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. Classroom audio-lingual practice can be supplemented by audio-taped material in Media Services, located in the library.
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. Classroom audio-lingual practice can be supplemented by audio-taped material in Media Services, located in the library.
Prerequisite: SPN 101 or permission of the department 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. Classroom practice can be supplemented by taped material in Media Services, located in the library.
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. Classroom practice can be supplemented by taped material in Media Services, located in the library.
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 104 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 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 401. Advanced Conversation. 3 Credit Hours.
Intensive practice in speaking Spanish about topics of personal and public interest. Emphasis is placed in the development and improvement of functional language skills needed for interpersonal communication and academic presentations. Required for majors. Not open to native speakers of Spanish.
SPN 402. Advanced Composition. 3 Credit Hours.
Systematic and intensive practice of written Spanish. Students are required to produce both personal and narratives and academic essays with the appropriate degree of accuracy. Required for major.
Prerequisite: SPN 401 or permission of the department chair.
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 20th century.
Prerequisite: SPN 401 or SPN 402 or permission of the chair.
SPN 411. Spanish Civilization. 3 Credit Hours.
A study of the Spanish character and of Spain's contribution to world civilization through a tracing of its geographic, ethnic, social, political, economic and cultural characteristics. Readings in civilization, discussions and slide-lectures. Only Spanish is spoken in class. Required for majors.
Prerequisite: SPN 304 or SPN 402.
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. Taugh 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 421. 20th Cent Spanish Prose. 3 Credit Hours.
Readings and discussion of essays and fiction by the most prominent writers of the period. The course attempts to give the student insight into the character and thought of twentieth-century Spain that led to the devastating Spanish Civil War.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the chair.
SPN 422. 20th Cent Spanish Fiction. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected readings and discussion of the fiction written after the Spanish Civil War. The course attempts to portray the scars of the war and give the student insight into the great changes that have occurred in Spain since then.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the chair.
SPN 423. 20th Century Span Drama & Poet. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected readings and discussion of the most prominent playwrights and poets of twentieth-century Spain.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the chair.
SPN 431. Spanish-American Literature I. 3 Credit Hours.
Selected novels and short stories from the most prominent of contemporary SpanishAmerican writers. These readings and discussion will attempt to give the student insight into the diversity of the Americas.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the chair.
SPN 432. 20th Cent Span-Am Drama & Poet. 3 Credit Hours.
Writings from selected poets and playwrights of this century that have had great impact in the Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisite: SPN 302 or permission of the 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. Spanish Women Writers. 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.
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 Intermediate High 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 B+; 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.