Spanish courses
Director of undergraduate studies: Susan Byrne, Rm. 205, 82–90 Wall St., 432-1162, susan.byrne@yale.edu; language program director: Ame Cividanes, Rm. 210, 82–90 Wall St., 432-1159, ame.cividanes@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE
Professors Rolena Adorno (Chair), Aníbal González, Roberto González Echevarría, K. David Jackson, María Rosa Menocal, Noël Valis
Associate Professor Paulo Moreira
Assistant Professors Susan Byrne, Leslie Harkema, Kevin Poole
Senior Lectors II Margherita Tortora, Sonia Valle
Senior Lectors Sybil Alexandrov, Marta Almeida, Pilar Asensio, Teresa Carballal, Mercedes Carreras, Ame Cividanes, Sebastián Díaz, Maripaz García, Oscar González Barreto, María Jordán, Juliana Ramos-Ruano, Lissette Reymundi, Lourdes Sabé-Colom, Bárbara Safille, Terry Seymour
Lector Rosamaría León
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese provides instruction in the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian worlds. Courses in Portuguese and the requirements of the major are described under "Portuguese"; the names of faculty teaching Portuguese courses are in the list above.
The major in Spanish is a liberal arts major that offers a wide range of courses in the language, literatures, and cultures of the twenty Spanish-speaking countries in Europe and Latin America. Today Spanish is the second language of the United States, one of the three most widely spoken languages in the world, and one of the five diplomatic languages of the United Nations. The program in Spanish offers students the opportunity to acquire thorough linguistic proficiency as well as in-depth knowledge of both cultural and literary topics. The major explores literature, history, philosophy, art, and cultural studies, and provides excellent preparation for careers in law, diplomacy, medicine, business, the arts, academics, journalism, and education. Students electing Spanish as one of two majors should consult the director of undergraduate studies about a specialized course of study.
Among the Spanish offerings, Group A (SPAN 110–199) includes beginning and intermediate language courses designed to help students develop fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. Group B courses (SPAN 200–299) seek to provide students with a broad but solid introduction to the fields of Hispanic literatures and cultures, and to strengthen their linguistic competence through courses in advanced grammar and composition. Group C courses (SPAN 300–499) allow students to perfect their linguistic and critical skills through study of a specific problem or issue, e.g., a literary genre, a type of literary or cultural representation, or a specific writer or text. Students desiring more information about either language or literature offerings should consult the director of undergraduate studies. Juniors and seniors majoring in Spanish may, with the permission of the instructor and the director of graduate studies, enroll in graduate literature courses in Spanish. A list of pertinent graduate courses is available at the office of the director of undergraduate studies.
The standard major Prerequisite to the major is SPAN 140, 142, or 145, or equivalent credit through advanced placement or study abroad. Beyond the prerequisite, twelve term courses from Groups B and C are required, including the senior essay. With prior permission of the director of undergraduate studies, two relevant courses from other departments may be applied toward the major.
Requirements of the major for the Class of 2013 Students must take SPAN 243 and <244>, two courses chosen from SPAN 261, 262, 266, or 267, SPAN 491 (see "Senior requirement" below), and at least five courses from Group C. Successful completion of a special examination given at the beginning of each term may exempt Spanish majors from SPAN 243; details about the examination may be obtained from the course instructor.
Requirements of the major for the Classes of 2014 and 2015 Students must take SPAN 243, <244>, or 250; SPAN 246 or 247; three courses chosen from SPAN 261, 262, 266, or 267; SPAN 491 (see "Senior requirement" below); and six electives, five of which must be chosen from Group C. Successful completion of a special examination given at the beginning of each term may exempt Spanish majors from SPAN 243 and fulfill the requirement for SPAN 243, <244>, or 250. Details about the examination may be obtained from the course instructor. Students exempted from SPAN 243 may count SPAN <244> or 250 toward the major as the allowed Group B elective.
Requirements of the major for the Class of 2016 and subsequent classes Students must take SPAN 250; SPAN 246 or 247; three courses chosen from SPAN 261, 262, 266, or 267; SPAN 491 (see "Senior requirement" below); and six electives, five of which must be chosen from Group C.
Senior requirement Seniors write the senior essay in SPAN 491 in the spring of their senior year under the individual direction of a faculty adviser. Students expecting to complete their degree requirements in December write the senior essay in SPAN 491 in the fall of their senior year. Seniors in SPAN 491 are expected to submit their completed essay to the director of undergraduate studies at 82–90 Wall Street by 4 p.m. on April 26 in the spring term, or by 4 p.m. on December 7 in the fall term. If the essay is submitted late without an excuse from the student's residential college dean, the penalty is one letter grade, though no essay that would otherwise pass will be failed because it is late. Students in the intensive major both present the essay and take a departmental examination.
Study abroad Students are encouraged to apply to the eight-week summer language courses offered by Yale Summer Session in New Haven and Bilbao, Spain, or in New Haven and Quito, Ecuador. A five-week Spanish course at the L5 level is also offered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. More information is available on the Yale Summer Session Web site. For information about the Year or Term Abroad program, see under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations.
Placement Students with a score of 5 on either of the Spanish Advanced Placement tests, a score of 7 on the higher-level International Baccalaureate examination, a demonstrated proficiency level of C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or a placement of L5 based on the departmental placement examination may enroll directly in any Group B or C course. All other students, including native speakers, who have previously studied Spanish formally or informally must take the departmental placement examination in order to enroll in a Spanish course. Information on the departmental placement examination is available on the department's Web site.
Students with no previous formal or informal Spanish study ordinarily enroll in SPAN 110. Students who take SPAN 110 must continue with 120 in the following term, and no credit is awarded for 110 until 120 has been successfully completed. Students wishing to take intensive beginning Spanish may, with the instructor's permission, enroll in SPAN 125, which covers the same material as SPAN 110 and 120, but in one term. SPAN 132 and 142 are designed for heritage speakers and are available only to them. Admission to 132 and 142 is based on results of the departmental placement examination; interested students should contact the instructor.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisite SPAN 140, 142, 145, or equivalent
Number of courses 12 term courses from Groups B and C (incl senior req)
Specific courses required Class of 2013—SPAN 243, <244>; 2 from SPAN 261, 262, 266, 267; Classes of 2014 and 2015—SPAN 243, <244>, or 250; SPAN 246 or 247; 3 from SPAN 261, 262, 266, 267; Class of 2016 and subsequent classes—SPAN 250; SPAN 246 or 247; 3 from SPAN 261, 262, 266, 267
Distribution of courses At least 5 courses in Group C
Substitution permitted Up to 2 relevant courses in other depts, with DUS permission
Senior requirement Standard major—Senior essay (SPAN 491); Intensive major—Senior essay (SPAN 491) and dept exam
