Spanish Major
Overview
In 1787 Thomas Jefferson wrote: “Spanish. Bestow great attention on this and endeavor to acquire an accurate knowledge of it. Our future connection with Spain and Spanish America will render that language a valuable acquisition.” Jefferson’s words have never rung more true than they do in today’s shrinking world. The goal of the major in Spanish is to foster knowledge of the language, literature, history, and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. As students of the humanities, Spanish majors cultivate skills in research, analysis, and communication essential for a lifetime of intellectual engagement within and beyond our national borders.
Faculty
Spanish majors have access to a nationally-ranked group of faculty members whose expertise ranges across a wide range of areas: Peninsular literature from the medieval to the modern periods; Latin American literature from colonial times to the present; Portuguese and Brazilian literature; Spanish and Latin American cinema; Spanish, Latin American and US Latina women’s writing; Spanish and LatinAmerican culture; and Spanish linguistics. In addition to these specialists, the department regularly invites visiting scholars and Hispanic authors for a semester. Past authors have included Isabel Allende, Pía Barros, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Antonio Cisneros, Diamela Eltit, Laura Freixas, Mempo Giardinelli, Liliana Heker, Carmen Martín Gaite, Rosa Montero, Antonio Muñoz Molina, and Antonio Skármeta.
Students
There are currently about 350 students majoring in Spanish, and 150 to 200 minors. Many Spanish majors go on to graduate or professional school to become lawyers, doctors and educators. Others go directly into the working world, finding their Spanish major useful for careers in business, the government, and international agencies.
The Declaration Process
If you are interested in majoring in Spanish, please begin by reviewing the requirements for the major described below, including the outlines of the three possible concentrations.
There are two ways to declare a major:
The Spanish Advising Workshops will be held in the early weeks of the fall and spring semesters and will be listed on the departmental calendar. These workshops are led by Spanish faculty advisors who will review the process of declaring a major and will be available to answer questions from students. All students are welcome to attend. Each student should bring a Declaration of Major form, available in Garrett Hall, and will be assisted in filling out that form, including all courses already taken that satisfy the major as well as the courses necessary to complete the major. Any areas of uncertainty will be reviewed by an advisor. You will then be assigned to a major advisor on the basis of your desired course of study.
Other times during the academic year, prospective majors should go to the Spanish Department Office in 115 Wilson Hall and request to be assigned to a Spanish major advisor. The student will then make an appointment with that advisor, pick up the Declaration of Majors form from Garrett Hall, and meet with the advisor to complete the necessary paperwork.
Please note: this department will not assign major advisors when courses are not in session, during the first three weeks of each regular semester, during the first week of pre-registration or during the Summer Session.
Spanish Advising Workshops
Students interested in declaring a major must attend one of our Spanish Advising Workshops. These workshops are presided over by Spanish Faculty Advisors who will review the highlights of declaring a Spanish major and will be available to answer questions from students. All students are welcome to attend to get more information about the Spanish programs. Here are the dates for the Fall semester Spanish Advising Workshops:
Fall 2009: Thursday, October 15 at 3:30 pm CAB 247
If you are interested in majoring in Spanish, please begin by reviewing the requirements
Major Declarations
Please bring a Declaration of Major form with you. These may be found in Garrett Hall. Fill out the form including all courses that have been taken by you that satisfy the major as well as the courses you plan to take. Any areas of uncertainty will be reviewed by an advisor. You will then be assigned to an advisor who is suited for your desired course of study.
Please note: this department will not assign major advisors when courses are not in session, during the first three weeks of each regular semester, during the first week of pre-registration or during the Summer Session.
Prerequisites for Majoring in Spanish
In order to declare a major in Spanish, a student must have completed SPAN 3010 Grammar Review or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. A C- is insufficient. Students must complete SPAN 3010 at the University of Virginia or through a study abroad program recommended, not merely approved by the department (see below for distinction). Students who have scored a 4 on the Spanish Language AP exam will proceed directly to SPAN 3010. Students who have scored 5 on the Spanish Language AP exam may not take SPAN 3010 for credit. They must proceed to any course for which SPAN 3010 is a prerequisite.
Native speakers of Spanish must consult the Director of the Undergraduate Program before taking any Spanish courses in order to determine how best to proceed.
