Spanish (SPN)
SPN 101. Elementary Spanish I. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed for students who are beginning the study of Spanish. It includes the essentials of grammar, vocabulary building and elementary composition, together with the reading of moderately difficult selections in Spanish prose.
SPN 102. Elementary Spanish II. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed for students who are beginning the study of Spanish. It includes the essentials of grammar, vocabulary building and elementary composition, together with the reading of moderately difficult selections in Spanish prose.
Prerequisite: SPN 101 or permission of the chair.
SPN 201. Intermediate Spanish I. 3 Credit Hours.
Review and practice of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on all four language skills. Introduction to selected Spanish readings.
Prerequisite: SPN 102 or two or three years of high school Spanish.
SPN 202. Intermediate Spanish II. 3 Credit Hours.
Review and practice of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on all four language skills. Introduction to selected Spanish readings.
Prerequisite: SPN 201 or two or three years of high school Spanish.
SPN 301. Interm Conversation and Composition I. 3 Credit Hours.
Intended as an alternate to SPN 303 SPN 304. Emphasis on pronunciation, intonation, correct expression and systematic vocabulary development. Audio-visual work, oral reports, compositions and class discussions based on readings from newspapers, magazines and current writings of significant authors. Intended primarily for non-language majors.
Prerequisite: SPN 202 or three or four years of high school Spanish.
SPN 302. Conversation and Composition II. 3 Credit Hours.
Intended as an alternate to SPN 303 SPN 304. Emphasis on pronunciation, intonation, correct expression and systematic vocabulary development. Audio-visual work, oral reports, compositions and class discussions based on readings from newspapers, magazines and current writings of significant authors. Intended primarily for non-language majors.
Prerequisite: SPN 301 or three or four years of high school Spanish.
SPN 303. Introduction to Literature I. 3 Credit Hours.
Modern Spanish and Spanish-American readings in prose, poetry, and drama. Discussion and written work focus on the practice of the language (reinforcement of grammatical structures and broadening of vocabulary) and some basic principles of literary analysis.
Prerequisite: SPN 202 or four years of high school Spanish.
SPN 304. Introduction to Literature II. 3 Credit Hours.
Modern Spanish and Spanish-American readings in prose, poetry and drama. Discussion and written work focus on practice of the language (reinforcement of grammatical structures and broadening of vocabulary) and some basic principles of literary analysis.
Prerequisite: SPN 202 or four years of high school Spanish.
SPN 310. Spanish for Heritage Speakers. 3 Credit Hours.
Students will build up their vocabulary, writing and reading skills to succeed in higher level courses, and they will learn about the culture of Hispanic groups other than their own. Through contemporary media and texts, students will also learn how the varieties of Spanish spoken in the United States may differ from more "standard" varieties of Spanish. At the same time, the course will highlight the role of situational context and purpose in determining how speakers use language in order to reinforce the idea that, despite the difference from standard Spanish, the varieties of Spanish spoken in the United States have the same linguisitic richness, complexity, and validity as any other variety.
SPN 340. Spanish Phonetics. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to the formal and practical study of the sound system of Spanish. Through course discussions, readings, and homework, students will examine the principal articulatory properties of the sounds of Spanish and their phonological distribution. Students will also study differences between the English and the Spanish sound systems and aspects of phonological variation across regional varieties of Spanish. In addition, students will develop an awareness of their own pronunciation in Spanish and how it may differ from the varieties spoken by others. Students will learn to identify and correct non-native patterns of pronunciation and will practice techniques of phonetic analysis, including phonetic transcription.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of Department Chair.
SPN 390. Independent Study. 1-9 Credit Hours.
A student who wishes to pursue an independent study project for academic credit must submit, prior to registration, a proposed plan of study that includes the topic to be studied and the goal to be achieved, the methodology to be followed, schedule of supervision, end product, evaluation procedure and number of credits sought. The proposal must be approved by the supervising faculty member, the department chair (program director) and the academic dean. It will be kept on file in the academic dean's office.
SPN 395. Study Abroad Experience. 1 Credit Hour.
One of the Student Learning Outcomes of our Spanish and French programs is "Intercultural Competence: Integrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions in an experiential, intercultural context." We assess this SLO through the Study Abroad semester required of all our Spanish and French majors during their junior year. In order to assess this SLO the students need to undertake a series of tasks that require them to write a statement of purpose before leaving, a reflection upon their return, and a series of diary entries while abroad (refer to shared materials). These materials are assessed through a rubric (see shared materials). Currently, these tasks are not credit-bearing and are not attached to any particular course. As a result, we can't link the assessment to any specific course in the curriculum map on TaskStream. In order to make these tasks a requirement for our majors and to be able to link them to a course in the curriculum map, the Registrar suggested creating this one-credit pass/fail "Study Abroad Experience" course as part of the requirements for the Study Abroad.
