Spanish (SPAN)
The Department of Spanish at Bucknell University is committed to providing excellent instruction and learning opportunities that challenge majors and minors, and other interested students to develop their language proficiency in Spanish to the maximum, as well as to know and understand the literature and culture of the Spanish-speaking peoples of the world. We encourage our students to think critically, to question their cultural assumptions about the Hispanic world, and to seek to immerse themselves, as much as possible, in a Spanish-speaking community.
The academic program in Spanish offers coursework in the areas of language, literature, culture, and linguistics of the Hispanic world, including Spain, Latin America, and the United States. The curriculum takes into account a wide variety of student needs and interests, including those of heritage students, students who plan to pursue graduate study and a career in Spanish/Hispanic studies, and those who hope to apply their language skills and cultural understanding to their chosen profession. The curriculum in Spanish encompasses three levels:
- Courses focusing primarily on language acquisition, with a secondary focus on cultural competency (SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I through SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition).
- At the next level, courses introduce students with early advanced language proficiency to the breadth and diversity of the literature, culture and linguistics of the Spanish-speaking world.
SPAN 220 Introduction to Spanish Literature 1 SPAN 222 Introduction to Latin American Literature 1 SPAN 270 Spanish Cultural Tradition 1 SPAN 280 Latin American Cultural Traditions 1 SPAN 285 Latino Literature in the U.S. 1 SPAN 295 Topics in Spanish 1 - At the highest level, our courses provide an in-depth study of an author, period, genre, or issue in Hispanic literature, culture or linguistics (300-level courses).
Students are strongly encouraged to continue their study of Spanish as early in their undergraduate career as possible. Doing so will ensure that they may complete the major or minor, will make them eligible for the best study abroad programs in the Hispanic world, and will help them to reach a high level of language proficiency. By achieving an advanced degree of language proficiency and cultural awareness, students may improve their chances for a Fulbright or other international fellowships after graduation.
Online Placement Test
Students who have studied Spanish in secondary school or who are heritage speakers of the language must take the online placement test to determine the level at which they may register for a Spanish course. Information on accessing the test is included in the first-year student registration materials. Current students may access the placement test from the Spanish department webpage. Any questions regarding placement should be directed to the Spanish department chairperson.
The major in Spanish is designed to cultivate our students’ understanding and appreciation of the rich literary and cultural traditions of Spanish-speaking peoples; to provide a sound foundation for graduate study related to the Hispanic worlds; and to develop our students’ ability to analyze critically literary and cultural works in Spanish. Coursework in the Spanish major will help students meet the goals of the College of Arts and Sciences, and of the University as a whole, with regard to writing, information literacy and public presentation.
Through their coursework in the major, students are introduced to the discipline of Hispanic letters and also explore connections between Spanish and other disciplines in the humanities or in the social sciences. The on-campus curriculum, combined with a semester or year of study abroad on Bucknell en España in Spain or on a program approved by the department for Latin America, will enable students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. The language proficiency attained by our students, along with the cultural understanding they gain through their studies at Bucknell and abroad, will allow them to interact effectively with Spanish-speaking peoples throughout the world. By relating to Hispanic cultures, our students increase their own self-awareness and their sense of connectedness to a diverse world.
Spanish Major
Students may set out to accomplish the goals outlined for the major by taking language courses beyond SPAN 105 Intermediate Spanish: SPAN 207 Toward Advanced Spanish, and/or SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition, according to their language placement. SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition is a prerequisite for courses numbered SPAN 220 Introduction to Spanish Literature through SPAN 295 Topics in Spanish.
After reaching an early-advanced level of language proficiency, students gain an understanding of Hispanic literary and cultural traditions through their work in courses providing an overview of literature and culture:
| SPAN 220 | Introduction to Spanish Literature 1 | 1 |
| or SPAN 222 | Introduction to Latin American Literature | |
| SPAN 270 | Spanish Cultural Tradition 1 | 1 |
| or SPAN 280 | Latin American Cultural Traditions | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
One of two courses not yet taken from first two rows | ||
| Latino Literature in the U.S. | ||
| Topics in Spanish | ||
| Vida y Cultura en Espana | ||
Approved study abroad program course 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: 3 | 1 | |
Hispanic literature/culture course 4 | ||
Hispanic linguistics course 4 | ||
| 1 | One of these four courses must be taken on the Bucknell campus, preferably before studying abroad. |
| 2 | With permission of the Spanish department. |
| 3 | A student may request permission to count an Integrated Perspectives course toward this major requirement, provided that the course is co-taught by a Spanish department faculty member and that the subject relates to Hispanic cultures. While a student may apply a 300-level Spanish course toward this requirement, with the approval of her/his academic adviser in Spanish, the student must still take two additional 300-level courses to complete the major. |
| 4 | On campus or on an approved study abroad program. |
Students must take at least two courses numbered SPAN 220 Introduction to Spanish Literature through SPAN 295 Topics in Spanish before enrolling in a 300-level course.