Requirements for the Major in Spanish
The Spanish major consists of thirty credits completed above SPAN 3010 with a grade of C or better. Courses in which a student receives a C- or less will not count toward the major. When declaring the Spanish major, all students are required to choose one of the three concentrations described below (the general concentration, the literature and culture concentration, and the linguistics and philology concentration) to give structure to their Spanish studies. Students are expected to take courses in the sequence indicated below for each concentration.
Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the Spanish Literature AP exam may not take SPAN 3300 for credit, but must proceed to any course for which SPAN 3300 is a pre-requisite. Students who are placed out of SPAN 3300 must still earn 30 credits of upper-division Spanish to complete the major, substituting another literature course for SPAN 3300. All students who place themselves incorrectly may lose credit for the courses in which they enroll without departmental permission. Only one conversation course may be counted toward the major. Native speakers of Spanish may not enroll in conversation courses.
It is expected, but not required, that all Spanish majors will complete at least a summer of study-abroad. All are highly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or a year. The department distinguishes between recommended study-abroad programs and approved study-abroad programs. The recommended programs are UVA in Valencia, UVA in Peru, and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of the Undergraduate Program for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that does not appear on this list must go through the petition process administered by the International Studies Office and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program. Students who study in a recommended program may count up to 15 credits per semester of study abroad or 24 credits per year of study abroad toward their Spanish major. Students who study in an approved program in Spain or Latin America may count up to 9 credits for a semester of study abroad or 15 credits for a year of study abroad toward their Spanish major. All study-abroad courses taken for major credit must be taught in Spanish, but the language of instruction alone does not qualify any course for credit for the Spanish major.
A. GENERAL SPANISH MAJOR`
One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010, Grammar Review. Must be completed before declaring the major.
1. SPAN 3300, Texts and Interpretation: An Introduction.*
2. One survey of Spanish literature*:
EITHER
SPAN 3400, Survey of Spanish Literature I: Middle Ages to 1700
OR
SPAN 3410, Survey of Spanish Literature II: 1700 to Present.
3. One survey of Latin American literature**:
EITHER
SPAN 3420, Survey of Latin American Literature I: Colonial to 1900.
OR
SPAN 3430, Survey of Latin American Literature II: 1900 to Present.
4. One Culture and Civilization Course from following options:
SPAN 4700, Spanish Culture and Civilization.
SPAN 4701, The Inquisition in Spain and Latin America.
SPAN 4702, Islam in Europe: Muslim Iberia.
SPAN 4704, Islamic Iberia.
SPAN 4705, Mass Media.
SPAN 4706, Spanish 20th Century History.
SPAN 4707, Introduction to Spanish Art.
SPAN 4708, Picasso.
SPAN 4709, Spanish Modern Art.
SPAN 4710, Latin American Culture and Civilization.
SPAN 4711, 1492 and the Aftermath.
SPAN 4715, Cuban Culture through Cinema.
SPAN 4712, Travelers in Latin America.
SPAN 4713, The Spanish Economy.
SPAN 4714, Empire and Imperialism in Early Modern Spain.
SPAN 4715, Cuban Culture Through Cinema.
5. Two language courses from the following options:
SPAN 3015, Phonetics.
SPAN 3020, Composition.
SPAN 3030, Cultural Conversations.***
SPAN 3031, Conversation Cinema: Latin America.***
SPAN 3040, Business Spanish.
SPAN 3200, Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics.
SPAN 4030, Advanced Conversation Cinema: Spain.
SPAN 4040, Translation from Spanish to English.
6. Four courses at the 4000 level.** At least two of these courses must be in literature. SPAN 4040 may count as a literature or as a language course.
- 3300 must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program.
***Note that only one conversation course will count for the major.
B. MAJOR IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010, Grammar Review. Must be completed before declaring the major.
1. SPAN 3300, Texts and Interpretation: An Introduction.*
2. One survey of Spanish literature**
EITHER
SPAN 3400, Survey of Spanish Literature I: Middle Ages to 1700.
OR
SPAN 3410, Survey of Spanish Literature II: 1700 to Present.
3. One survey of Latin American literature**:
EITHER
SPAN 3420, Survey of Latin American Literature I: Colonial to 1900.
OR
SPAN 3430, Survey of Latin American Literature II: 1900 to Present.
4. One Culture and Civilization Course from following options:
SPAN 4700, Spanish Culture and Civilization.
SPAN 4701, The Inquisition in Spain and Latin America.
SPAN 4702, Islam in Europe: Muslim Iberia.
SPAN 4704, Islamic Iberia.
SPAN 4705, Mass Media.
SPAN 4706, Spanish 20th Century History.