SPN 401. Advanced Conversation. 3 Credit Hours.
Intensive practice in speaking Spanish about topics of personal and general interest. Emphasis will be placed on the development and improvement of the functional language skills needed for interpersonal communication and academic presentations at the advanced level according to the Oral Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. These include the ability to: narrate and describe in all major time frames; answer questions orally in discourse chunks of at least a paragraph in length; and use communicative strategies such as circumlocution. Assignments will be mostly oral in nature, but will also include grammar review and vocabulary enrichment. Required for majors. Not open to native speakers of Spanish.
SPN 402. Advanced Composition. 3 Credit Hours.
This course focuses on the development of advanced-level writing skills according to the Writing Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. With a focus on process-oriented writing, students will write informal and formal essays of varying lengths that focus on description, narration, and argumentation. In addition, students will review and practice key grammatical structures and vocabulary in order to promote greater precision and a more sophisticated writing style. Students will also focus on the mechanics of writing, including proper punctuation and spelling. Required for majors.
SPN 403. Survey of Spanish Literature I. 3 Credit Hours.
A survey course consisting of background lectures and readings of edited segments from the representative masterpieces of Spanish literature from the epic poem, Cantar de Mio Cid, to the 21st century.
Prerequisite: SPN 401 or SPN 402 or permission of the chair.
SPN 411. Cultures of Spain. 3 Credit Hours.
A study of key moments in the history of Spain and its diverse cultures. We will examine literary works, texts exploring culture and history, and examples of film, art and music that project the complexity of the peoples inhabiting the peninsula. Only Spanish is spoken in class. Required for majors. Fulfills Core Requirement: Diversity (DIV)
SPN 412. Latin American Cultures. 3 Credit Hours.
Accounting for 150 million people of African descent, 50 million indigenous people, and more than 50 million immigrants in the United States, Latin America is a region of sharp cultural and ethnic contrasts. This course explores the transformation of Latin American cultures through issues of race, gender, and social justice, as well as interdisciplinary topics in history, social sciences, politics, and economics. Students will reflect on the complexity of Latin American cultures through literature and visual media, such as film, graphic novels, theater, and painting. Taught in Spanish. Required for majors.
Prerequisites: SPN 304 or permission of the Chair.
Fulfills Core Requirement(s): Diversity (DIV) and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).
SPN 413. Mexico in Its Arts & Literature. 3 Credit Hours.
Despite Mexico's geographical proximity, political relevance and economic importance to the United States, few countries are as poorly understand as is Mexico among Americans. As a result, few Americans appreciate their neighbor's historical odyssey, in search of political stability, national unity, democracy and economic prosperity. This course offers an introduction to 20th and 21st century literture and cultural production about modern Mexico. Emphasis will be placed on the way intellectuals, writers and artists whose novels, short stories, films, paintings deal with Mexico City's changing social and political landscape, and how these representations question themes and trends in national identity, state control, globalization and immigration. the course will provide a historical outline of the interaction between artists, the state, and national identity in Mexico. It will also challenge dominant narratives within Mexican history, through an examination of the experience of subaltern groups, including women and indigenous peoples. This course includes a travel component. Students must request permission of instructor via an application in order to register.
Prerequisite: SPN 302.
Fulfills Core Requirement(s): Diversity (DIV).
SPN 422. Fiction in Contemporary Spain. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected readings and discussion of the fiction by the most prominent writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The course attempts to give students insight into the character and thought that led to the devastating Spanish Civil War, its aftermath, and the many changes that have occurred in Spain since then.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the Department Chair.
SPN 423. Contemporary Spanish Drama & Poet. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected readings and discussion of the most outstanding playwrights and poets of Spain in the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on the most relevant trends and literary groups. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of the texts in their social and historical contexts, along with other artistic manifestations of the moment.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission from the Department Chair.
SPN 431. Latin American Literature I. 3 Credit Hours.
Literature has been at the center of the social transformations of Latin America. Latin American writers have turned into presidents, revolutionary leaders, heroes, and martyrs. This course explores short stories, novels, and poems that have challenged and advanced the realities of Latin America and its diaspora over time. Students will gain expertise in literary analysis while reflecting on intersectional issues of race, gender, and social justice in different periods.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission from the Department Chair.
SPN 432. Contemporary Latin American Drama & Poet. 3 Credit Hours.