In order to achieve a high level of language proficiency and cultural understanding, it is strongly recommended that students majoring in Spanish spend at least one semester of their junior year on Bucknell en España in Spain, or one of the approved programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic or Ecuador.
After gaining an understanding of Hispanic literary and cultural traditions in coursework at the 200-level, students complete the major with at least two 300-level courses or seminars, offering an in-depth study of particular aspects of Hispanic literature, culture or linguistics. These courses, numbered in the 300s, are often related to the professor’s area of expertise and normally require that students participate actively in class discussion, make formal presentations in class, and that they write a research paper in Spanish. One of these seminars must be designated as Culminating Experience for the Spanish major. As part of the learning activities in this seminar, students will carry out a research project related to Hispanic literature, culture, or linguistics under the supervision of the course instructor, and will present the critical essay in its final written form at the end of the semester, as evidence of their fulfillment of the Spanish department’s learning objectives for writing and information literacy. In addition, senior Spanish majors will present a scholarly paper based on their research at a symposium organized by the Spanish department on campus, as evidence of their fulfillment of the department’s objectives regarding public presentation.
A major in Spanish requires at least eight credits above SPAN 105 Intermediate Spanish. At least four credits required for the major must be taken at Bucknell, including:
| SPAN 220 | Introduction to Spanish Literature | 1 |
| or SPAN 222 | Introduction to Latin American Literature | |
| or SPAN 270 | Spanish Cultural Tradition | |
| or SPAN 280 | Latin American Cultural Traditions | |
| Two 300-level SPAN courses 5 | 2 | |
| 5 | One must be designated a Culminating Experience. |
At least one of the four required 200-level course must focus on Latin America, and at least one on Spain. Students must take two 200-level courses after SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition before enrolling in a 300-level course. Only one course from Spanish department offerings taught in English may be counted toward the major. The distribution of courses counting toward the major is as follows:
| Spanish Language 6 | ||
| SPAN 207 | Toward Advanced Spanish | 1 |
| SPAN 208 | Advanced Conversation and Composition | 1 |
| Literature and Culture Core Courses 7,8 | ||
| SPAN 220 | Introduction to Spanish Literature | 1 |
| or SPAN 222 | Introduction to Latin American Literature | |
| SPAN 270 | Spanish Cultural Tradition | 1 |
| or SPAN 280 | Latin American Cultural Traditions | |
| Literature or Culture/Civilization Course | ||
| Select one of the following: 7 | 1 | |
| Vida y Cultura en Espana (Spain) | ||
| Latino Literature in the U.S. (may count as Latin American focus) | ||
| Topics in Spanish (topic and region may vary) | ||
| 6 | Students whose language proficiency places them higher than one or both of these courses may substitute another course in advanced language, literature, or culture to reach the total number of eight required courses. (See Advanced Language, Literature, or Culture Courses list.) |
| 7 | In choosing courses, students should keep in mind the need to take at least one course at the 200-level on Spain and one on Latin America. |
| 8 | At least one of these courses must be taken on the Bucknell campus. |
Advanced Language, Literature, or Culture Courses
| SPAN 220 | Introduction to Spanish Literature | 1 |
| SPAN 222 | Introduction to Latin American Literature | 1 |
| SPAN 239 | Hispanic Linguistics | 1 |
| SPAN 270 | Spanish Cultural Tradition | 1 |
| SPAN 280 | Latin American Cultural Traditions | 1 |
| SPAN 285 | Latino Literature in the U.S. | 1 |
| SPAN 2TR with previous approval of Spanish department chair | ||
One 200-level elective on any of the following topics: Advanced Spanish Language (beyond SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition), Hispanic Linguistics, Spanish/Latin American/Latino Literatures and Cultures, an Integrated Perspectives course related to Hispanic culture and co-taught by a Spanish department faculty member, or Spanish-English translation, taken at Bucknell or on study abroad, with Spanish department approval.9 (In choosing courses, students should be mindful of the need to take at least one course at the 200-level on Spain and one on Latin America.)
Two courses on topics in literature, culture or Hispanic linguistics at the 300-level, taken at Bucknell. One of these courses must be designated as a Culminating Experience for the Spanish major. At least one 300-level course must focus on Hispanic literature or culture.