SPAN 4707, Introduction to Spanish Art.
SPAN 4708, Picasso.
SPAN 4709, Spanish Modern Art.
SPAN 4710, Latin American Culture and Civilization.
SPAN 4711, 1492 and the Aftermath.
SPAN 4715, Cuban Culture through Cinema.
SPAN 4712, Travelers in Latin America.
SPAN 4713, The Spanish Economy.
SPAN 4714, Empire and Imperialism in Early Modern Spain.
SPAN 4715, Cuban Culture Through Cinema.
5. Six 4000-level literature and culture courses. At least three of these must be in literature.
- 3300 must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program. SPAN 4040 may count as a literature course
**Taking one survey course is a prerequisite for taking any 4000 level course in literature and culture. At least one survey must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program. Ideally a major will take both survey courses before advancing to the 4000 level courses in literature and culture.
***Note that only one conversation course will count for the major.
C. SPANISH LINGUISTICS AND PHILOLOGY
One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010, Grammar Review. Must be completed before declaring the major.
1. SPAN 3015, Phonetics.
2. SPAN 3020, Composition.
3. SPAN 3200, Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics.
4. SPAN 3300, Texts and Interpretation: An Introduction.
5. SPAN 3400, Survey of Spanish Literature I: Middle Ages to 1700.
6. SPAN 4200, History of the Language I.
7. SPAN 4202, Hispanic Sociolinguistics
8. *SPAN 4203 Structure of Spanish.
9. *SPAN 4210, History of the Spanish Language II.
10. ONE SEMINAR (SPAN 4520, SPAN 4530)
- Asterisks mark changes either in the number or the name of the course.
Study Abroad
All students wishing to earn SPAN credit for work done abroad must have this credit approved by the Spanish program. Students wishing to study in Spain for major or minor credit must enroll in a program recommended or approved by the department. The department distinguishes between recommended study-abroad programs and approved programs. The recommended programs are UVA in Valencia, UVA in Peru, and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of Undergraduate Programs for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that does not appear on this list must go through the petition process run by the International Studies Office, and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program. For information about how to count study-abroad credit toward the major or minor in Spanish, please consult the sections on the major and/or minor above.
Independent Study
Independent study with a faculty advisor is available to advanced students who wish to pursue specific areas in depth that are not included in the regular curriculum. All of these courses are taught in Spanish.
Distinguished Majors Program
Spanish majors of exceptional ability and dedication are encouraged to enroll in the Distinguished Major Program. Like other Spanish majors, the DMPs are required to take ten courses (30 credits) at the 3000-level or above. However, three of these courses must be 4000-level seminars or, with the approval of the DMP Coordinator, 5000-level courses. In the fall semester of their 4th year, DMP’s enroll in the DMP Colloquium (a 3-credit credit/no credit course), meeting regularly with the Coordinator to discuss research strategies and set intermediate goals. In the second semester of their 4th year, DMPs meet regularly with a faculty adviser to receive guidance on advanced research techniques, critical thinking skills, and effective writing strategies. DMPs receive 3 additional credits upon the successful completion of a thesis. At the end of this year they present their research results to faculty, graduate students, and invited guests. A departmental committee determines different levels of distinction (Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction), based on the quality of the student’s thesis, the student’s overall work in the major field of study, and the student’s overall college record (minimum GPA of 3.4).Language Requirement
SPAN 1010 and 1020 are courses reserved exclusively for students who present no entrance credits in the language. Students who enter with two or more entrance credits and who wish to continue in Spanish will be placed according to scores obtained on the College Entrance Examination Board SAT II tests, the AP Exam, or the UVa Spanish placement exam. The sequence of courses, depending on the level at which the student begins, is as follows: SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020; or SPAN 1060, 2010, 2020; or SPAN 2010, 2020; or SPAN 2020. The sequence must be followed to complete the language requirement. Students who place themselves incorrectly will not receive credit for the courses in which they enroll without permission.
Five-year Teacher Education Program
Students wishing to enroll in the five-year B.A./M.T. Teacher Education Program should contact Professor Ruth Ferree in the Curry School of Education or Professor David T. Gies, the program advisor in Spanish. The five-year program leads toward teaching certification and has special requirements, including a mandatory study abroad and diagnostic and evaluative proficiency exams in Spanish.
Major in Latin-American Studies
For major and minor requirements see the section on Latin American Studies.
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Department of Spanish, 115 Wilson Hall, P.O. Box 400777, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777; (434) 924-7159; www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port.