Spanish (SPAN)

SPAN 1000  Introduction to Latin American Studies    
3 credit hours  
This course is an introduction to the peoples and cultures of Latin America. Topics include pre-Columbian civilizations, conquest and colonization, ethnicity, economics, politics, migration, urbanization, revolution, the environment, and the arts. This course will be conducted in English.
SPAN 1100  Introduction to the Spanish Language    
6 credit hours  
Designed to offer a firm initial competency in speaking and writing Spanish. This course requires regular attendance and a willingness to participate.

SPAN 1800 – 1825 Special Topics in Spanish
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

SPAN 1826 – 1849 Special Topics in Spanish
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

SPAN 2204  Intermediate Spanish I    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 1100 with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)
This course is a continuation of elementary Spanish, with emphasis on comprehension, conversation, reading, and writing.
SPAN 2205  Intermediate Spanish II    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 2204 with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)
This course is a continuation of Intermediate Spanish I, SPAN 2204.
SPAN 2206  Intermediate Spanish Communication Skills    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 1100 with a minimum grade of C. Concurrent enrollment in SPAN 2204 and/or SPAN 2205 is strongly recommended
This course builds on basic language skills acquired in previous study to enhance the student’s ability to communicate in Spanish. Students will practice how to structure and manage conversations at an intermediate level in order to increase their oral proficiency in the language. Thorough advanced preparation is required for each class, where oral activities predominate.
SPAN 2230  Spanish for Business I    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 1100 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent preparation in Spanish
Students become acquainted with basic Spanish language forms used in business, including the specialized terminology of oral and written commercial communication. The cultural aspects of business negotiations in Spanish-speaking countries, together with the economic and political profiles of various Latin American nations and Spain, are explored. Students study the development of conversational proficiency through the use of discussion and experiential exercises, and will also include written assignments.
SPAN 2310  Latinx Identities in Canada and the US    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 1100 with a minimum grade of C
Students explore how gender, sexuality, power, ethnicity, language, politics and race shape contemporary Latinx identities, particularly in Canada and the US. This course is grounded in cultural and literary studies, psychoanalysis, critical race theory, antiracism, feminism and postcolonial studies.
SPAN 2313  Contemporary Latina/Latin American Women's Writing in Translation    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 3 credit hours in any course about Latin America
This course is devoted entirely to literature produced by contemporary Latina/Latin American women writers as well as theories that frame their writing. Students read and analyze stories from Latina authors based in Berlin, Mexico City, New York, Montreal, Buenos Aires or Bogotá. This class aims to explore these extraordinary writers' social, political and cultural milieu. Students work on novels and short stories translated into English.
SPAN 2400  Drawn to Resist: The Graphic Novel in Latin America    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 3 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
Students analyze the emergence of graphic novels in Latin America in connection with contemporary social movements of resistance. The Latin American graphic novel has emerged from a rich tradition of science fiction and political activism. Students analyze the history of the graphic novel in Latin America in connection with dictatorships, historical memory, neoliberalism, state repression, migration and new Latinx identities.

SPAN 2800 – 2825 Special Topics in Spanish
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

SPAN 2826 – 2849 Special Topics in Spanish
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year. 