A student seeking certification to teach Spanish in elementary or secondary school must complete the major in Spanish, as well as the requirements formulated by Bucknell’s education department, in accordance with the guidelines of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students who wish to be certified to teach Spanish should consult with the Spanish department chair early in their University career. Students who are considering a Spanish major should plan to take at least one course in Spanish each semester at Bucknell, if possible. This will ensure that their gains in language proficiency, in particular, will be sustained during their four-year program.
| 9 | While students may apply a 300-level course toward this requirement, with the approval of their academic adviser in Spanish, they must still take two additional courses at the 300-level. |
Study Abroad
Residence abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is the best way to gain the language proficiency and the knowledge of Hispanic literature and cultures expected for the major. Students are strongly urged to study abroad on a program approved by the Spanish department for its majors and minors. Only courses taken on these programs may be counted toward the major and minor. At least one of the courses taken abroad for credit toward the Spanish major must deal with literature. Students who have taken two courses in Hispanic literature at Bucknell may present to the Spanish department chairperson a petition to have this requirement waived. Approved study abroad programs may change from year to year.
Study in Spain
The University’s Bucknell en España provides a study abroad experience designed to meet the educational needs of Spanish majors, minors, and other Bucknell students who have taken SPAN 207 Toward Advanced Spanish, or can demonstrate the equivalent level, and who wish to study in Spain. The program is centered at the Universidad de Granada in Granada, Spain. Students who wish to study in Spain but who are not sufficiently advanced for Bucknell en España may go on the CIEE program at the Universidad de Alicante.
Study in Latin America
For majors and minors, the Spanish department has approved study abroad programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Students should consult with their advisers in Spanish, the Spanish department chair, or the Office of International Education regarding these programs.
Honors
Majors who are interested in writing an Honors Thesis and who meet the requirements established by the Honors Council should speak with a faculty member in Spanish during the junior year to discuss this possibility.
Minor in Spanish
The minor in Spanish consists of five courses beyond SPAN 103 Toward Intermediate Spanish. At least two of the courses for the minor must deal with literature or civilization and at least three of the courses counted for the minor must be taken at Bucknell. Students who go on the Bucknell en España program and plan to minor in Spanish need to take two courses on campus.
All courses are taught in Spanish, unless otherwise indicated. SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition is a prerequisite for courses numbered 220 through 295. Two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition are prerequisites for courses at the 300-level.
Courses
SPAN 101. Elementary Spanish I. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3,Other:2
Beginning language skills, with practice of points of grammar, through listening, speaking, reading and writing, in the context of Hispanic cultures. SPAN 101 is prerequisite to SPAN 102.
SPAN 102. Elementary Spanish II. 1 Credit.
Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:5,Other:1
Continues development of basic language skills, with practice of points of grammar, in the context of Hispanic culture. Prerequisite: SPAN 101 or two years of Spanish in high school.
SPAN 103. Toward Intermediate Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:4,Other:1
Through grammar review and the development of new linguistic skills, in the context of Hispanic cultures, students reach intermediate competency in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 102 or three years of secondary school Spanish.
SPAN 105. Intermediate Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:4,Other:1
Review of grammar and development of new linguistic skills and cultural competency to reach high-intermediate level in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 103 or four years of secondary school Spanish in secondary school Spanish.
SPAN 207. Toward Advanced Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Students demonstrating high-intermediate skills progress toward advanced language proficiency. Reading, discussion and writing about brief literary or cultural texts advances cultural competency. Prerequisite: SPAN 105 or five years of secondary school Spanish.
SPAN 208. Advanced Conversation and Composition. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3,Other:1
Advanced study and practice to enhance oral and written proficiency. A variety of texts and media, including literature, film and internet sources provide a point of departure for class discussion and written assignments. Prerequisite: SPAN 207 or six years of Spanish.
SPAN 220. Introduction to Spanish Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
Introduction to Spanish literature across major artistic and cultural periods: Middle Ages, Renaissance, Golden Age, Romanticism, Realism, and 20th-century literature in its cultural context.
SPAN 222. Introduction to Latin American Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
Introduction to the authors, topics and genres that constitute the literary tradition of Latin America. Literary works are studied in their historical and cultural context.
SPAN 238. Language and Society in Latin American. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
A linguistic survey of Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America with particular interest in the regional, social, and ethnic language use. Prerequisites: SPAN 208 or equivalent.
SPAN 239. Hispanic Linguistics. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Introduction to phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and dialects of the Spanish language. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 240. Vida y Cultura en Granada. .5 Credits.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course is designed to guide Bucknell students in their experience of life and culture in Granada, Spain, as well as to foster their reflection on and discussion of their learning experience in this Spanish-speaking country of Europe. Only offered on the Bucknell en Espana program. Prerequisite: SPAN 105.
SPAN 245. Vida y Cultura en Espana. 1 Credit.
Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
Guides students in their experience of life and culture in Spain, and fosters their reflection on the cross-cultural learning experience. Prerequisite: SPAN 105 or equivalent. Only given in the Bucknell en Espana program.
