Courses

Spanish

Below you will find a list of our current or recent offerings. See the course catalog for descriptions and updated information.

The Spanish Department curriculum includes a Beginning level course sequence that fulfills SU’s Language and Culture requirement; Intermediate level courses designed for native speakers of Spanish, heritage speakers of Spanish, and Spanish language learners who have completed the Language and Culture courses or who have placed out due to previous studies; and Advanced level courses for majors, minors, native speakers, heritage speakers, and any students interested in advancing their language and cultural proficiency and who have taken at least one 300-level course.

The beginning level Spanish course sequence fulfills SU’s Language and Culture requirement.

Spanish 1 is offered fall, spring, and summer term.
Spanish 2 and 3 are offered fall, spring, summer term, and in a summer study abroad program.

A placement test taken before beginning coursework at Southwestern helps determine which level in the language sequence will provide the appropriate challenge when getting started. Students who have not placed out of Southwestern’s third semester language proficiency requirement must begin language study at the level of placement, and take the next courses from -144, -154 and -164 sequentially. Students must earn a grade of C- or better to continue within this sequence.

SPA15-144 Spanish I: Language and Culture
Introduction to the language. Skills development in listening, speaking, writing, reading and cultural study. Contingent on placement exam results and language background. (Fall,Spring)

SPA15-154 Spanish II: Lang & Culture
Skills development in listening, speaking, writing, reading and cultural study. Also offered as part of SU's summer study abroad program . Prerequisite: Spanish 15-144 or equivalent placement. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

SPA15-164 Spanish III: Lang & Culture
Intermediate course on Spanish language and culture with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing. Continued practice in the target language. Also offered as part of SU's summer study abroad program. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-154 or equivalent placement. An exit interview/examination is required to satisfy course requirements. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

The intermediate level courses are designed for native speakers of Spanish, Heritage speakers of Spanish, and Spanish language learners who have completed the Language and Culture courses or who have placed out due to previous studies.

Please visit the Office of Intercultural Learning for information about our Intermediate level summer study abroad program as well as other study abroad options.

SPA15-214 Written and Oral Expression
An intermediate level course designed to prepare students for advancing their studies in Spanish by improving the students' skills in oral and written expression, while furthering their development in oral and written comprehension. The goal of this class is to increase students' self-confidence in using the language and in controlling complex grammatical aspects, with special emphasis placed on the use of already-learned grammatical structures. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164 or equivalent. (WA) (H)

SPA15-314 Conversation in Context
An intermediate level course focused on conversational and grammatical skills as well as cultural aspects of the study abroad country. Offered during the summers in SU Summer Study Abroad programs. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164 or equivalent. (H)

SPA15-334 Conversation Through Hispanic Cinema
An intermediate level course designed to improve conversational, written, and presentational Spanish skills through the discussion of movies from around the Spanish-speaking world. This course is designed specifically for students who have not yet reached confident fluency in the Spanish language. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164 or equivalent placement.. (WA) (H) (Fall, Spring)

SPA15-344 Introduction to Literary Studies
An intermediate level course designed to introduce students to the interpretation of literary texts and to promote the acquisition of the technical vocabulary needed to describe and debate literary issues. Contributes to Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164, or equivalent placement, or permission of instructor. (WA) (H)

SPA15-354 Cultures & Communities of Latin America
Exploration of Latin American cultures incorporating a variety of materials and approaches, such as geography, history, architecture, literature, music, art and religion. This course has a community-engaged learning component when taught on campus. Also offered as part of SU's advanced Spanish summer study abroad program to Latin America offered in even-numbered years. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164 or equivalent placement or permission of instructor. (H) (SJ) (Fall, Summer)

SPA15-364 Cultures and Communities of Spain
Exploration of Peninsular Spanish cultures incorporating a variety of materials and approaches, such as geography, history, architecture, literature, music, art and religion. This course has a community-engaged learning component when taught on campus. Also offered as part of SU's advanced Spanish summer study abroad program to Spain in odd-numbered years. Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: Spanish 15-164 or equivalent placement or permission of instructor. (H) (SJ) (Spring, Summer)

The advanced level courses for majors, minors, and any students interested in advancing their language and cultural proficiency and who have taken at least one 300-level course.