SPAN 3303  Advanced Oral and Written Spanish I    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 2204 and 2205 with a minimum grade of C.
This course is designed to build upon and refine the students’ ability to write and to speak effectively in Spanish.
SPAN 3306  Advanced Oral and Written Spanish II    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 3303
This course is a continuation of Advanced Oral and Written Spanish I, SPAN 3303.
SPAN 3307  Advanced Spanish Conversation Through Film    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 2204 and 2205 with a minimum grade of C
Designed for students who are learning Spanish as a second language, this course uses current Spanish-language films produced in Latin America and Spain as a springboard for in-class conversation about Hispanic culture, while also providing a review of grammatical structures at the advanced level. This course is taught entirely in Spanish.
SPAN 3309  Intro to Spanish Translation    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: SPAN 2205
Taught in Spanish, this course is an introduction to the practice of both Spanish to English and English to Spanish translation. Emphasis is on translating general material from the media, social sciences and the humanities with a focus on specific grammar topics and the acquisition of new vocabulary.
SPAN 3312  Introduction to Latin American Literature    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish at the 2000-level or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C
Designed for students who are learning Spanish as a second language, this course provides an overview of Latin American literature across a range of possible genres: narrative, poetry, theatre, and the essay. In addition to introducing students to the dynamics of these various forms of literary expression, this course uses literary texts as windows for looking into their historical backdrop, and the social, political, and cultural issues that they raise. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.
SPAN 3313  Contemporary Latin American Literatures    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
The literatures from Latin America are informed by a variety of different literary and cultural traditions, both of the various countries and the languages as a whole. Students examine these traditions in some of the best examples in contemporary Latin American novels, shorts stories and poetry in English translation.
SPAN 3314  Development and Dystopias in Latin America    
3 credit hours  
This course is taught in English. Students examine the dystopian literature that arises as a voice of social protest of development issues in Latin America. Issues include: dictatorship in the Southern Cone, neoliberalism in Bolivia, the Cuban revolution, NAFTA, the environment, and the Mexican border.
SPAN 3320  Latin American Travel Literature    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
Students are introduced to Latin American travel literature and raises questions about transculturality, literary traditions, post-colonialism and identity. Students focus on indigenous pre-hispanic texts, selected 16th and 17th century chronicles and personal travel accounts written by Europeans, Latin American and Indigenous writers whose narratives focus on travel. The course will be conducted in English
SPAN 3330  Diablos and Fiestas in Latin America    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
In this course students examine issues where ethnicity, religion, postcolonialism, cultural identities, popular culture, traditional music, food, fiestas and carnivals encounter a common ground. With ethnographical and literary approaches, the scope of analysis will focus on the oral cultures and the literatures produced in Latin America´s spiritual and religious traditions.
SPAN 3400  Historical Memory and Literature in Latin America (formerly SPAN 4400)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
Students analyze the literature produced after incidence of political and social violence in Latin America during the 20th and 21st centuries, including dictatorships, the Colombian five decades conflict, and Mexico´s narco war. Students explore different literary genres such as memoirs, testimony and fiction among some of the most influential Latin American authors. This course is conducted in English.
SPAN 3440  Latin America Through Film    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Either SPAN 1000 or Permission from the instructor
Students examine film in Latin America as a medium of cultural production that reflects local identities, socio-political beliefs, and critical views of imperialism. An understanding of film in close connection to both regional societies, and the influence of more global trends is fostered. Topics include: Indigenous resistance, colonization, dictatorship and revolution, environmental activism, narco violence, and migration. This course is taught in English.
SPAN 3666  Latinx Punk/Rock and the Cultures of Resistance    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: Any 2000 level course in Spanish language
After decades of dictatorship, imperialism, state repression and narco-wars, punk-rock and hip hop have developed into countercultural movements of resistance. Students in this class will examine the role and history of these cultural movements, their dialogues with other cultural counternarratives and how they have created a narrative of political resistance in Latin America.
SPAN 3771  Spanish Summer School in Mexico    
6 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish Language
With a focus on Mexican culture and literature, students examine selected pre-Hispanic Nauhatl and Mayan texts, 16th Spanish Century chronicles and 20th Century Mexican Revolution short stories. This course is a fundamental component of the Spanish Summer School and is delivered in Spanish every summer at CEPE UNAM in Mexico. The reading materials are both in English and Spanish.
SPAN 3777  Peace and Development in Colombia Field Course  GDST 3777  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in Spanish or in courses that count toward the minor in Latin American Studies
In partnership with Universidad de Antioquia, students in this field school will develop a deeper understanding of how different grassroots organizations work with historical memory, reconciliation and peace projects in Colombia. Students will gain firsthand knowledge from and participate in different community projects in some of the areas most affected by the conflict. Students will visit public institutions related to historical memory and will participate in discussion with scholars, community leaders and Colombian students. Taught in English.
Note: This course will be delivered during three weeks in the month of June.

SPAN 3800 – 3825 Special Topics in Spanish
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

SPAN 3826 – 3849 Special Topics in Spanish
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year. 

SPAN 4800 – 4825 Special Topics in Spanish
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

SPAN 4826 – 4849 Special Topics in Spanish
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year. 

SPAN 4876 – 4899 Directed Study
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
A tutorial course open to students who wish to study a particular topic, subject, or author largely through independent reading and research. Registration in the course is made after consultation with the appropriate member of the Department, who will organize the program of studies.