Writings from selected poets and playwrights of the 20th and 21st century that have had great impact in the Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission from the Department Chair.
SPN 433. Contemporary Latin American Film. 3 Credit Hours.
Contemporary Latin American cinema has gained international attention in both major film festivals and the mainstream industry. Settled in a region of sharp contrasts that hosts some of the most populated cities in the world along with the largest rainforests on the planet, contemporary Latin American moviemakers tackle the most urgent debates in the world today, from ecological sustainability to migration, inequality, and violence. This course will explore the major themes of contemporary Latin American cinema in dialogue with significant debates in today's world. Through film discussions and short readings, students will reflect on topics such as indigenous cultures and the global search for more environmentally friendly societies, social justice, and migration, and race and uneven urbanization, among others. The films will not only provide a window for students to witness Latin America's complex worlds but also to observe their own reality from a not-so-far perspective. Fulfills Core Requirements: Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and Diversity (DIV).
Cross-listed Courses: CMM 433
SPN 434. Gender and Tourism in Contemporary Latin American Film. 3 Credit Hours.
This course explores cinema's role in reinforcing or challenging exoticized sexual representations in Latin American, impacting transnational tourism. Students will analyze how film depicts the interplay of tourism and gender, how these portrayals influence global film consumption, and how filmmakers navigate tourism's commodification. Additionally, we will investigate the intersection of race, gender, and ethnicity in these narratives. through film analysis and anthropological literature, students will gain insights into how cinema and tourism interact in shaping perceptions of Latin America. Fulfills Core requirements: Diversity (DIV) and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).
Cross-listed Courses: GWS 434
SPN 440. Special Topics in Spanish. 3 Credit Hours.
A selection of courses to provide an opportunity for study of certain specific periods, themes, genres, authors or linguistic topics offered in accordance with current student and faculty interest.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the chair.
SPN 450C. Spanish for Business. 3 Credit Hours.
The Spanish for Business online course is designed to give students with advanced-intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency in Spanish a solid foundation in business vocabulary, basic cultural concepts, and situational practice. It seeks to develop intercultural communicative competence for business purposes based on social values and conventions that shape everyday interaction conducted within a given society. (NOTE: This course is part of the UNYLC Foreign Language Consortium. The host School is Canisius. Please see the Registrar's Ofice or the Foreign Language department for a registration form and guidelines.).
SPN 451. Hispanic Women Voices. 3 Credit Hours.
In this course students will explore different aspects related to the literary expression and construction of identity through the study of works by women writers both from Spain and Latin America who practice a variety of genres; autobiography, novel, short story and poetry. Through the analysis of these texts we will derive interdisciplinary discussions related to the construction of gender, sexuality and feminine creativity. We will examine not only the form and the content of the texts, but we will also contextualize the works in their historical, cultural and literary background. Through the use of secondary texts such as paintings, documentaries, musical compositions and film, the students will explore the different forms of art and disciplines that intersect with the texts and project the worldview of each period. Cross-listed Courses: GLA 450, GWS 360.
SPN 474. Latin American & Us Latino Theatre. 3 Credit Hours.
A study of major Latin American and U.S. Latino plays. Emphasis on dramatic literature in relation to performance and cultural contexts. Some production of scenes. Not open to First-Year Students.
Prerequisite: SPN 202.
Fulfills Core Requirement(s): Visual and Performing Arts requirement(VPA)and Diversity (DIV) Suggested prior course: SPN 301.
Cross-listed Courses: THR 374
SPN 480. Oral Proficiency Preparation. 1 Credit Hour.
A one-credit preparation course for the Oral Proficiency Interview that focuses on intensive speaking practice of the linguistic functions students must master to pass the OPI at the Advanced Low level. It must be taken the semester immediately following their Study Abroad program. It may be taken as an Independent Study. Students who do not reach the advanced low level must retake the OPI at their own cost. Advanced low level equals A-; above this level equals A; below this level equals F.
Prerequisite: completion of study abroad requirement or permission from the Department Chair.
SPN 490. Spanish Internship. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Participation in a field learning experience closely related to one of the areas of Spanish. The student intern will report as required to the faculty member assigned to supervise this field experience and is expected to evaluate the experience and relate it to his or her academic program. Three hours of field work per week will be required to generate one credit.
SPN 491. Spanish Internship. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Participation in a field learning experience closely related to one of the areas of Spanish. The student intern will report as required to the faculty member assigned to supervise this field experience and is expected to evaluate the experience and relate it to his or her academic program. Three hours of field work per week will be required to generate one credit.