and Beatriz Pastor Bodmer are also studied.

Historical Perspectives HP
SPAN 474

Indigenous Representations Latin Am

An examination of the influence that the indigenous populations, past and present, have had on contemporary works from Latin America. Works studied may include texts by Arguedas or Asturias, who both show indigenous influence in their narrative style, or works by Castellanos or Vargas Llosa, who both deal with the treatment of the indigenous and their beliefs. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 480

New Trends

A survey of new literary trends in Iberoamerican literature, with an emphasis on popular genres, science fiction, and the historical novel. Attention is given to postmodernist concepts and literary production. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 485

Gender & Power in Latin Amer Novel

A course geared toward the reading of novels that have captured international attention and deal with questions of gender, socioeconomic classes, and power. Authors studied may include Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Literary Studies LS
SPAN 488

Echoes of the Spanish Civil War

This course studies the Spanish Civil War using films and texts set during this period. We study not only what happened in Spain from 1936-1939, but also the circumstances that led to the war and the long-term consequences of this conflict. Historical information from before, during and after the war as well as the ideologies of both sides as expressed in songs, anthems and propaganda are examined. Reading may be done in translation for LITR credit. Cross-listed as LITR 488. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
Historical Perspectives HP
Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 2 W2
SPAN 490

Special Topics: Spanish

An intensive topics course on a selected topic or author. This course can be repeated for additional credits as long as the section topics are different. Consult the online course schedule for information about the topics currently scheduled to be taught. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN M42

Murphy Tutorial in Literature

Students pursue in-depth exploration of a topic in Spanish literature. This 400-level course is taught largely in Spanish, when student proficiency warrants. The course, taught in one-hour weekly sessions, has a low faculty-to-student ratio (1:2 or 1:3) and stresses, writing, reading, peer critiquing, and oral presentation skills. It culminates in a group activity such as a field trip, student symposium, engaged-learning project, or gathering with other tutorial pairs. This course is open only to Murphy Scholars in Literature and Language. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
SPAN M43

Murphy Tutorial in Literature

Students pursue in-depth exploration of a topic in Spanish literature. This 400-level course is taught largely in Spanish, when student proficiency warrants. The course, taught in one-hour weekly sessions, has a low faculty-to-student ratio (1:2 or 1:3) and stresses, writing, reading, peer critiquing, and oral presentation skills. It culminates in a group activity such as a field trip, student symposium, engaged-learning project, or gathering with other tutorial pairs. This course is open only to Murphy Scholars in Literature and Language. Prerequisite: SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor

SPAN 210, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor
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