Note on course numbering: The 400 level courses are on literature from Spain; 500 level courses are on literature from Latin American literature; 600 level courses focus on culture; 700 level courses focus on linguistics; 900 level courses are capstone, tutorial, independent study, internship and honors.

We also encourage all students who speak Spanish well to consider study abroad, since the experience abroad will give you a life changing experience in addition to enhancing your resume. Studying abroad will not only improve your Spanish skills but also allow you to experience and learn about diverse cultures and topics from a non- American perspective. Also, please consider seeking Paideia with Distinction since you have an advanced proficiency in language. Talk to one of our faculty members for more ideas on how to get involved.

SPA15-444 Hispano-American Literature Abroad
Contributes to International Studies and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H)

SPA15-454 Hispano-American Culture Abroad
Contributes to International Studies and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H)

SPA15-464 Linguistics Abroad
Contributes to International Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H)

SPA15-524 Readings in Contemporary Hisp-Amer Liter Hispano-American Literature
Interpretation and analysis of 20th- and/or 21st-century representative texts from Hispano-America. May be repeated for credit with change in topic. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA)

SPA15-534 Cultural Memory in Latin America
This interdisciplinary course will explore the construction of cultural memory-collective meaningful understandings of the past and present in a given socio historical context-in contemporary Latin America through the examination of symbolic systems, practices, and cultural products: written and audiovisual narratives, music, memorials, and popular traditions. Contributes to International Studies, Latin American and Border Studies, and Race and Ethnicity Studies/Allied Course. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA) (SJ)

SPA15-554 Contemporary Hispano-American Theatre
This course explores, analyzes and critiques the works of contemporary Hispano American and Chicano dramaturges, utilizing appropriate terminology, theory and trends to situate the works within a global context. Contributes to International Studies and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA)

SPA15-614 Topics in Hispanic Film
Interpretation and analysis of selected works by Spanish and/or Latin American directors. May be repeated for credit with change in topic. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA)

SPA15-624 Topics in Hispanic Literature
Interpretation and analysis of selected Iberian and/or Hispano-American works. May be repeated for credit with change in topic. Contributes to International Studies and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA)

SPA15-634 Topics in Hispanic Culture
Interpretation and analysis of selected cultural events and festivities, works of art and/or literary works by Iberian and/or Hispano-American authors. May be repeated for credit with change in topic. Contributes to International Studies, and Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H) (WA)

SPA15-644 Gender, Race and Nationalism in Spanish Cinema
Discussion of topics such as body, performance, migration and cultural exchange through the viewing, discussing and analyzing of recent films from Spain and the Mediterranean world. Contributes to Feminist Studies, International Studies, and Race and Ethnicity Studies/Allied Course. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (WA) (H)

SPA15-654 Citizenship & Conflict Colombian Cinema
Interpretation and analysis of contemporary Colombian films that expose the complex relation between citizenship, state practices and insurgent forces. Contributes to Race and Ethnicity Studies, and to Latin American and Border Studies. Prerequisite: One 300 level course. (SJ) (IP) (WA) (H)

SPA15-714 Spanish Sociolinguistics
Study of the use of the Spanish language in its social context with analysis of variations that occur over geographic, class, gender, racial, and educational lines. Focus on current issues in sociolinguistics as well as the field's main findings, approaches, and research methodologies. Contributes to Race and Ethnicity Studies/Allied Course. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H)

SPA15-724 Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
Study of the theoretical concepts and analytical tools used to describe and categorize sounds in natural languages, focusing specifically on the sound system of Spanish. Contributes to Neuroscience. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (H)

SPA15-734 Spanish in the United States
Study of the use of the Spanish language in the United States, focusing primarily on linguistic phenomena evidenced in the various speech communities, as well as the social, historical, political, and educational forces that influence Spanish language use, maintenance, and Spanish/English bilingualism. Contributes to Latin American and Border Studies and Race and Ethnicity Studies/Group-Theme Course. Prerequisite: One 200 or 300 level course. (WA) (H)

If you already speak Spanish, please consider taking any of the courses under our intermediate or advanced tabs. These courses are designed to engage both native and non-native speakers alike. You’ll be surprised how much more there is to learn about Spanish as a language and the cultures that speak the language.