Modern Languages
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 (Introduction to Hispanic Literature I & II).
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.
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.
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 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 or the equivalent; 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 202 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 202 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 202 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
310. Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
An introduction to the structural properties of Spanish: phonetics (the study of speech sounds), phonology (the study of the relations of speech sounds inside a communicative system), morphology (the study of word formation), syntax (the study of phrase structure), historical linguistics (the study of language evolution), and dialectology (the study of language variation). Prerequisite: HPS 301 or 302 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 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 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 permission of the instructor.
405. Cervantes
An intensive study of the life and works of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, with special emphasis on the Novelas ejemplares and El ingenioso hidalgo, Don Quijote de la Mancha.
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.
411. The Hero/Anti-Hero in Spanish Literature
Spanning the medieval era to the present day, this course focuses on selective works of theatre, prose, and poetry reflecting the theme of the hero and anti-hero as it evolves in Spanish literature. Prerequisite: Spanish 303 or 304, or the equivalent.
413. The Quest for Identity in Spanish American Literature
This course explores the theme of identity and its pursuit in the literature of various Spanish American countries. The focus will be on the quest for both individual and collective identity, with particular emphasis on matters of gender, ethnicity, and nationalism. Although the primary focus is on literature of the twentieth century, works from the colonial period and the nineteenth century are also studied. Representative works from various literary genres as well as film are included. Prerequisite: Spanish 303, 304 or the equivalent.
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.
Courses Offered In The Washington College Abroad Programs
102. Spanish II-Elementary/ Intermediate
Completion of basic Spanish. Increasing mastery of the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Offered in the Costa Rica program only, in the spring semester. Prerequisite: Spanish 202 or the equivalent. Three credits.201. Spanish III-Intermediate
Review of grammar, continued practice in speaking and writing, reading texts of average difficulty. Completion of Hispanic 202 satisfies the Arts and Science Foreign Language requirement. Offered in the Costa Rica program only, in the spring semester. (In Spanish.) Prerequisite: Spanish 102 or the equivalent. Three credits.301. Spanish Conversation
Practical use of Spanish by means of oral reports and discussions. Offered in the Costa Rica program only, in the spring semester. Three credits.301. Practical Oral/Written Expression
This course will help students to increase their fluency and vocabulary. Grammar review will focus on special problems. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. Three credits.302. Advanced Spanish Language
An advanced course on grammatical structure and stylistics with special attention given to technical vocabulary and discourse. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. Three credits.308. Contemporary Spain
Discussion and study of issues related to contemporary culture, political, and social developments in Spain, including its place in the European community. The topics discussed include the role of the monarchy, regional autonomy, the role of political parties, geography, economics and industry, the historic roots of contemporary Spain, education, literature and the arts. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. (In Spanish.) Prerequisite: Hispanic 202 or the equivalent. Three credits.309. Contemporary Latin American Civilization and Culture
This course will present students with the elements for a better understanding of contemporary Latin American culture through the analysis of the historical processes that have contributed to its formation. Latin America is studied as a region that has been the meeting ground for diverse cultures throughout its history. Special attention is given to the fusion of indigenous, European, and African cultures which began in the sixteenth century. The nineteenth century is seen as the period of the forging of national identities, while emphasis in the twentieth century is on the consequences of the rapid political, economic, and social changes, as well as changes in cultural patterns, traditions, and values. Offered in the Costa Rica program only, in the spring semester. (In Spanish.) Prerequisite: Hispanic 202 or the equivalent. Three credits.494. Special Topics
Explores an area of special interest in Spanish literature or culture studies. Specific topic to be determined. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. Three credits.495. Selected Authors, Works, and Themes
Works of one or more outstanding authors or on a special theme. Specific topic to be determined. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. Three credits.