Spanish and Hispanic Studies, B.A.

The program in Spanish and Hispanic Studies is offered by the Department of Ancient and Modern Languages and Cultures.  The program comprises a rich curriculum in language and culture. An articulated sequence of courses in Spanish leads to a thorough understanding of the language, as well as knowledge of Spanish and Latin American cultures.  The program concentrates equally on Spanish and Latin American content through a cyclical offering of courses.

With more than 400 million speakers, Spanish is the second-most widely spoken language in the world and the official language of 21 countries.  The United States alone has approximately 42 million speakers of Spanish, making it the world’s second largest Spanish-speaking community.  Spanish and Latin American cultures have also made vast contributions to art, architecture, cuisine, music, literature, film, and theater.  Choosing to major in Spanish and Hispanic Studies prepares students to become global citizens, placing them on the cutting edge of today’s global job market. Learning Spanish has become essential to one’s marketability, and studying Spanish at JCU will complement any major program or professional career. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in Spain or Latin America to enhance their language skills and cultural knowledge. 

The Teaching Spanish concentration is for those students who wish to become Spanish teachers and is intended to be taken together with the Multi-Age World Languages major in Education.

All SP courses are taught in Spanish.

Program Learning Goals in Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Students will:

1. Communicate skillfully and effectively in Spanish:

   • engage in effective interpersonal communication.

   • engage in effective interpretive listening.

   • engage in effective interpretive reading.

   • engage in effective presentational speaking.

   • engage in effective presentational writing.

2. Demonstrate informed interpretations of features of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world (such as its art, literature, music, film, popular cultures, traditions, and customs) in the context of its history, politics, religion, or geography.

3. Demonstrate emerging intercultural competence:

   • demonstrate an awareness of the interplay of personal identity and culture.

   • interpret an event, cultural product, or issue from the perspective of a worldview outside their own.

4. [For Teaching Spanish concentration only] Understand and apply current best practices in teaching world languages.

   • understand key principles and concepts of second language acquisition.

   • explain key components of the World-Readiness Standards for Foreign Language Learning.

   • apply the World-Readiness Standards for Foreign Language Learning to select and integrate authentic texts, use technology, and adapt and create instructional materials.

Major Requirements

34 credit hours

Eleven Spanish courses, beginning at any level, including:

Strongly Recommended

Additional Requirements

Subtotal: 34

SP 4900 fulfills the capstone requirement for the major and the AW and OP requirement for the Core; it should be completed during the student's senior year. Students must also complete CE 2001, the College of Arts & Sciences Professional Development Program. This course is designed to introduce students to resources and strategies for finding internships, articulating transferable skills, and preparing for employment or graduate school after college. Students typically complete this course in their sophomore year. Opportunities for ongoing professional development will be provided within the major, in collaboration with Career Services.

Up to six credits may be replaced by cognate courses:

Related courses are those outside Spanish (SP) offerings which are closely linked to Spanish or Latin American culture, such as History, Sociology, Political Science, IC literature and/or culture courses in translation.

Approved cognate courses include:

Teaching Spanish Concentration

This concentration is intended for those students who wish to become Spanish teachers. Students pursuing Multi-Age licensure in World Languages (Spanish) will take a second major in Education, the program major, along with the Teaching Spanish concentration within the Spanish and Hispanic Studies major. Careful planning is required to complete these degree requirements, so students should consult in a timely fashion with the Department of Education and their academic advisor.

Requirements

36 credit hours

Eleven Spanish courses, beginning at any level, including:

Strongly Recommended

Additional Requirements

Subtotal: 36

Except for IC 3010 and CE 2001, all courses for the Teaching Spanish concentration should be taken in Spanish. IC 3010 fulfills the capstone requirement for the concentration. Students must also complete CE 2001, the College of Arts & Sciences Professional Development Program, a series of online modules, workshops, and career-related experiences.