SPAN 264. Hispanic Topics. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Given in English, this course will treat different topics of Spanish and Latin American civilization from year to year. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 270. Spanish Cultural Tradition. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
An introduction to the cultural tradition of Spain through the study of art, history, literature, and film. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 275. Structural Analysis of Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
Advanced students/prospective teachers explore the interface between linguistics and actual language use by native Spanish speakers through analysis of morphology, syntax and semantics. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 280. Latin American Cultural Traditions. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
An introduction to the cultural traditions of Latin America through the study of art, history, literature, and film. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 285. Latino Literature in the U.S.. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course focuses on issues of cultural identity within the literary and some film production of Hispanic peoples living in the U.S.
SPAN 290. Independent Study. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Subject to be selected by student in consultation with the instructor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 295. Topics in Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Deals with a different aspect of the literature or culture of Spanish-speaking peoples each time it is given. Prerequisite: SPAN 208.
SPAN 2NT. Spanish Non-traditional Study. 1 Credit.
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:3
Nontraditional study in Spanish. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
SPAN 315. Structure of Modern Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Introduction to morphology, syntax, semantics and discourse analysis with particular attention to the problems faced by the non-native learner of Spanish. Prerequisites: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 322. Modern Spanish Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Spanish literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. Course will be devoted to a different major author, movement, or genre each time it is given. Prerequisite: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 323. Latin American Short Story. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Art and theory of the short story in Latin America. Topics include Colombian Short Stories, Stories by Women Writers, Children's Stories. Prerequisite: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 325. The Spanish Civil War. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course examines the memory of the Spanish Civil War in the narrative and film from the 1940s to the present. Prerequisite: two courses at the 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 326. Spanish Literature and Society of the 19th Century. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Devoted to major authors of the 19th century-Galdos, Clarin, Pardo Bazan. Topics include science and literature, gender and sexuality, and class relations. Prerequisites: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 327. Translation and Advanced Grammar. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course focuses on translation and advanced Spanish grammar. The course explores different types of translations and reviews grammar as a tool to facilitate translation. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 328. Epics of the Spanish Empire. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course examines how epic poets portrayed conquistadors and explorers of the Spanish Empire and the rebels and pirates who threatened to undermine it. Prerequisite: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 334. Garcia Lorca, Salvador Dali, and Luis Bunuel. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Study of works by Lorca, Dali, and Bunel in context of cultural and intellectual issues from the interesting realms of literature, film and painting. Prerequisites: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 339. Topics in Hispanic Linguistics. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Advanced study of topics or issues in Hispanic Linguistics. Prerequisite: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 346. Utopia/Dystopia in Urban Latin America. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This interdisciplinary course explores cities of Latin America through the lens of utopia and dystopia. Sources of inquiry include film, architecture, art, fiction, poetry, and readings in history, politics, economics, and environmental studies.
SPAN 348. Gender in 20th-century Latin American Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Examines the construction of gender in selected works by Latin American and Latino writers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Prerequisites: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 354. Don Quijote. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
In this course students read, analyze and discuss Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quijote in light of its social, historical and cultural contexts. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 355. Colombia's Caribbean Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Studies literary expressions from Anglo-Hispanic islands of San Andres Providencia and Santa Catalina including traditional oral tales, religious poetry, historical novels, short stories, travel narratives, and communal plays. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 360. Literature and Film of the Hispanic World. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course will deal with the interrelationship of literature and film in the Hispanic World. In Spanish. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 361. Topics in Hispanic Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
These courses will deal with topics in Spanish or Latin American literature on an advanced level. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 362. Topics in Hispanic Literature. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
These courses will deal with topics in Spanish or Latin American literature on an advanced level. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 364. Topics in Spanish Civilization. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
This course will deal with different topics in the civilization of Spain on an advanced level. In Spanish. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 365. Topics in Latin American Civilization. 1 Credit.
Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
This course will deal with different topics in the civilization of Latin America on an advanced level. In Spanish. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 366. Mexican Revolution: Literature and Art. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Charts the creation of a national identity, exploring literature and visual arts that depict the massive social changes brought about by the Mexican Revolution. Prerequisites: two courses at 200-level beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 367. Latin American Fiestas and Identity. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
A comparative study of the fiesta phenomenon in Mexico, the Andes and the Caribbean, through the analysis of colonial and contemporary texts, paintings and film. Prerequisites: two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208.
SPAN 390. Independent Study. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Subject to be selected by student in consultation with the instructor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
SPAN 399. Honors Course in Spanish. 1 Credit.
Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
For selected seniors, who will be supervised in individual work. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Faculty
Professor: Manuel Delgado
Associate Professors: M. Isabel Cuñado (Chair), Elisabeth Guerrero, Collin McKinney, Ana M. Patiño, Alice J. Poust
Assistant Professors: Fernando Blanco, Jason Aaron McCloskey, Hiram L. Smith
Visiting Assistant Professor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano
Lecturer: Michael Dock